Public Act 097-0292
 
HB1884 EnrolledLRB097 07690 HEP 47801 b

    AN ACT concerning transportation.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing
Section 11-709.1 and by adding Sections 1-209.3, 11-709.2, and
11-709.3 as follows:
 
    (625 ILCS 5/1-209.3 new)
    Sec. 1-209.3. Transit bus. A bus engaged in public
transportation as defined by the Regional Transportation
Authority Act and authorized by the Department to be used on
specifically designated roadway shoulders.
 
    (625 ILCS 5/11-709.1)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-709.1)
    Sec. 11-709.1. Driving on the shoulder.
    (a) Vehicles shall be driven on a roadway, and shall only
be driven on the shoulder for the purpose of stopping or
accelerating from a stop while merging into traffic. It shall
be a violation of this Section if while merging into traffic
and while on the shoulder, the vehicle passes any other vehicle
on the roadway adjacent to it.
    (b) This Section shall not apply to any authorized
emergency vehicle, to any authorized transit bus, to any farm
tractor or implement of husbandry, to any service vehicle while
engaged in maintenance of the highway or related work, or to
any authorized vehicle within a designated construction zone.
(Source: P.A. 95-785, eff. 8-7-08.)
 
    (625 ILCS 5/11-709.2 new)
    Sec. 11-709.2. Bus on shoulder pilot program.
    (a) For purposes of this Section, "bus on shoulders" is the
use of specifically designated shoulders of roadways by
authorized transit buses. The shoulders may be used by transit
buses at times and locations as set by the Department in
cooperation with the Regional Transportation Authority and the
Suburban Bus Division of the Regional Transportation
Authority.
    (b) Commencing on the effective date of this amendatory Act
of the 97th General Assembly, the Department along with the
Regional Transportation Authority and Suburban Bus Division of
the Regional Transportation Authority in cooperation with the
Illinois State Police shall establish a 5-year pilot program
within the boundaries of the Regional Transportation Authority
for transit buses on highways and shoulders. The pilot program
may be implemented on shoulders of highways as designated by
the Department in cooperation with the Regional Transportation
Authority and Suburban Bus Division of the Regional
Transportation Authority. The Department may adopt rules
necessary for transit buses to use roadway shoulders.
    (c) After the pilot program established under subsection
(b) of this Section has been operating for 2 years, the
Department in cooperation with the Regional Transit Authority,
the Suburban Bus Division of the Regional Transportation
Authority, and the Illinois State Police shall issue a report
to the General Assembly on the effectiveness of the bus on
shoulders pilot program.
 
    (625 ILCS 5/11-709.3 new)
    Sec. 11-709.3. Transit buses on shoulders - toll highways.
The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority may allow transit
buses to use the shoulders of highways under its jurisdiction
as part of the bus on shoulder pilot program under Section
11-709.2 of this Code.
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.