HB 5429 Summary

• Expands pedestrian crossing rights at marked and unmarked crosswalks to include pedestrians who signal intent by raising their hand, moving their body, or moving mobility devices toward oncoming traffic, effective October 1, 2021.

• Establishes Vision Zero Council led by Commissioner of Transportation to develop state-wide policy to eliminate transportation-related fatalities and severe injuries; council must submit annual recommendations to transportation committee by February 1, 2022 and each year thereafter.

• Grants municipalities authority to establish, modify, and maintain speed limits without state approval if authorized by legislative vote and traffic authority conducts engineering study; allows pedestrian safety zones with speed limits as low as 20 mph in downtown districts or near hospitals.

• Increases additional violation fees from $20 to $25 for traffic violations including speeding, reckless driving, and vehicle door infractions; creates new infraction for opening vehicle doors into moving traffic.

• Modifies greenways commemorative license plate fees to $50 for standard plates and $70 for special plates with proceeds deposited into greenways commemorative account to fund capital grant programs and bikeway/pedestrian walkway projects.