SB 793

This bill requires the Department of Transportation to ensure, with exceptions,

that bikeways and pedestrian ways are established in all new highway construction

and reconstruction projects funded from state or federal funds (a policy commonly

known as “complete streets”).

Under current law, DOT generally must give due consideration to establishing

bikeways and pedestrian ways in all new highway construction and reconstruction

projects funded from state or federal funds. However, DOT may not establish a

bikeway or pedestrian way as part of a highway project if bicyclists or pedestrians

are prohibited from using the highway. DOT is also prohibited from establishing a

bikeway or pedestrian way as part of a state-funded project unless the governing

body of each municipality in which a portion of the project is located authorizes the

creation of the bikeway or pedestrian way.

Under the bill, DOT must ensure that bikeways and pedestrian ways are

established in all new highway construction and reconstruction projects funded from

state or federal funds. DOT must promulgate rules identifying exceptions to this

requirement, but the exceptions may be based only on one of several specified

criteria.