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F I S C A L   I M P A C T   R E P O R T

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Rainaldi

 

DATE TYPED:

3/3/03

 

HB

 

 

SHORT TITLE:

Restrictions for Heavy Vehicle

 

SB

594

 

 

ANALYST:

Wilson

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

 

 

$486.5

Non-Recurring

State Road Fund

 

 

 

$50.0

Recurring

State Road Fund

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Responses Received From

State Highway and Transportation Department (SHTD)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

Senate Bill 594 would require a reduction of the allowable speed from 75 mph to 65 mph for truck tractors or road tractors having a gross vehicle weight of 48,000 pounds or more, and restrict those vehicles to traveling in the right-hand lane except while passing.

 

     Significant Issues

 

SHTD claims SB594 will result in greater speed variances and increase car and truck interactions. This will be a significant factor in increased crash frequency.

 

Enforcement of current speed limits will provide for reduced speed dispersion and enhance drivers' safety.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

In order to limit the provisions of SB 594, the SHTD will have to fabricate and install additional signs indicating reduced truck speed limits and lane restrictions. Considering New Mexico has 2000 miles of interstate highways (1000 miles for each direction of travel) and two signs for each direction of travel should be placed at 10-mile intervals, a total of 400 reduced speed limit signs and 400 lane restriction signs would need to be manufactured and installed. A breakdown of the cost to manufacture and install the signs is as follows:

 

            Signage                        $176.0

            Posts                            $304.0

Mobilization                  $    6.5

Estimated Costs          $486.5

 

Besides the initial capital cost of the sign materials and installation, annual sign maintenance and replacement costs would be incurred. Assuming an incident rate of 10%, an estimate of $50,000 for annual expenses is expected

 

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

 

The SHTD and the State Police staffs will have to implement and enforce the provisions of SB 594 with existing staff resources.

 

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