An Act To Enhance Public Safety, Facilitate the Coordination of Traffic Control Signal Systems and Promote More Equitable Use of Public Highway Rights-of-way

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  this legislation is designed to enhance public safety and facilitate the coordination of traffic control signal systems; and

Whereas,  it is critically important that this legislation take effect immediately; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Sec. 1. 23 MRSA §54,  as amended by PL 1997, c. 393, Pt. A, §24, is further amended to read:

§ 54. Highway openings

Wherever highways maintained by the State are affected, whether the highways are situated in cities, towns or plantations, the department has all and the same rights, powers and duties in connection therewith as are granted to cities in city streets by sections 3351 to 3359, and to cities and towns by Title 35-A, sections 2306 2507 and 2310 2508. Whenever the opening fee provided by section 3354 or by Title 35-A, section 2510, has been paid to the department and a permit for digging up and opening a highway maintained by the State has been issued by the department, the holder of the permit is entitled to make the opening described therein in the permit without the payment of fees to the city or town or village corporation in which the street, road or highway to be opened is situated.

Sec. 2. 23 MRSA §1351,  as amended by PL 1985, c. 506, Pt. B, §19, is further amended to read:

§ 1351. Installation of signals, devices and signs

The department may make rules and shall enforce rules and regulations relating to traffic control and the installation and maintenance of traffic control signals, devices, signs and markings on all state, state aid and federal aid highways. The department may be consulted by and shall without charge advise municipal officers and road commissioners on the subject of traffic control.

The department shall have authority to install and maintain traffic control signals, warning, regulatory, directional and informational signs and markings, on all state and state aid highways and highways constructed under its direction with federal funds, when, in its opinion, such signs, signals and markings are necessary for public safety and convenience.

The department may install and maintain traffic control signal systems and warning, regulatory, directional and informational signs and markings on all state and state aid highways, highways constructed under its direction with federal funds and town ways, when, in its opinion, such signs, signal systems and markings are necessary for public safety and convenience. Owners of utility facilities located within or along a public right-of-way must accommodate such traffic control signal systems and their appurtenances in, on or upon their facilities without charge to the public if those systems and appurtenances are used solely for the communication of information and data necessary for the proper operation of traffic signals and related devices.

On all designated state and state aid highways, the location, form and character of informational, directional, regulatory and warning signs and traffic control signals and devices, erected by towns, shall be are subject to approval of the department.

On any highway or street constructed with federal aid in any town, the location, form and character of informational, directional, regulatory and warning signs, curb and pavement or other markings, and traffic signals, installed or placed by any public authority or other agency, shall be are subject to the approval of the department with the concurrence of the Federal Highway Administration.

Any rule or regulation relating to traffic control or the installation or maintenance of traffic control signals, devices or signs adopted pursuant to this section shall be is exempt from the rule-making provisions of the Maine Administrative Procedure Act , Title 5, chapter 375.

The department is authorized and directed to establish a system of numbering all classes of highways which when, in its opinion, it is necessary for public convenience , and to publish maps from time to time showing the highways so numbered.

On all designated state and state aid highways, the department may prohibit other than one-way traffic when , in its opinion , such prohibition is necessary for public safety.

Nothing contained in this This section shall may not be construed to apply to the installation or maintenance of signals, devices, signs, lights or warnings at approaches to railroad crossings.

The issuance of any order or rule and regulation may be proved by submitting a copy thereof signed by the commissioner and duly notarized.

Whoever violates any order or rule and regulation of the department issued under authority of this section shall be punished by is subject to a fine of not more than $100 or by imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or by both.

Upon the expiration of 30 days after notice by certified mail, any owner of utility facilities who refuses to accommodate the location of public traffic control signal systems in or upon its facilities without charge pursuant to this section is subject to a fine of not more than $500 per day for each traffic signal in the system for which location in or upon such facilities is sought, to be assessed in an action that may be brought for that purpose in the Superior Court for Kennebec County.

Sec. 3. 35-A MRSA §2503, sub-§5,  as enacted by PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6, is amended to read:

Sec. 4. 35-A MRSA §2503, sub-§16,  as amended by PL 1993, c. 540, §1, is further amended to read:

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

summary

This bill corrects some outdated statutory references, clarifies that owners of utility facilities located in, on or upon a public right-of-way must accommodate the attachment of traffic control signal systems and their appurtenances without charge to the public, as long as the systems and their appurtenances are used solely for the communication of information and data necessary for the proper operation of the traffic control signal systems, and clarifies that the Department of Transportation may incorporate in its rules guidelines for the accommodation of such traffic control signal systems in, on or upon utility facilities.