LRB-4010/1
TNF:jlg:ijs
1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE
March 10, 1998 - Introduced by Representatives Hahn, Sykora, Urban, Hanson
and Olsen. Referred to Joint committee on Finance.
AB892,1,3
1An Act to amend 20.395 (3) (cq); and
to create 86.194 of the statutes;
relating
2to: requiring official stop signs at railroad crossings and making an
3appropriation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill requires the installation of official stop signs at all railroad crossings
in this state that do not have automatic signals or other warning devices and which
are not abandoned. The bill specifies that the department of transportation (DOT)
shall pay the costs of installation of the stop signs. The bill directs DOT to ensure
that the installation of the stop signs is phased in by July 1, 2002, and that priority
for installation be based on several factors, including the frequency and speed of
trains on the applicable railroad tracks and the volume and character of vehicular
traffic.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB892,2,96
20.395
(3) (cq)
State highway rehabilitation, state funds. As a continuing
7appropriation, the amounts in the schedule for improvement of existing state trunk
8and connecting highways; for improvement of bridges on state trunk or connecting
1highways and other bridges for which improvement is a state responsibility, for
2necessary approach work for such bridges and for replacement of such bridges with
3at-grade crossing improvements; for the construction and rehabilitation of the
4national system of interstate and defense highways and bridges and related
5appurtenances; for special maintenance activities under s. 84.04 on roadside
6improvements; for bridges under s. 84.10; for payment to a local unit of government
7for a jurisdictional transfer under s. 84.02 (8);
for stop signs at railroad crossings
8under s. 86.194; and for the disadvantaged business demonstration and training
9program under s. 84.076.
AB892, s. 2
10Section
2. 86.194 of the statutes is created to read:
AB892,2,17
1186.194 Stop signs at railroad crossings. (1) Notwithstanding ss. 192.29
12(2) and 349.085, the department with respect to the state trunk highway system and
13local authorities with respect to highways under their jurisdiction shall install
14official stop signs at any railroad grade crossing on highways maintained by the
15respective authorities. The cost of any stop sign under this subsection and the cost
16of installing any such stop sign shall be paid by the department from the
17appropriation under s. 20.395 (3) (cq).
AB892,2,21
18(2) (a) The department shall ensure that, of the total number of railroad grade
19crossings subject to sub. (1) on the effective date of this paragraph .... [revisor inserts
20date], official stop signs shall be installed at the following minimum percentage of
21railroad grade crossings by the following dates:
AB892,2,2222
1. By July 1, 1999, 25%.
AB892,2,2323
2. By July 1, 2000, 50%.
AB892,2,2424
3. By July 1, 2001, 75%.
AB892,2,2525
4. By July 1, 2002, 100%.
AB892,3,3
1(b) In determining which railroad grade crossings shall have official stop signs
2installed by the dates specified in par. (a), the department shall give priority based
3on all of the following:
AB892,3,44
1. The frequency and speed of trains on the applicable railroad tracks.
AB892,3,55
2. Traffic accident data for a railroad grade crossing.
AB892,3,76
3. The volume and character of the vehicular traffic driving across a railroad
7grade crossing.
AB892,3,8
8(3) This section does not apply to any of the following:
AB892,3,109
(a) A railroad grade crossing for which a warning device has been installed to
10signal operators of vehicles to stop.
AB892,3,1211
(b) An abandoned railroad grade crossing with a sign indicating the rail line
12is abandoned.
