HOUSE BILL 1077

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2005

INTRODUCED BY

Rick Miera

AN ACT

RELATING TO TRAFFIC SAFETY; MAKING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM MANDATORY; PROVIDING FOR PROGRAM EVALUATION OF THE STATE, COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES WITH RESPECT TO FUNDING; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. Section 66-7-513 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 148, Section 2) is amended to read:

     "66-7-513. SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM.--

          A. The "safe routes to school program" is created within the department to increase and make safer a student's ability to walk or ride a bicycle to school.

          B. The program [may be established to] shall:

                (1) provide funding assistance to the state, counties and municipalities to identify school route hazards and implement engineering improvements, including:

                     (a) installing sidewalks;

                     (b) painting crosswalks and other street and sidewalk areas;

                     (c) installing traffic signals;

                     (d) making street improvements;

                     (e) providing lighting;

                     (f) providing bus shelters, particularly in isolated or rural areas;

                     (g) [cutting curbs] providing facilities for handicapped access; and

                     (h) other safety improvements;

                (2) develop criteria, in conjunction with the department's bicycle, pedestrian and equestrian committee, school districts and law enforcement agencies and with input from parents, teachers and school administrators, to be used in evaluating the applications of the state, counties and municipalities for program funding; and

                (3) include information about the safe routes to school program in public awareness campaigns about traffic safety."

     Section 2. APPROPRIATION.--One million dollars ($1,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the department of transportation for expenditure in fiscal year 2005 for the safe routes to school program. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2005 shall revert to the general fund.

     Section 3. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.

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