November 14, 2006, Introduced by Rep. Kolb and referred to the Committee on Transportation.
A bill to amend 1951 PA 51, entitled
"An act to provide for the classification of all public roads,
streets, and highways in this state, and for the revision of that
classification and for additions to and deletions from each
classification; to set up and establish the Michigan transportation
fund; to provide for the deposits in the Michigan transportation
fund of specific taxes on motor vehicles and motor vehicle fuels;
to provide for the allocation of funds from the Michigan
transportation fund and the use and administration of the fund for
transportation purposes; to set up and establish the truck safety
fund; to provide for the allocation of funds from the truck safety
fund and administration of the fund for truck safety purposes; to
set up and establish the Michigan truck safety commission; to
establish certain standards for road contracts for certain
businesses; to provide for the continuing review of transportation
needs within the state; to authorize the state transportation
commission, counties, cities, and villages to borrow money, issue
bonds, and make pledges of funds for transportation purposes; to
authorize counties to advance funds for the payment of deficiencies
necessary for the payment of bonds issued under this act; to
provide for the limitations, payment, retirement, and security of
the bonds and pledges; to provide for appropriations and tax levies
by counties and townships for county roads; to authorize
contributions by townships for county roads; to provide for the
establishment and administration of the state trunk line fund,
local bridge fund, comprehensive transportation fund, and certain
other funds; to provide for the deposits in the state trunk line
fund, critical bridge fund, comprehensive transportation fund, and
certain other funds of money raised by specific taxes and fees; to
provide for definitions of public transportation functions and
criteria; to define the purposes for which Michigan transportation
funds may be allocated; to provide for Michigan transportation fund
grants; to provide for review and approval of transportation
programs; to provide for submission of annual legislative requests
and reports; to provide for the establishment and functions of
certain advisory entities; to provide for conditions for grants; to
provide for the issuance of bonds and notes for transportation
purposes; to provide for the powers and duties of certain state and
local agencies and officials; to provide for the making of loans
for transportation purposes by the state transportation department
and for the receipt and repayment by local units and agencies of
those loans from certain specified sources; and to repeal acts and
parts of acts,"
(MCL 247.651 to 247.675) by adding section 1j.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1j. (1) The state transportation department shall
consider the use of carpool lanes in the design, construction,
maintenance, preservation, and improvement of state trunk line
highways. The state transportation department shall consider
allowing hybrid vehicles that use a combination of internal
combustion and electrically-generated power to use the carpool
lanes.
(2) If the state transportation department is required to
produce an environmental impact statement under the natural
resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL
324.101 to 324.90106, in a project that involves the design,
construction, maintenance, preservation, or improvement of state
trunk line highways, the state transportation department shall
produce a study of the feasibility of high occupancy vehicle lanes
for the project that requires an environmental impact statement and
is located in an urban area. If the department concludes that high-
occupancy vehicle lanes are not feasible for the project, the study
shall include reasons that support this conclusion. A copy of the
study shall be made available on the department's website.