Title
Ordinance No. 16-2 creating a new Section 103 (Yielding Right-Of-Way to Transit Buses) of Article 2 (Right of Way) of Chapter 10 (Motor Vehicles and Traffic) of the Code of the City of Colorado Springs 2001, as amended, pertaining to yielding the right-of-way to transit buses.
Body
From:
Craig Blewitt, Transit Services Manager
Summary:
This is a request to approve an ordinance to require drivers of motor vehicles to yield the right-of-way to a bus when the bus is re-entering traffic at a bus stop, and when the bus has an illuminated Yield to Bus sign. This ordinance is enabled by state legislation passed in 2009. The fourteen new buses delivered in November and scheduled to be delivered in February 2016 are equipped with the illuminating Yield to Bus signs.
Previous Council Action:
N/A
Background:
Motorists yielding to buses as they re-enter traffic from a bus stop will improve traffic safety and improve the productivity of the City’s transit system. Delays in returning to traffic hurt transit on-time performance and result in unproductive time along bus routes. The signs will also clarify for motorists when to yield to buses that have pulled-out of the traffic flow, improving driver certainty and reducing dangerous driving maneuvers.
The Colorado Legislature passed, and the Governor signed, a Yield to Bus law in 2009, allowing the enforcement of the law if buses returning to traffic have an illuminated Yield to Bus sign on the rear of the bus. Several Colorado municipalities have been enforcing the law since then, including cities in the Denver Metropolitan Area where the Denver Regional Transit District (RTD) operates. Approving a municipal ordinance eases local enforcement of the law’s provisions.
This proposed ordinance was written by the City Attorney’s Office and is supported by the City Traffic Engineer and Colorado Springs Police Department. It is also supported by McDonald Transit, the City’s bus operations contractor. Transit Services Division Staff will work closely with the Police Department, Traffic Engineering, and City Communications staff to develop public information and law enforcement plans.
Financial Implications:
N/A
Board/Commission Recommendation:
N/A
Stakeholder Process:
N/A
Alternatives:
Approve
Not Approve
Recommended Action
Proposed Motion:
N/A
Summary of Ordinance Language
Vehicle drivers will be required to yield the right-of-way to City transit buses when the transit bus is signaling an intention to reenter traffic and the transit bus has an active illuminated yield sign on the transit bus.