SENATE BILL REPORT

ESHB 1740

BYHouse Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Prince, Unsoeld, Silver, Hankins, Lewis, Patrick, Dellwo, Brough, Sanders, Doty, Rayburn and Ferguson)

Providing for informational highway signs and traffic fatality markers.

House Committe on Transportation

Senate Committee on Transportation

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 22, 1988

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Patterson, Chairman; Nelson, Vice Chairman; von Reichbauer, Vice Chairman; Barr, Bender, Conner, DeJarnatt, Garrett, Hansen, McMullen, Metcalf, Owen, Sellar.

Senate Staff:Brad Lovaas (786-7307)

                  February 23, 1988

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, FEBRUARY 22, 1988

BACKGROUND:

The Student Highway Safety Committee at WSU has been actively pursuing the establishment of a highway fatality signing program.

About 50 years ago, several states began to install white crosses along the highway where fatal accidents occurred.  These crosses were donated and installed by service organizations, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, in an effort to alert motorists of fatal accident locations and to reduce highway deaths.  State highway agencies permitted the service organizations to install the crosses on highway right-of-way.  The marking programs slowly began to disappear due to either disinterest or the enactment of the Federal Highway Beautification Act in October, 1965.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is directed to conduct a four-year demonstration project on highway fatality markers.  The markers may be installed along SR 26 between Colfax and Vantage, SR 270 from Pullman to the Idaho border and SR 195 between Pullman and Colfax.  The markers are installed as close as possible to the highway right-of-way without obstructing the view of the motoring public.

A "highway fatality marker" is a sign designed by the DOT that is placed at or near the location of a traffic fatality.  Each marker represents the loss of one life.

Local governmental agencies, and private individuals and groups located within the demonstration area may apply to the DOT for a permit to erect a fatality marker.  The application contains a consent statement from the owner of the land upon which the proposed marker is to be placed.

An applicant with an approved permit is responsible for the erection and maintenance of the marker as specified in the permit.  Markers which are erected illegally are to be removed immediately by the permittee.  A family member of the deceased may request removal of a marker.

The DOT is directed to confer with agencies and individuals within the demonstration area when developing administrative rules for the marker program.  Upon request, the department will provide information on the location of fatal accidents in the demonstration area.

The expiration date of the marker program is December 31, 1992.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Rich Boerner, WSU student (for); Mark Ufices, WSU graduate student (for); Captain Rick Jensen, WSP (for); Wayne Green, DOT (for)