SB3755 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 24364 RAM 33598 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB3755

Introduced 1/21/2022, by Sen. Rachelle Crowe

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Road Designation Program Act. Establishes a designation program for the naming and subsequent placement of signage upon interstate or State-numbered highway interchanges or upon bridges or segments of highway under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Department of Transportation. Provides that any person who desires to have roads designated or to erect signage upon designated roads must, in an application to the Department, provide: (1) a description of the interstate or State-numbered highway interchange or bridge or segment of highway for which the designation is sought and the proposed name of the interchange, bridge, or relevant segment of highway, and (2) a letter of sponsorship from the Illinois State Representative and State Senator for each district in which the road is located. Outlines the approval process for the petitioner's application. Provides that the Department shall give notice of any proposed designation on the Department's official public website. Provides that signs are subject to all applicable federal and State limitations or conditions on highway signage, including location and spacing. Provides that 2 signs shall be erected for each interchange, bridge, or segment of highway designation and that all money received by the Department for the construction and maintenance of interchange, bridge, or segment of highway signs shall be deposited into the Road Fund. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning transportation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Road Designation Program Act.

Section 5. Purpose. This Act establishes a designation program for the naming and subsequent placement of signage upon interstate or State-numbered highway interchanges or upon bridges or segments of highway under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Department" means the Illinois Department of Transportation.

"Secretary" means the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Section 15. Road designation program.

(a) Any person who desires to have an interstate or State-numbered highway interchange or bridge or segment of highway under the jurisdiction of the Department designated in honor of the name of an individual Illinois citizen or citizens, or a person or persons with long-standing ties to the State of Illinois, shall petition the Department by submitting an application in a form prescribed by the Secretary containing the following:

(1) a description of the interstate or State-numbered highway interchange or bridge or segment of highway under the jurisdiction of the Department for which the designation is sought and the proposed name of the interchange, bridge, or relevant segment of highway; and

(2) a letter of sponsorship from the Illinois State Representative and State Senator for each district in which the road is located, attesting to the meritorious nature of the individual to be honored by the signage designation and stating reasons that the individual is worthy of honorary designation.

(b) After determining that the petitioner meets all the application requirements of subsection (a), the Department shall issue a written preliminary approval to the petitioner that includes the amount of the fee required to cover the cost of constructing and erecting the petitioner's proposed signs. The fee shall not exceed the costs of constructing or erecting the signs. Upon issuing a preliminary approval to the petitioner, the Department shall submit a recommendation containing the proposed designations to the sponsors in the General Assembly named in the application. The Department shall be notified upon the approval or denial of a proposed designation. Upon the approval of a proposed designation, the petitioner shall submit a fee to be determined by the Secretary to cover the costs of constructing and erecting the proposed signs on the interchange, bridge, or segment of highway. Upon the receipt of the appropriate fee from the petitioner, or others acting on behalf of the petitioner, the Department shall issue a final approval of the petition and construct and erect the signs.

(c) The Department shall give notice of any proposed designation under this Section on the Department's official public website.

(d) The honorary signs may be placed upon interstate or State-numbered highway interchanges or upon bridges or segments of highway under the jurisdiction of the Department according to the provisions of this Section, and any applicable federal and State limitations or conditions on highway signage, including location and spacing.

(e) Two signs shall be erected for each interchange, bridge, or segment of highway designation processed under this Section.

(f) No interchange, bridge, or segment of highway may be named or designated under this Section if it carries an existing designation.

(g) All money received by the Department for the construction and maintenance of interchange, bridge, or segment of highway signs shall be deposited into the Road Fund.

(h) The documents and fees required under this Section shall be submitted to the Department.

(i) Nothing in this Act precludes a posthumous honorary designation, should the individual or individuals to be honored under this Act be deceased.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.