AGENDA DATE: 1/8/2020
TITLE:
Title
Resolution in Support of Traffic Incident Management Legislation
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Adoption of a resolution of support for an upcoming bill in the Virginia General Assembly session concerning safety on our highways.
ITEM TYPE: Consent Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Walker, Kamptner
PRESENTER (S): N/A
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors sent a letter dated November 5, 2019 (Attachment A) requesting the Board of Supervisors consider adopting a resolution of support for an upcoming bill in the Virginia General Assembly session concerning safety in congested Interstate corridors.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Infrastructure Investment: Prioritize, plan, and invest in critical infrastructure that responds to past and future changes and improves the capacity to serve community needs.
DISCUSSION: Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) safety service patrol vehicles, also known as traffic incident management (TIM) vehicles, operate on the I-95, I-495, I-295, I-81 and I-64 Interstate corridors. TIM vehicles are dispatched by VDOT Transportation Operation Centers or Virginia State Police dispatchers to support first responders by clearing major accidents. VDOT currently uses amber lights for TIM vehicles, and are frequently delayed in responding due to traffic which does not yield the right of way to amber lighted vehicles. Proposed legislation would authorize TIM vehicles to be:
(i) equipped with flashing red or red and white warning lights,
(ii) exempt from certain traffic regulations in particular situations, and
(iii) equipped with a siren, exhaust whistle, or air horn.
The proposed legislation would also add TIM vehicles to the list of stopped vehicles for which the operator of a motor vehicle must move over or proceed with caution. The legislation would also require TIM drivers to undergo an emergency vehicle op...
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