Public Act 0292 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB1884 Enrolled LRB097 07690 HEP 47801 b

Public Act 097-0292

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.

Effective Date: 08/11/2011