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| Public Act 097-0292 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning transportation.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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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.
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(625 ILCS 5/11-709.1) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-709.1)
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Sec. 11-709.1. Driving on the shoulder. | ||||
(a) Vehicles shall be driven on a roadway, and shall only
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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.
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(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.
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(Source: P.A. 95-785, eff. 8-7-08.)
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(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.
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law.
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