FISCAL NOTE
Date Requested: January 14, 2023
Time Requested: 02:49 PM |
| Agency: |
Highways, Division of |
|---|
| CBD Number: |
Version: |
Bill Number: |
Resolution Number: |
| 2192 |
Introduced |
HB2020 |
|
|---|
| CBD Subject: |
|
|---|
|
FUND(S):
State Road Fund
Sources of Revenue:
Special Fund
Legislation creates:
Creates New Expense
Fiscal Note Summary
Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.
Summarize in a clear and concise manner what impact this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.
It is estimated that implementation of the requirements proposed in HB2020 would result in a one time costs of approximately $895,000.
The WV Division of Highways (DOH) typically installs large 8ft x 11ft "signal ahead" fluorescent warning signs with "continuous" flashers (flashers that flash on a continual basis) in advance of newly installed and renovated traffic signals on expressways as a standard practice. It is estimated that there are twenty-three (23) signalized intersections on expressways with posted speed limits of 60 MPH or greater. It is estimated that approximately two (2) of these intersections do not currently have the advance warning signs described in place. The estimated cost is based on the cost of a project to a) install the above described signal ahead signs with "coordinated" flashers (flashes that flash only for the purpose of notifying drivers of the imminent change of the signal indication to red as proposed) at all 60+ MPH intersections where they currently don't exist, and b) to convert the function of all of the existing continuous flashers to coordinated.
Fiscal Note Detail
| Effect of Proposal |
Fiscal Year |
2023
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
2024
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation) |
| 1. Estmated Total Cost |
0 |
895,000 |
895,000 |
| Personal Services |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Current Expenses |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Repairs and Alterations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Assets |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. Estimated Total Revenues |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):
Please explain increases and decreases in personal services, current expenses, repairs and alterations, assets, other costs and revenues, including assumptions and data sources and delineation between start-up and ongoing costs. Please also include a long-range schedule of costs and revenues if fiscal impact is expected to vary in future years.
Memorandum
Please identify any areas of vagueness, technical defects, reasons a bill would not have a fiscal impact, and/or any special issues not captured elsewhere on this form.
DOH advises against the implementation of coordinated flashers as described in proposed HB2020, as opposed to the continuous flashers that are currently utilized. The Agency previously performed a study using coordinated flashers with advance signal warning signs a number of years ago which resulting the Agency making the decision to covert the flashers continuous operation.
The study provided evidence that the continuous flashers operated at a higher safety level than the coordinated flashers. The overall crash rate was actually lower for intersections where the flashers operated continuously. As a result of the study, there were concerns noted that the coordinated flashers may condition motorists to dismiss the act of perceiving and reacting to the signal indications once the driver established as expectation from motorists that if they are within the proximity of the advance flashers and the flashers are not operating, they will have a green light when they reach the intersection., Should for any reason the flashers not operate due to power failure, burned out lamps, loss of communication with the signal, or any other reasons, a catastrophic event could result. The study also provided evidence of the coordinated flashers having the opposite of the intended effect with some drivers. Observations were made of a portion of the drivers taking advantage of the coordinated flashers by accelerating with the flashers turned on in an effort to try to beat the signal and ran the red light in many cases. Of note, some operators of large commercial trucks were observed to engage in this.
In response to a previous inquiry regarding coordinated flashers, it was noted at the time that the State of Ohio had used these types of flashers in the past and was in the process of converting the flashers to continuous operation.
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Lorrie Hodges
Email Address: lorrie.a.hodges@wv.gov