HOSPITAL SIGNS ON HIGHWAYS - S.B. 396 (S-1): FIRST ANALYSIS
Senate Bill 396 (Substitute S-1 as passed by the Senate)
Sponsor: Senator Thaddeus G. McCotter
Committee: Transportation and Tourism
Date Completed: 7-5-01
RATIONALE
Traffic signs are placed along, beside, or above a highway, roadway, pathway, or other route to guide, warn, and regulate the flow of traffic, including motor vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, and other travelers. Blue traffic signs with white lettering tell motorists about services and give guidance. A blue sign with a white "H" indicates that a hospital is located at the next exit. Some people believe that an additional sign indicating the hospital's name and location would be beneficial in alerting motorists to the presence of a hospital.
CONTENT
The bill would amend Public Act 205 of 1941, which provides for the construction and maintenance of limited access highways, to require the Department of Transportation to place and maintain on all limited access highways signs indicating exits that were within two miles of a hospital that provided 24-hour emergency care.
The signs would have to indicate the hospital's name and the exit number of the exit that was within two miles of the hospital. At least one sign would have to be placed for each exit that was within two miles of a hospital that provided 24-hour emergency care.
The Department would be required to adopt guidelines specifying the size, shape, design, number, and placement of the signs authorized under the bill.
The Department could not remove signs on limited access highways that existed on the bill's effective date and that indicated exits within 10 miles of a hospital that provided 24-hour emergency care but that did not otherwise satisfy the bill's requirements.
MCL 252.52
ARGUMENTS
(Please note: The arguments contained in this analysis originate from sources outside the Senate Fiscal Agency. The Senate Fiscal Agency neither supports nor opposes legislation.)
Supporting Argument
The placement of signs on limited access highways indicating the name and exit numbers of hospitals that provide 24-hour emergency care, would alert motorists to the presence of these facilities in their area. By requiring the Department to install these signs, the bill could help people find medical care in a timely manner.
Opposing Argument
The bill is unnecessary because a national standard sign notifying motorists of a nearby hospital is already available. The excess use of signs in a given location may reduce the effectiveness of all the signs at that location.
- Legislative Analyst: N. Nagata
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would result in additional costs to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) associated with the requirement that the Department place and maintain on highways signs that indicated exits within two miles of a 24-hour emergency care facility. According to the Michigan Department of Consumer and Industry Services, there are 174 hospitals that would require signage. If satellite locations are taken into consideration, over 250 locations would require signage. Based on MDOT estimates for the signs ($2,000 each), the bill would increase State costs by $1.0 million (assuming two signs per location).
- Fiscal Analyst: C. ThielA0102\s396a
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.