SS SS SCS SB 970, 968, 921, 867, 868 & 738 -- Transportation

Sponsor:  Westfall

This substitute removes the 2008 expiration of the 6-cent gas tax
increase adopted in 1992 and eliminates the requirement that road
projects be bid in sections not to exceed 10 miles.

The substitute authorized the Department of Transportation to
enter into three pilot design-build projects.  The design-build
projects will be selected from projects included in the 1992
15-Year Plan.  The authority to enter into these projects will
expire on July 1, 2012, unless extended.

The substitute removes the cap on the amount of aviation jet tax
revenues which may be deposited in the Aviation Trust Fund.
Current law only permits $5 million of the aviation jet fuel tax
revenues to be placed in the fund.  The substitute changes the
expiration date on the aviation jet fuel tax section to December
31, 2008.  Under current law, the Highways and Transportation
Commission may match state funds at a 80% level and local funds
at a 20% level.  This is changed to a 90/10 formula.  The
substitute modifies the language regarding the deposit of
unclaimed aviation fuel refunds.  Currently, a person who fails
to apply for a refund is regarded as making a gift of his or her
refund to the Aviation Trust Fund.

The substitute also:

(1)  Prohibits persons from transporting hazardous material
through highway tunnels and from parking vehicles containing
hazardous materials within 300 feet of a highway tunnel unless
allowed by federal regulations.  Violation of this provision is a
class B misdemeanor for the first offense and a class A
misdemeanor for a second or subsequent offense;

(2)  Requires applicants for commercial driver's licences to
comply with the requirements of the U.S. Patriot Act of 2001;

(3)  Expands the commercial zone around Kansas City from 12 miles
to 15 miles for truck weight limitation purposes;

(4)  Authorizes the General Assembly to appropriate up to $1
million annually from the General Revenue Fund to upgrade
nonstate highway system bridges.  The department will administer
the project and must utilize one of the innovation centers
authorized as the contracting organization for the project.
Moneys from the fund must be used for the analysis and
reinforcement of existing nonstate highway bridges that require
strengthening to eliminate load posting.  Bridges which are
currently under the responsibility of the department will not be
eligible for the project.  The project will utilize the Center
for Infrastructure Engineering Studies at the University of
Missouri-Rolla for the selection of bridges that can be
strengthened by the use of technology that has been developed at
the university.  The center will also create and lead an industry
consortium to perform the structural analysis and technology
application required for the strengthening of the selected
bridges.  The University of Missouri-Rolla must match every $2
appropriated with $1 from its operating funds;

(5)  Modifies the definition of "abandoned property" to include
any motor vehicle involved in an accident whereby the law
enforcement official requests the vehicle to be removed from the
scene because the operator or owner is unable to arrange for the
abandoned property's timely removal;

(6)  Allows the department to contract with private individuals
to mow and maintain the rights-of-way;

(7)  Increases the fees collected by non-Department of Revenue
offices for biennial licenses issued and for six-year licenses.
The fees for licenses renewed biennially are increased from $4 to
$5 beginning August 28, 2002.  Beginning July 1, 2003, licenses
renewed annually are increased from $2.50 to $3.50 and biennial
licenses are increased from $5.00 to $7.50.  Beginning July 1,
2003, fees for six-year driver's licenses are increased from $4
to $5.  Beginning July 1, 2003, all Department of Revenue branch
offices will be required to collect the same fees charged by fee
offices.

Regarding billboards, the substitute:

(1)  Updates requirements of federal law to include primaries as
of June 1, 1991;

(2)  Allows tri-vision, projection, and changeable message signs
to be subject to Department of Transportation regulations;

(3)  Allows cutouts and extensions on nonconforming signs;

(4)  Makes existing stacked signs legal nonconforming.  When
stacked signs were prohibited in 1999, the statute provided that
existing signs were not conforming which meant they could be
rebuilt.  By making existing signs legal nonconforming, the signs
could be phased out over time as they need replacing;

(5)  Adopts a minimum of 1,400 feet (up from 500 feet) spacing
between signs on all primary and interstate highways;

(6)  Modifies the definition of "unzoned commercial and
industrial land" by expanding the commercial activity area from
600 feet to 750 feet on either side of a qualifying business;

(7)  Allows billboards in agricultural-zoned areas if they meet
certain requirements;

(8)  Eliminates the opposite side of the road as part of the
unzoned commercial areas on primaries and interstates;

(9)  Requires businesses to have the presence of an owner or
employee on the premises for at least 20 hours per week in order
to be considered a valid business when determining whether a
property is commercial or industrial;

(10)  Increases the original permit fee to erect a billboard from
$28.50 to $200;

(11)  Increases biennial inspection fees to $50 on August 28,
2002, $75 on August 28, 2003, and $100 on August 28, 2004;

(12)  Allows for the non-compensated removal of billboards for
failing to pay fees over 12 months;

(13)  Increases the amount of time to cure a billboard violation
from 30 to 60 days and requires actual notice of a violation
before removal of a sign;

(14)  Requires vegetation permits to be issued according to
current department rules and regulations and allows certain
utility companies to remove and trim vegetation without a permit.

The substitute contains an emergency clause.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated October 11, 2002 at 9:04 am