HF 2177 (LSB 5960YH (3) 85)

HOUSE FILE 2177

BY  HEARTSILL

A BILL FOR

An Act concerning public notice of changes to the speed limit on a primary highway.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 321.290, Code 2014, is amended to read as follows:
   321.290  Special restrictions.
   1.  a.  Whenever the department shall determine determines upon the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation that any speed limit hereinbefore set forth in this chapter is greater or less than is reasonable or safe under the conditions found to exist at any intersection or other place or upon any part of the primary road system or upon any part of a primary road extension, said the department shall hold a public meeting, after reasonable notice, to share information from the engineering and traffic investigation and provide an opportunity for public discussion and comment. Following the public meeting, the department shall determine and declare a reasonable and safe speed limit thereat which for the location. If the determination is to change the existing speed limit, the department shall provide notice of the change by issuing a press release available to all local media outlets serving the area affected by the change. The change in the speed limit shall be effective following the provision of such notice and when appropriate signs giving notice thereof of the speed limit are erected at such the intersection or other place or part of the highway.
   b.  This subsection does not apply to speed limit changes in a road work zone.
   2.  Whenever the council in any a city shall determine council determines upon the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation that any speed limit hereinbefore set forth in this chapter is greater or less than is reasonable or safe under the conditions found to exist at any intersection or other place or upon any part of the city street system, except primary road extensions, said the council shall determine and adopt by ordinance such higher or lower speed limit as it the council deems reasonable and safe thereat for the location. Such speed limit shall be effective when proper and appropriate signs giving notice thereof of the speed limit are erected at such intersections intersection or other place or part of the street.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with

the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   Under current law, when the department of transportation determines, following an engineering and traffic investigation, that an existing speed limit at an intersection or other location on a primary highway is greater or less than is reasonably safe, the department is authorized to declare a new speed limit. The new speed limit takes effect after proper and appropriate signs are posted at the intersection or other location on the primary highway.
   This bill requires the department to hold a public meeting to share information from the engineering and traffic investigation and provide an opportunity for public discussion and comment before changing a speed limit. Following the public meeting, if the department determines that a change in the speed limit is warranted, the department is required to provide notice of the change by issuing a press release available to all local media outlets serving the area affected by the change. The change in the speed limit then becomes effective following the press release and the posting of proper and appropriate signage at the intersection or other location on the primary highway.
   The requirements of the bill do not apply to speed limit changes in a road work zone.