I-80 project master plan.

2017
STATE OF WYOMING
17LSO-0634
Introduced
1.2

SENATE FILE

NO.

SF0140

I-80 project master plan.

Sponsored by:
Senator(s) Von Flatern and Meier and Representative(s) Eklund

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to highways; providing that the department of transportation shall conduct a study and develop a master project plan for Interstate 80 as specified; requiring reports; providing for review by the legislature; providing an appropriation; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section
1
.

I
n order to accommodate the traveling public thro
ugh safe, efficient, convenient
and modern vehicular traffic, it is necessary and in the public interest for the state to study the needs and develop the plans necessary to construct, operate, maintain and finance essential
improvements to Interstate 80.

Section 2.

(a)

As used in this act
:

(
i
)"
Interstate 80
" means the entire length of i
nterstate
highway
80 in Wyoming, or as specifically designated in the project master plan;

(ii)

"
Project
"
means any h
ighway improvement, maintenance
and services related to any part of
I
nterstate 80 and all matters related to the financing option associated herewith;

(iii)

"
Project master plan
"
means a comprehensive plan for a project, or a series of projects, as required by this legislation.

Section 3.

(a)

The Wyoming department of transportation shall conduct, or contract with other persons to conduct,
a
project master plan to enhance the safety and mobility of
I
nterstate 80. The project master plan shall consider, but not be limited to, the issue
s
relate
d
to the improvem
ents and implementation of the following
:

(
i
)

Current and projected traffic levels, especially truck traffic, with
projected volumes through 2040;

(ii)

High frequency crash and road closure locations;

(iii)

Roadway and bridge safety enhancements and reconstruction;

(iv)

Constructing
additional lanes to be shared by all vehicles;

(v)

Constructing additional lanes that would be restricted to certain traffic;

(vi)

A
cost comparison of reconstructing the highway using different methods of highway paving;

(vii)

Reconstructing the
I
nterstate 25 and
I
nterstate 80
interchange;

(viii)

Currently available and anticipated intelligent traffic control devices to promote the safe and efficient flow of
traffic;

(ix)

The impact of
,
and p
otential

requirements
for
,

accommodating
autonomous vehicles on
I
nterstate 80
in the future
.

(b)

Previous
studie
s shall be reviewed, considered
and updated,
including
but not limited to:

(
i
)

Interstate 80
t
olling
f
easibility
s
tudies (October 2008 and November 2009);

(ii)

I-80/I-25
i
nterchange
s
tudy (November 2008).

(c)

The project master plan shall:

(
i
)

Identify cost effective roadway templates and provide a detailed description of the roadway under the specific improvement sce
narios listed in paragraphs (a
)
(
i
) through (
ix
) of this section;

(ii)

Identify any safety improvements that will be realized;

(iii)

Estimate the associated construction and maintenance costs utilizing cost estimate information from the Wyoming department of transportation;

(iii)

Complete a fiscal and financial impact analysis;

(iv)

Present
all reasonable and feasible options and identify all reasonable and feasible funding source alternatives from which to finance projects;

(v)

Define financial assumptions and the need of Wyoming to provide additional financial assurance for debt, the availability of bond insurance, the likelihood that
investment grade rating can be obtain
ed
, the potential for public financing options and
any
others as appropriate;

(vi)

Describe
any necessary legislation for the Wyoming
l
egislature to consider before proceeding w
ith any project;

(vii)

Consider federal funding impacts, funding sources, opportunities and alternatives and develop strategies based on the specific improvements;

(viii)

Prepare the necessary information to facilitate possible federal grant funding requests for any project emphasizing the impact on safety, the economy, the significance to the region and nation, the quality of life and the environment
;

(ix)

Demonstrate the increased reliability of the movement of freight and mobility of the public, effective partnerships and the use of innovation to maintain
I
nterstate 80 in a state of good repair.

Section 4.

Upon completion, the project master plan shall be presented to
the transportation commission.
If the project master plan is approved by the commission, a copy shall be provided to the joint transportation, highways and military affairs interim committee on or before September 30, 2017.

Section 5.

The transportation commission and the department of transportation have the authority to develop a project master plan and submit all or portions thereof for funding from the United States.

Section 6.

There is appropriated from the
legislative stabilization reserve account to the highway
fund three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000
.00
) for the execution of this act. Any unused and unobligated funds shall revert as provided by law on June 30, 2018.

Section
7.

This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

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SF0140