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ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session

 

FACT SHEET FOR s.b. 1097

 

truck routes; designation

Purpose

Requires the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) or a local authority to conduct a test drive or apply a vehicle template before restricting or prohibiting a vehicle of legal size from operating on a major arterial street that connects two or more local jurisdictions. Allows a person to request the review of any route restriction for a vehicle of legal size and requires local jurisdictions to conform to state-level determinations.

Background

If a highway, by reason of deterioration, rain, snow or other climatic conditions, will be seriously damaged or destroyed unless the use of vehicles on the highway is prohibited or the permissible weights of vehicles are reduced, the Director of ADOT (Director) or a local authority may, by ordinance or resolution for no more than 90 days in a calendar year, prohibit the operation of vehicles on the highway or impose restrictions on the weight of vehicles operating on the highway. The Director or local authority must place appropriate signs on the affected portion of the highway to give notice of the prohibition or restriction (A.R.S. § 28-1106).

A major arterial street is a street or highway used primarily for through traffic in such a manner that vehicular traffic from intersecting streets and highways is required by law to stop or yield before entering or crossing the street or highway (A.R.S. § 28-6531).

There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1.   Requires, before restricting or prohibiting a vehicle of legal size from operating on a highway that is a major arterial street and connects two or more local jurisdictions, ADOT or a local authority to conduct a test drive or apply a vehicle template that shows that the vehicle of legal size may not safely operate on the highway.

2.   Prohibits, if a vehicle of legal size may not safely operate on a major arterial street, the Director or local authority from granting exceptions to a restriction for categories or types or groups of routes.

3.   Allows a person to submit a written request to the Director to review any route restrictions for a vehicle of legal size.

4.   Requires the Director to act on a review request within 90 days of receipt.

5.   Prohibits local jurisdictions from restricting a major arterial street that is determined to be safe by the Director.

6.   Requires, within 90 days of the effective date of this legislation, a local authority to repeal or amend any ordinance that passed before the effective date and conflicts with the route restriction requirements.

7.   Deems, as invalid, any ordinance that is not brought into compliance within the designated timeframe.

8.   Specifies that a major arterial street includes:

a)   a principal arterial street;

b)   an arterial street, if a local authority does not distinguish between major and minor arterial streets;

c)   any arterial street that has access to a freeway, controlled access highway or the national highway system;

d)   any arterial street that has a bridge along its route; and

e)   any arterial street that is designated as a major arterial street in adjoining legislation, as prescribed.

9.   Defines a vehicle of legal size as a vehicle that complies with statutory limitations on vehicle width, height and length, as prescribed.

10.  Makes conforming changes.

11.  Becomes effective on the general effective date.

Prepared by Senate Research

January 26, 2023

KJA/CB/sr