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| Public Act 094-0493 |
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AN ACT concerning school students.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, | ||||
represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The Department of Transportation Law of the | ||||
Civil Administrative Code is amended by adding Section 2705-317 | ||||
as follows: | ||||
(20 ILCS 2705/2705-317 new)
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Sec. 2705-317. Safe Routes to School Construction Program. | ||||
(a) Upon enactment of a federal transportation bill with a | ||||
dedicated fund available to states for safe routes to schools, | ||||
the Department, in cooperation with the State Board of | ||||
Education and the Department of State Police, shall establish | ||||
and administer a Safe Routes to School Construction Program for | ||||
the construction of bicycle and pedestrian safety and | ||||
traffic-calming projects using the federal Safe Routes to | ||||
Schools Program funds. | ||||
(b) The Department shall make construction grants
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available to local governmental agencies under the Safe Routes | ||||
to School
Construction Program based on the results of a | ||||
statewide competition
that requires submission of Safe Routes | ||||
to School proposals for funding
and that rates those proposals | ||||
on all of the following factors:
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(1) Demonstrated needs of the grant applicant.
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(2) Potential of the proposal for reducing child | ||||
injuries and
fatalities.
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(3) Potential of the proposal for encouraging | ||||
increased
walking and bicycling among students.
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(4) Identification of safety hazards.
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(5) Identification of current and potential walking | ||||
and
bicycling routes to school.
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(6) Consultation and support for projects by | ||||
school-based
associations, local traffic engineers, local | ||||
elected officials, law
enforcement agencies, and school | ||
officials.
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(7) Proximity to parks and other recreational | ||
facilities.
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With respect to the use of federal Safe Routes to Schools | ||
Program funds, prior to
the award of a construction grant or | ||
the use of those funds for a Safe Routes
to
School
project | ||
encompassing a highway, the Department shall
consult with and | ||
obtain approval from the Department of State Police
and the | ||
highway authority with jurisdiction to ensure that the Safe | ||
Routes to School proposal is consistent with a
statewide | ||
pedestrian safety statistical analysis.
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(c) On March 30, 2006 and each March 30th thereafter, the | ||
Department shall submit a report to the General Assembly | ||
listing
and describing the projects funded under the Safe | ||
Routes to School
Construction Program.
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(d) The Department shall study the effectiveness of
the | ||
Safe Routes to School Construction Program, with particular | ||
emphasis on the
Program's effectiveness in reducing traffic | ||
accidents and its contribution
to improving safety and reducing | ||
the number of child injuries and
fatalities in the vicinity of | ||
a Safe Routes to School project. The Department shall
submit a | ||
report to the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2006
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regarding the results of the study.
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(e) The Department, the State Board of Education,
and the | ||
Department of State Police may adopt any rules necessary to
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implement this Section.
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law. | ||