NY State Senate Bill 2011-S6715

Senate Bill S6715

Signed By Governor

2011-2012 Legislative Session

Relates to roundabouts and makes technical corrections to provisions of law relating to lane-use control signal indications, circular intersections and RR crossings

download bill text pdf

Archive: Last Bill Status - Signed by Governor

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

View Actions

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jul 18, 2012	signed chap.228
Jul 06, 2012	delivered to governor
Jun 19, 2012	returned to senate passed assembly ordered to third reading rules cal.365 substituted for a10298
Mar 27, 2012	referred to transportation delivered to assembly passed senate
Mar 22, 2012	advanced to third reading
Mar 21, 2012	2nd report cal.
Mar 20, 2012	1st report cal.409
Mar 13, 2012	referred to transportation

Votes

- Mar 27, 2012 - Floor Vote
  S6715
  
  59
  
  Aye
  
  1
  
  Nay
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  1
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Floor Vote: Mar 27, 2012
      
      aye (59)
      
      Adams
      
      Addabbo Jr.
      
      Alesi
      
      Avella
      
      Ball
      
      Bonacic
      
      Breslin
      
      Carlucci
      
      DeFrancisco
      
      Diaz
      
      Dilan
      
      Duane
      
      Espaillat
      
      Farley
      
      Flanagan
      
      Fuschillo
      
      Gallivan
      
      Gianaris
      
      Golden
      
      Griffo
      
      Grisanti
      
      Hannon
      
      Hassell-Thompson
      
      Huntley
      
      Johnson
      
      Kennedy
      
      Klein
      
      Krueger
      
      LaValle
      
      Lanza
      
      Larkin
      
      Libous
      
      Little
      
      Marcellino
      
      Martins
      
      Maziarz
      
      McDonald
      
      Montgomery
      
      Nozzolio
      
      O'Mara
      
      Peralta
      
      Perkins
      
      Ranzenhofer
      
      Ritchie
      
      Rivera
      
      Robach
      
      Saland
      
      Sampson
      
      Savino
      
      Serrano
      
      Seward
      
      Skelos
      
      Smith
      
      Squadron
      
      Stavisky
      
      Stewart-Cousins
      
      Valesky
      
      Young
      
      Zeldin
      
      nay (1)
      
      Parker
      
      excused (1)
      
      Oppenheimer
  Mar 20, 2012 - Transportation Committee Vote
  S6715
  
  19
  
  Aye
  
  0
  
  Nay
  
  0
  
  Aye with Reservations
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  0
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Transportation Committee Vote: Mar 20, 2012
      
      aye (19)
      
      Adams
      
      Diaz
      
      Dilan
      
      Fuschillo
      
      Johnson
      
      Kennedy
      
      Larkin
      
      Maziarz
      
      McDonald
      
      Nozzolio
      
      Perkins
      
      Ranzenhofer
      
      Robach
      
      Smith
      
      Squadron
      
      Stavisky
      
      Valesky
      
      Young
      
      Zeldin

2011-S6715 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A10298
Law Section:: Vehicle and Traffic Law
Laws Affected:: Add §§106 & 140-d, amd §§120, 1116, 1127 & 1685, V & T L

2011-S6715 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to roundabouts and makes technical corrections to provisions of law relating to lane-use control signal indications, circular intersections and railroad grade crossings.

2011-S6715 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                BILL NUMBER:S6715

TITLE OF BILL:

An  act  to  amend  the  vehicle  and  traffic  law,  in  relation  to
roundabouts and certain technical  corrections  relating  to  lane-use
control  signal indications, circular intersections and railroad grade
crossings

PURPOSE OF THE BILL:

This bill amends certain sections of the Vehicle & Traffic Law ("VTL")
to conform it with  federal  requirements  governing  traffic  control
features and devices.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section  1  of  the  bill  would create a new VTL § 106 that defines a
"circulatory roadway".

Section 2 of the bill would create a new subdivision (c) to VTL §  120
that defines "circular intersection".

Section  3  of  the  bill  would create a new VTL § 140-d that defines
"roundabout".

Section 4 of the  bill  would  amend  VTL  §  1116  to  eliminate  the
reference to a flashing yellow X signal indication and add language to
include a steady white two-way left turn arrow signal indication and a
steady white one-way left turn arrow signal indication.

Section  5  of  the  bill  would  amend VTL § 1127 to replace the term
"rotary traffic islands" with "circular intersections".

Section 6 of the bill would amend VTL § 1685 to include "yield"  signs
at passive railroad grade crossings.

Section 7 of the bill provides for an immediate effective date.

EXISTING LAW:

The  VTL  §  1127  refers  to  "rotary  traffic islands" and VTL § 120
defines "intersections".  VTL § 1116(c) allows the use of the flashing
yellow X as opposed to two different steady white signal  indications.
VTL  § 1685 allows the use of a "stop" sign, but not a "yield" sign at
any highway-rail crossing.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

This is a new proposal.

STATEMENT IN SUPPORT:

States are required to substantially conform to the National Manual on
Uniform Traffic Control Devices ("NMUTCD") or face possible  sanctions
by the Federal Highway Administration ("FHWA"). The current version of


the  NMUTCD  was  adopted  in  January  2010,  and New York's law must
conform to federal mandates to avoid the possibility of losing federal
highway funding. This  bill  brings  New  York  into  compliance  with
respect  to  roundabouts,  lane-use  control  signal  indications, and
highway-rail grade crossings.

Roundabout and Related Definitions
Currently, the VTL refers to "rotary  traffic  islands,"  which  is  a
generic  term  for  circular intersections such as traffic circles and
rotaries.  While  a   "roundabout"   looks   similar,   it   functions
differently.  A  roundabout  is a type of a circular intersection with
characteristics not found in other types  of  circular  intersections.
In  addition,  a  roundabout  in  New  York State operates as a single
intersection whereas  the  rotaries  and  circles  are  considered  as
multiple  intersections.  Traffic engineers favor roundabouts, because
they maintain traffic flow better than  signalized  intersections  but
generally  require  a  smaller  right-of-way  than rotaries or traffic
circles.  This  bill  creates  a  definition  for   roundabouts   that
incorporates   guidance   from  the  FHWA,  which  recommends  that  a
roundabout  be  specifically  defined  as   a   single   intersection,
regardless  of  the  size  of  the roundabout.   The addition of these
definitions will ensure that the VTL reflects  the  current  state  of
traffic engineering in New York.

Lane-Use Control Signal Indications
Lane-use  control signal indications are special overhead signals that
permit or prohibit the use of specific lanes of a street  or  highway.
Lane-use  control signal indications are distinguished by placement of
special signal faces over a certain lane or lanes of the  roadway  and
by  their  distinctive  shapes  and  symbols.  Supplementary signs are
sometimes used to explain their meaning and intent.  Lane-use  control
signal indications are most commonly used for reversible-lane control,
but  are also used in certain non-reversible lane applications and for
toll plaza lanes.

The NMUTCD requires that a  steady,  white  two-way  left  turn  arrow
signal be used to indicate that a lane may be used for left turns, but
not  for through travel, with the understanding that common use of the
lane by oncoming traffic for left turns is also permitted. New  York's
current  State  Supplement  to the NMUTCD utilizes a flashing yellow X
signal in these situations.   The NMUTCD now requires  that  a  steady
white  one-way  left turn arrow signal be used to indicate that a lane
may be used for left turns, but not for through  travel,  and  without
opposing  turns  in  the  same  lane.  New York law does not currently
mandate any signal for such situations.   The bill  also  makes  minor
changes to the provisions for other lane-use control signal indicators
in  order to conform to the requirements of the NMUTCD. Amending VTL
1116 will conform New York law with federal law.

Highway-Rail Grade Crossing
The NMUTCD mandates that at least one R15-1 crossbuck sign be used  on
each  highway  approach  to  every  highway-rail  crossing whereas the
former 2005 State MUTED allowed  for  the  omission  of  the  railroad
crossbuck  where  authorized by the Department of Transportation under
Railroad Law § 53. Current VTL § 1685 allows the use of a "stop"  sign
but  not  a  "yield" sign at any highway-rail crossing. Amending VTL
1685 will conform New York law with federal law.


BUDGET IMPLICATIONS:

These  changes  do  not  add  significant  costs  and  compliance will
eliminate the possibility of federal sanctions and the loss of federal
highway funds.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act would take effect immediately.

2011-S6715 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  6715

                            I N  S E N A T E

                             March 13, 2012
                               ___________

Introduced  by Sen. FUSCHILLO -- (at request of the Department of Trans-
  portation) -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed  to  be
  committed to the Committee on Transportation

AN  ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to roundabouts
  and certain technical corrections relating to lane-use control  signal
  indications, circular intersections and railroad grade crossings

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is  amended  by  adding  a  new
section 106 to read as follows:
  S  106.  CIRCULATORY  ROADWAY.    THE ROADWAY WITHIN A CIRCULAR INTER-
SECTION ON WHICH TRAFFIC TRAVELS IN A COUNTERCLOCKWISE DIRECTION  AROUND
A CENTRAL ISLAND.
  S 2. Section 120 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a
new subdivision (c) to read as follows:
  (C)  A CIRCULAR INTERSECTION CONTAINS AN ISLAND, GENERALLY CIRCULAR IN
DESIGN, LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF THE INTERSECTION WHERE  TRAFFIC  PASSES
TO THE RIGHT OF THE ISLAND.
  S  3.  The  vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section
140-d to read as follows:
  S 140-D. ROUNDABOUT.  A CIRCULAR INTERSECTION WHICH  IS  CHARACTERIZED
BY  A  CIRCULATORY  ROADWAY  WITH COUNTERCLOCKWISE MOVEMENT, CHANNELIZED
APPROACHES, LOW SPEEDS, AND YIELD CONTROL OF ENTERING TRAFFIC.  A ROUND-
ABOUT ENCOMPASSES THE AREA BOUNDED BY THE OUTERMOST  CURB  LINE  OR,  IF
THERE  IS  NO CURB, THE EDGE OF THE PAVEMENT, AND INCLUDES CROSSWALKS ON
ANY ENTERING OR EXITING ROADWAY.
  S 4. Section 1116 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by  chap-
ter 356 of the laws of 1971, is amended to read as follows:
  S 1116. [Lane direction] LANE-USE control SIGNAL indications. Whenever
traffic  is  controlled  by  [lane direction] LANE-USE control [signals]
SIGNAL INDICATIONS located over the individual lanes of a highway,  only
the  colors green, yellow, WHITE and red shall be used, and said signals
shall indicate and apply as follows:

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD14563-02-2

S. 6715                             2

  (a) Traffic facing a steady downward  [pointing]  green  arrow  signal
[may  travel  in any lane over which such signal is located]  INDICATION
IS PERMITTED TO DRIVE IN THE LANE OVER WHICH THE ARROW SIGNAL INDICATION
IS LOCATED.
  (b)  Traffic  facing  a steady yellow X signal [is thereby warned that
the related green downward arrow indication is being terminated and that
a red X indication will be exhibited  immediately  thereafter  and  such
traffic  shall vacate, in a safe manner, the lane over which such signal
is located] INDICATION SHALL PREPARE TO VACATE THE LANE OVER  WHICH  THE
SIGNAL INDICATION IS LOCATED BECAUSE A LANE CONTROL CHANGE IS BEING MADE
TO A STEADY RED X SIGNAL INDICATION.
  (c)  Traffic facing a [flashing yellow X signal may travel in any lane
over which such signal is shown preparatory to making a left turn, using
proper caution] STEADY WHITE TWO-WAY LEFT-TURN ARROW  SIGNAL  INDICATION
IS  PERMITTED  TO USE A LANE OVER WHICH THE SIGNAL INDICATION IS LOCATED
FOR A LEFT TURN, BUT NOT FOR THROUGH TRAVEL, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT
COMMON USE OF THE LANE BY ONCOMING ROAD USERS FOR  LEFT  TURNS  IS  ALSO
PERMITTED.
  (d) Traffic facing a [steady red X signal shall not enter or travel in
any  lane  over  which  such  signal  is  located]  STEADY WHITE ONE WAY
LEFT-TURN ARROW SIGNAL INDICATION IS PERMITTED TO USE A LANE OVER  WHICH
THE SIGNAL INDICATION IS LOCATED FOR A LEFT TURN (WITHOUT OPPOSING TURNS
IN THE SAME LANE), BUT NOT FOR THROUGH TRAVEL.
  (E)  TRAFFIC  FACING A STEADY RED X SIGNAL SHALL NOT USE THE LANE OVER
WHICH THE SIGNAL INDICATION IS LOCATED AND THIS SIGNAL INDICATION  SHALL
MODIFY ACCORDINGLY THE MEANING OF OTHER TRAFFIC CONTROLS PRESENT.
  S 5. Section 1127 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended to read as
follows:
  S 1127. One-way  roadways  and  [rotary  traffic islands] AND CIRCULAR
INTERSECTIONS. (a) Upon a roadway designated and signposted for  one-way
traffic, a vehicle shall be driven only in the direction designated.
  (b) A vehicle passing around a [rotary traffic island] CIRCULAR INTER-
SECTION  shall  be  driven only to the right of [such] THE island unless
otherwise indicated by traffic control devices.
  S 6. Section 1685 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by  chap-
ter 217 of the laws of 1972, is amended to read as follows:
  S 1685. All  vehicles  must  stop  OR  YIELD at certain railroad grade
crossings where a stop OR YIELD sign is erected. The  state  transporta-
tion commissioner, with respect to state highways, and local authorities
with  respect  to  local  streets  within  their  jurisdiction, with the
approval of the state transportation commissioner are hereby  authorized
to install a stop OR YIELD sign at any highway-railroad crossings within
their respective jurisdictions.
  The  design  and  place and manner of installation of such signs shall
conform to the manual and specifications for a uniform system of traffic
control devices adopted by the state transportation commissioner.
  Whenever any such crossing is so designated and a stop OR  YIELD  sign
is installed, it shall be unlawful for the driver of any vehicle to fail
to  stop  OR YIELD within fifty feet but not less than fifteen feet from
such railroad tracks before traversing such  crossing.  The  failure  to
erect,  or the erection of, or failure to replace or maintain such signs
shall not be a basis for any action of negligence against a municipality
or the state nor a basis of a defense by a railroad in an  action  based
on negligence against a railroad.
  S 7. This act shall take effect immediately.

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