Legislature(2009 - 2010)BUTROVICH 205
02/17/2009 01:00 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB59 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| * | SB 59 | ||
SB 59-LOW-SPEED MOTOR VEHICLES
SENATOR KOOKESH announced the consideration of SB 59.
1:03:46 PM
WESTON EILER, Staff to Senator Bert Stedman, said SB 59 would
allow low-speed vehicles - which travel at 25 mph or less -
access to roads that have a posted speed limit of 45 mph. The
current limit is 35 mph. The bill is designed to allow use of
low-speed electric vehicles on state roads in small communities.
He emphasized that the program is optional. DOTPF may express
concern about having low-speed vehicles in large urban areas and
the sponsor understands those concerns. For that reason the
local option in subsection (c) is unchanged. Any community that
has any concerns about low-speed vehicle use is empowered to opt
out.
At present there are more than 12 cost-effective low-speed
vehicles operating in Southeast communities. DOTPF estimates
that this bill will open an additional 30 miles of road in
Southeast Alaska communities to these low-speed vehicles. For
example, Wrangell residents would be able to access their
airport. The bill promotes sustainable transportation in small
communities while allowing flexibility in how low-speed vehicles
are regulated.
1:06:15 PM
DARWIN PETERSON, Staff to Senator Stedman, said he is available
for questions.
SENATOR MEYER asked if low-speed vehicles can attain a 45 mph
speed.
MR. EILER replied, by definition, low-speed vehicles top out at
25 mph.
SENATOR MEYER raised the issue of confusion if Palmer, for
example, were to opt out and Wasilla did not.
MR. EILER reiterated that low-speed vehicles are confined to
slower roadways within a community. Major roads with 55 mph
speed limits wouldn't be affected.
SENATOR MEYER observed that it wouldn't be a problem in
Anchorage.
1:08:43 PM
SENATOR MENARD restated the potential for confusion in more
urban areas.
MR. PETERSON said it would be a local option and the sponsor
anticipates that larger communities would opt out because of
potential traffic issues. Smaller communities in Senator
Stedman's district, for example, would likely allow the program
because very few road miles in those communities have speed
limits in excess of 35 mph.
1:09:52 PM
SENATOR KOOKESH said he doesn't understand the need to increase
the limit to 45 mph if low-speed vehicles only go 25 mph.
MR. PETERSON explained that in Sitka, for example, residents can
use their electric cars on all but 7 miles of road. Current
statute says low-speed vehicles can only travel on roadways that
have a maximum posted speed of 35 mph. The sponsor believes that
increasing the limit to 45 mph would increase accessibility,
particularly in small communities.
1:12:43 PM
SENATOR MENARD asked if the sponsor had considered waiting until
there are more than just 12 low-speed vehicles on the road.
MR. EILER said the number is just a rough estimate to
demonstrate that people are interested in cost-effective
sustainable transportation and want to access areas such as the
Wrangell airport. "We're certainly hearing from constituents
that this is something they'd like to see so that they can use
them throughout their small communities."
SENATOR MENARD asked if he has researched other small
communities in Western Alaska, for example, to know if they have
any of these electric cars.
MR. EILER replied he doesn't have specific information, but he'd
be happy to do more research.
SENATOR KOOKESH asked if there's a reason that "electric" isn't
in the title when it's used throughout the body of the bill.
1:16:19 PM
MR. PETERSON replied most low-speed vehicles are electric but
some are hybrid.
MR. EILER noted that in the packet are examples of low-speed
vehicles that are gas/electric hybrids.
SENATOR KOOKESH mentioned a small caravan type vehicle he saw in
Whale Pass that operates on a gas engine. The driver said she
only gets 20 miles per gallon, which didn't impress him.
SENATOR MEYER questioned why anyone would buy a car like that if
it didn't get good mileage. He asked if there are safety
concerns.
MR. EILER explained that low-speed vehicles aren't required to
have the same safety features as a standard car, which is one
reason the speed is capped at 25 mph.
MR. PETERSON added that low-speed vehicles they are aware of in
Southeast Alaska have roll bars and electric turn signals, but
in crash tests they don't rate as well as passenger vehicles.
SENATOR MEYER raised the issue of safety if they travel on the
same roadway as larger cars.
MR. PETERSON said if communities allow low-speed vehicles, they
would be sharing the roadway with regular sized vehicles when
the posted speed is up to 45 mph.
1:20:41 PM
SENATOR MENARD asked if four-wheelers can go faster than 25 mph
and would those drivers think they would be included under this.
MR. PETERSON explained that four wheelers are a separate class
of vehicle that is regulated differently. His can go 55 mph, but
it's not allowed on roads.
1:21:57 PM
ROGER HEALY, Chief Engineer, Division of Design & Engineering
Services, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
(DOTPF), said the department is in charge of planning, design,
construction, operation and maintenance of state highways. As
such, it has concerns related to safety and capacity of the
roadway. Roads are safest when vehicles travel at about the same
speed and this bill would increase the mean speed difference by
up to 20 miles an hour. DOTPF also has concerns related to
congestion, but does recognize that the sponsor is focusing on
rural communities and minor highways.
1:24:14 PM
MR. HEALY informed members that crashes increase as roadway
speed varies, and vehicles that are traveling 20 miles per hour
below the mean speed are five to eight times more likely to be
in an accident. Because the bill isn't intended for major urban
centers, the issues of congestion aren't at the forefront.
However, standard vehicles that are backed up behind a low-speed
vehicle won't be utilizing the fuel-efficiency for which they
were designed and capacity of the roadway is decreased. DOTPF
recognizes the intent of SB 59 and is ready to assist the
sponsor to move forward. As written, there are safety and
congestion issues.
SENATOR DAVIS asked if the department has suggestions to make
the bill more palatable.
MR. HEALY replied the concerns are highway specific, but one
factor is whether or not the road has wide shoulders so that
low-speed vehicles can move over to allow other vehicles to pass
unimpeded. Driver characteristics also must be considered. DOTPF
research indicates only Kentucky allows low-speed vehicles to
travel on roadways with a posted speed of 45 mph.
1:27:45 PM
SENATOR MENARD said she appreciates the concerns about safety
and congestion. The potential for others to get poor gas mileage
also gives her pause.
SENATOR KOOKESH asked if he would say that DOTPF opposes the
bill.
MR. HEALY replied "I would say that right now the department
would oppose this bill on issues of safety. … If the communities
had to undergo an active incorporation of this rather than by
default, then we may reconsider."
1:30:13 PM
GERALD HERBRANDSON, proprietor of Solar Wind of Alaska in
Petersburg, said he has been promoting the use of alternative
energy for 10 years. He would like to encourage the state to
enact legislation to support people who are attempting to be
environmentally conscience. This bill is about vehicles that
basically use a renewable energy resource rather than fossil
fuel. They are ideal for many Alaska communities and would fill
a transportation niche where internal combustion engines perform
poorly. He agrees that this is not appropriate everywhere but in
smaller communities where most trips are short these electric
vehicles are quite ideal.
SENATOR KOOKESH noted that Carl Springer and Stacy Oates from
Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) are online and available to
answer questions.
1:32:48 PM
JIM SCHRAMEK, representing himself, said he owns and operates an
electric car in Petersburg. This bill would help in communities
like his where destinations aren't far but have sections of road
that have a posted speed of 40 mph. This would not increase
hazard in and around Petersburg because you can pull over if
you're travelling too slowly. We need to look ways to transition
to new technologies, he said.
SENATOR KOOKESH asked Mr. Eiler to get together with the
administration to talk about limiting the bill to communities
that aren't connected to a major highway or have a population of
less than so many people. He suggested that adding that kind of
language may be the only way to get some kind of agreement. We
don't want to congest major highways or get into issues of
safety. "This may be a way of the future but we have to find out
some way in Alaska to make this work."
1:36:26 PM
SENATOR MENARD said she wants to hear about how this has worked
in Kentucky.
SENATOR KOOKESH stated that he wants SB 59 to move forward but
he would hold it for further work.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Senate Bill 59_Bill Packet.pdf |
STRA 2/17/2009 1:00:00 PM STRA 2/24/2009 1:00:00 PM |
operation of low speed vehicles relating to the operation of low-speed vehicles (Sen Stedman) |