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S06715 Summary:

S06715 Actions:

S06715 Floor Votes:

S06715 Text:

 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          6715
 
                    IN SENATE
 
                                     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:
 
     1    Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is  amended  by  adding  a  new
     2  section 106 to read as follows:
     3    §  106.  Circulatory  roadway.    The roadway within a circular inter-
     4  section on which traffic travels in a counterclockwise direction  around
     5  a central island.
     6    § 2. Section 120 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a
     7  new subdivision (c) to read as follows:
     8    (c)  A circular intersection contains an island, generally circular in
     9  design, located in the center of the intersection where  traffic  passes
    10  to the right of the island.
    11    §  3.  The  vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section
    12  140-d to read as follows:

    13    § 140-d. Roundabout.  A circular intersection which  is  characterized
    14  by  a  circulatory  roadway  with counterclockwise movement, channelized
    15  approaches, low speeds, and yield control of entering traffic.  A round-
    16  about encompasses the area bounded by the outermost  curb  line  or,  if
    17  there  is  no curb, the edge of the pavement, and includes crosswalks on
    18  any entering or exiting roadway.
    19    § 4. Section 1116 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by  chap-
    20  ter 356 of the laws of 1971, is amended to read as follows:
    21    § 1116. [Lane direction] Lane-use control signal indications. Whenever
    22  traffic  is  controlled  by  [lane direction] lane-use control [signals]

    23  signal indications located over the individual lanes of a highway,  only
    24  the  colors green, yellow, white and red shall be used, and said signals
    25  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
 
     1    (a) Traffic facing a steady downward  [pointing]  green  arrow  signal
     2  [may  travel  in any lane over which such signal is located]  indication
     3  is permitted to drive in the lane over which the arrow signal indication
     4  is located.

     5    (b)  Traffic  facing  a steady yellow X signal [is thereby warned that
     6  the related green downward arrow indication is being terminated and that
     7  a red X indication will be exhibited  immediately  thereafter  and  such
     8  traffic  shall vacate, in a safe manner, the lane over which such signal
     9  is located] indication shall prepare to vacate the lane over  which  the
    10  signal indication is located because a lane control change is being made
    11  to a steady red X signal indication.
    12    (c)  Traffic facing a [flashing yellow X signal may travel in any lane
    13  over which such signal is shown preparatory to making a left turn, using
    14  proper caution] steady white two-way left-turn arrow  signal  indication

    15  is  permitted  to use a lane over which the signal indication is located
    16  for a left turn, but not for through travel, with the understanding that
    17  common use of the lane by oncoming road users for  left  turns  is  also
    18  permitted.
    19    (d) Traffic facing a [steady red X signal shall not enter or travel in
    20  any  lane  over which such signal is located] steady white one way left-
    21  turn arrow signal indication is permitted to use a lane over  which  the
    22  signal  indication is located for a left turn (without opposing turns in
    23  the same lane), but not for through travel.
    24    (e) Traffic facing a steady red X signal shall not use the  lane  over
    25  which  the signal indication is located and this signal indication shall

    26  modify accordingly the meaning of other traffic controls present.
    27    § 5. Section 1127 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended to read as
    28  follows:
    29    § 1127. One-way roadways and [rotary  traffic  islands]  and  circular
    30  intersections.  (a) Upon a roadway designated and signposted for one-way
    31  traffic, a vehicle shall be driven only in the direction designated.
    32    (b) A vehicle passing around a [rotary traffic island] circular inter-
    33  section shall be driven only to the right of [such]  the  island  unless
    34  otherwise indicated by traffic control devices.
    35    §  6. Section 1685 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chap-
    36  ter 217 of the laws of 1972, is amended to read as follows:

    37    § 1685. All vehicles must stop or  yield  at  certain  railroad  grade
    38  crossings  where  a stop or yield sign is erected. The state transporta-
    39  tion commissioner, with respect to state highways, and local authorities
    40  with respect to  local  streets  within  their  jurisdiction,  with  the
    41  approval  of the state transportation commissioner are hereby authorized
    42  to install a stop or yield sign at any highway-railroad crossings within
    43  their respective jurisdictions.
    44    The design and place and manner of installation of  such  signs  shall
    45  conform to the manual and specifications for a uniform system of traffic
    46  control devices adopted by the state transportation commissioner.
    47    Whenever  any  such crossing is so designated and a stop or yield sign
    48  is installed, it shall be unlawful for the driver of any vehicle to fail

    49  to stop or yield within fifty feet but not less than fifteen  feet  from
    50  such  railroad  tracks  before  traversing such crossing. The failure to
    51  erect, or the erection of, or failure to replace or maintain such  signs
    52  shall not be a basis for any action of negligence against a municipality
    53  or  the  state nor a basis of a defense by a railroad in an action based
    54  on negligence against a railroad.
    55    § 7. This act shall take effect immediately.