SB108: Bill Text

LRB-2504/1

PEN:jlg:km

1999 - 2000 LEGISLATURE

1999 Senate BILL 108

April 7, 1999 - Introduced by Senators Burke and Rude, cosponsored by Representatives Freese and Schooff. Referred to Committee on Insurance, Tourism, Transportation and Corrections.

SB108,1,2 An Act to create 349.11 (1) (c) of the statutes; relating to: authority to modify speed limits within historic districts.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the department of transportation (DOT) and local highway authorities may increase or decrease the maximum speed limit applicable to highways under their respective jurisdiction if DOT or the local highway authorities determine that the current maximum speed limit in effect is not reasonable or safe or that the current actual speed of traffic is not reasonable or prudent.

This bill allows DOT and local highway authorities to reduce a maximum speed limit for a highway within a designated historic district to a speed limit that is consistent with preserving the district's historical character. The speed limit may be reduced only if DOT or the local highway authorities determine, based on an engineering and traffic investigation, that the current speed limit is not reasonable for the preservation of the historical character of the district.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB108, s. 1 Section 1. 349.11 (1) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

SB108,2,2 349.11 (1) (c) 1. In this paragraph, "historic district" means an area that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Wisconsin, the State Register of Historic Places or a certified local register of historic property, as defined in s. 101.121 (2) (a).

SB108,2,13 2. Whenever the department with respect to the state trunk highway system or local authorities with respect to highways under their jurisdiction determines upon the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation that any statutory speed limit applicable to a highway within or adjoining a historic district is greater than is reasonable for the preservation of the historical character of the district, the department with respect to the state trunk highway system or the local authorities with respect to highways under their jurisdiction may, subject to the limitations set forth in subs. (2) and (3), determine and declare a reasonable and safe speed limit on the highway or part thereof in question. When appropriate signs giving notice of the speed limit declared under this subdivision have been erected and are in place, such speed limit shall be effective at all times.

SB108,2,14 (End)