99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
HB5795
 
Introduced , by Rep. Charles E. Meier
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 

 
New Act

     Creates the Solar Powered Road Signs Pilot Program Act. Requires the Department of Transportation to develop a pilot program to test the use of solar powered LED road signs in 5 counties of varied population. After getting reports of the program from the counties, the Department shall file a report with the General Assembly that contains the complete findings of the program.  Effective immediately.
  


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A BILL FOR
 

  
HB5795LRB099 16660 AXK 40998 b


  
1    AN ACT concerning transportation.
  
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
3represented in the General Assembly:
  
 
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Solar 
5Powered Road Signs Pilot Program Act.
 
6    Section 5. Solar Powered Road Signs.
7    (a) Six months after the effective date of this Act, the 
8Department of Transportation shall, subject to appropriation, 
9develop a program to test the use of solar powered LED road 
10signs on roadways. After consultation with counties, the 
11Department shall choose 5 counties of varied population that 
12have consented to participate in the program.
13    (b) In implementing the program, the Department shall use 
14its own discretion in selecting and purchasing the necessary 
15resources for the road signs.
16    (c) The selected counties shall have the discretion to 
17choose which roadways shall be equipped with the solar powered 
18technology, subject to these conditions:
19        (1) the roadways shall not be State highways, federal 
20    highways, or within an incorporated area;
21        (2) the roadways shall have road signs of particularly 
22    low visibility; and
23        (3) each county must follow the specifications 
 
 
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1    delineated in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control 
2    Devices.
3    (d) After a period of at least 90 days from the start of 
4the program, each county shall report its findings of the 
5program to the Department. After receiving reports from each 
6county, the Department shall file a report within 60 days with 
7the General Assembly. The report shall include, but is not 
8limited to:
9        (1) the overall function of the solar powered LED road 
10    signs;
11        (2) the benefits to the State of having solar powered 
12    LED road signs;
13        (3) any safety concerns to the general public while the 
14    signs were in use; and
15        (4) the projected cost for Statewide use of the signs.
 
16    Section 10. Repeal. This Act is repealed on December 31, 
172018.
 
 
18    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
19becoming law.