SB 407 — AN ACT CONCERNING THE NEW BRITAIN TO HARTFORD BUSWAY.

General Assembly ProposedCommittee Bill No.

18135950 Referred to Committee on TRANSPORTATION Introduced by:

(TRA) AN ACT CONCERNING THE NEW BRITAIN TO HARTFORD BUSWAY.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1.

Section 13b-15a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) The Commissioner of Transportation may designate the [Hartford-New Britain] New Britain to Hartford busway project to be accomplished on a total cost basis.

If the commissioner designates the [Hartford-New Britain] New Britain to Hartford busway project as a total cost basis project, the commissioner may enter into a single contract with a private developer, which includes such project elements as engineering design and construction.

The contract for said project shall be based on competitive proposals received by the commissioner, who shall give notice of the project and specifications for the project, by advertising, at least once, in a newspaper having a substantial circulation in the [Hartford-New Britain area] New Britain and Hartford areas.

Award of the total cost contract shall be based on qualifications, technical merit of the proposals and cost.

The commissioner shall determine all criteria, requirements and conditions LCO No.

5950 1 of 5 Committee Bill No.407 for such proposals and award and shall have sole responsibility for all other aspects of the contract.

If applicable, the contract shall state clearly the responsibilities of the developer to deliver a completed and acceptable project on a date certain and the maximum cost of the project.

(b) Prior to any expansion of the New Britain to Hartford busway, the Commissioner of Transportation shall file a request for approval of the proposed expansion plan with the clerks of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The proposed expansion plan shall not be implemented unless approved by the General Assembly.

The General Assembly may approve the proposed expansion plan by a majority vote of each house or may reject the proposed expansion plan by a majority vote of either house.

If the General Assembly is in session, the General Assembly shall vote to approve or reject the proposed expansion plan not later than thirty days after the commissioner files the proposed expansion plan with the clerks.

If the General Assembly is not in session when the request for approval is filed, the clerks shall submit the proposed expansion plan to the General Assembly not later than ten days after the first day of the next regular session or a special session called for such purpose.

The proposed expansion plan shall be deemed rejected if the General Assembly fails to vote to approve or reject the proposed expansion plan not later than thirty days after the department files the request for approval with the clerks.

Such thirty-day period shall not begin or expire unless the General Assembly is in regular session.

If the regular session adjourns prior to such thirtieth day and the proposed expansion plan has not been acted upon, the request for approval shall be deemed filed on the first day of the next regular session.

For the purposes of this subsection, any request for approval of a proposed expansion plan filed with the clerks within thirty days before the commencement of a regular session of the General Assembly shall be deemed to be filed on the first day of such session.

(c) Not later than July 1, 2020, and biannually thereafter, the LCO No.

5950 2 of 5 Committee Bill No.407 Commissioner of Transportation shall submit a report, in accordance with section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to transportation concerning the operation of the New Britain to Hartford busway.

The report shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:

The number of passengers, the fare revenue generated per passenger and the cost of operation and maintenance.

The first report submitted pursuant to this subsection shall include, but not be limited to, such information on a monthly basis since the New Britain to Hartford busway commenced operations.

Sec.

2.

Subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 13b-79p of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(2) Implementing the [New Britain-Hartford] New Britain to Hartford busway, subject to the availability of federal funds and the provisions of subsection (b) of section 13b-15a, as amended by this act, and ensuring that all streets in the city of Hartford intersecting with said busway are equipped with sufficient signage, gates, traffic lights and other equipment to provide (A) that all such streets remain open to vehicular and pedestrian traffic for not less than twenty hours per day, and (B) safe passage across any such street by trains at any time;

Sec.

3.

Subsection (e) of section 13a-123 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(e) The following types of signs, displays and devices may, with the approval of and subject to regulations adopted by the commissioner, be permitted within the six-hundred-sixty-foot area of interstate, primary and other limited access state highways, except as prohibited by state statute, local ordinance or zoning regulation:

(1) Directional and other official signs or notices, which signs and notices shall include, but not be limited to, signs and notices pertaining to natural wonders and scenic and historical attractions which are required or LCO No.

5950 3 of 5 Committee Bill No.407 authorized by law;

(2) signs, displays and devices advertising the sale or lease of the property upon which they are located;

(3) signs, displays and devices advertising activities conducted on the property on which they are located;

(4) signs, displays or advertising devices which are in place for sixty days or less;