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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 904
January Session, 2023
AN ACT CONCERNING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE OFFICE
OF THE STATE TRAFFIC ADMINISTRATION AND THE DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION, THE DISSOLUTION OF THE NORWALK
TRANSIT DISTRICT AND ROUTE SHIELD PAVEMENT MARKINGS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 14-314 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 2
(a) Any person, firm or corporation failing to comply with any order 3
made pursuant to any provision of this chapter shall be fined not more 4
than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days or 5
both, and shall be subject to the provisions of section 14-111. Any 6
person, firm or corporation failing to comply with any traffic control 7
signal, sign, marking or other device placed and maintained upon the 8
highway, or with any regulation adopted pursuant to any provision of 9
this chapter, by the Office of the State Traffic Administration or the 10
traffic authority of any city, town or borough shall be deemed to have 11
committed an infraction, if no other penalty is provided by law. 12
Traveling at a greater rate of speed than is reasonable as provided in 13
section 14-218a, as amended by this act, shall not be deemed to be a 14
failure to comply with the provisions of this section but shall be 15
deemed to be the commission of an infraction within the provisions of 16
[said] section 14-218a, as amended by this act. 17 Substitute Bill No. 904
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(b) The Office of the State Traffic Administration shall provide 18
written notice to any city, town or borough that fails to comply with 19
any order made pursuant to any provision of this chapter or with any 20
regulation adopted pursuant to this chapter by the office specifying the 21
time within such city, town or borough shall comply with such order. 22
The office shall take into consideration the availability of equipment or 23
the need for the installation or purchase of any such equipment in 24
establishing the time for compliance. Any city, town or borough that 25
fails to comply with such order within the specified time shall be 26
ineligible to apply for any competitive grant program administered by 27
the Department of Transportation or the Office of Policy and 28
Management, including the small town economic assistance program 29
established pursuant to section 4-66g, for the purposes of funding a 30
transportation-related project located in such city, town or borough. 31
Sec. 2. Section 14-299 of the general statutes is repealed and the 32
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 33
(a) For the purpose of standardization and uniformity, no 34
installation of or revision to any traffic control signal light shall be 35
made by any town, city or borough until the same has been approved 36
by the Office of the State Traffic Administration. Such approval shall 37
be based on necessity for, location of and type of such signal light and 38
shall be applied for on a form supplied by the Office of the State Traffic 39
Administration and shall be submitted to said office by the traffic 40
authority having jurisdiction. Approval of any such signal light may be 41
revoked by the Office of the State Traffic Administration at any time if 42
said office deems such revocation to be in the interest of public safety, 43
and thereupon such signal lights shall be removed by the traffic 44
authority having jurisdiction. 45
(b) When traffic at an intersection is alternately directed to proceed 46
and to stop by the use of signals exhibiting colored lights or lighted 47
arrows, successively one at a time or in combination, only the colors 48
green, red and yellow shall be used, except for special [pedestrian 49
control] pedestrian-control signals carrying word legends [, said lights] 50 Substitute Bill No. 904
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or symbols. Such lights or arrows shall apply to drivers of vehicles and 51
pedestrians and shall indicate the following: 52
(1) Circular green alone: Vehicular traffic facing a green signal may 53
proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign or marking 54
at such place prohibits either such turn or straight through movement, 55
except that such traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and 56
vehicles [lawfully] within a crosswalk or the intersection at the time 57
such signal was exhibited; pedestrians facing the green signal, except 58
when directed by separate pedestrian-control signals, may proceed 59
across the highway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk. 60
(2) Yellow: Vehicular traffic facing a steady yellow signal is thereby 61
warned that the related green movement is being terminated or that a 62
red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter, when 63
vehicular traffic shall stop before entering the intersection unless so 64
close to the intersection that a stop cannot be made in safety; 65
pedestrians facing a steady yellow signal, except when directed by 66
separate pedestrian-control signals, are thereby advised that there is 67
insufficient time to cross the roadway before a red indication is shown 68
and no pedestrian shall then start to cross the roadway. 69
(3) Red alone: Vehicular traffic facing a steady red signal alone shall 70
stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection 71
or, if none, then before entering the intersection and remain standing 72
until the next indication is shown; provided, on or after July 1, 1979, 73
vehicular traffic traveling in the travel lane nearest the right hand curb 74
or other defined edge of the roadway, unless a sign approved by the 75
Office of the State Traffic Administration has been erected in the 76
appropriate place prohibiting this movement, may cautiously enter the 77
intersection to make a right turn onto a two-way street or onto another 78
one-way street on which all the traffic is moving to such vehicle's right 79
after such vehicle has stopped as required in this subdivision and 80
yielded the right-of-way to pedestrians [lawfully] within an adjacent 81
crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection. 82
Pedestrians facing a steady red signal alone, except when directed by 83 Substitute Bill No. 904
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separate pedestrian-control signals, shall not enter the roadway. 84
(4) Green arrow: Vehicular traffic facing a green arrow signal, 85
shown alone or in combination with another indication, may 86
cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated 87
by such arrow, or such other movement as is permitted by other 88
indications shown at the same time, but such vehicular traffic shall 89
yield the right-of-way to pedestrians [lawfully] within a crosswalk and 90
to other traffic lawfully within the intersection. 91
(5) Whenever special pedestrian-control signals exhibiting the 92
words "Walk" or "Don't Walk" or the image of a walking person 93
symbolizing "Walk" or an upraised hand symbolizing "Don't Walk" are 94
in place, such signals shall indicate as follows: "Walk" or walking 95
person symbol: Pedestrians facing such signals may proceed across the 96
roadway in the direction of the signal and shall be given the right-of-97
way by the drivers of all vehicles; "Don't Walk" or upraised hand 98
symbol: No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction 99
of such signal, but any pedestrian who has partially completed [his] 100
crossing on the walk signal shall proceed to a sidewalk or safety island 101
while the flashing "Don't Walk" or flashing upraised hand symbol 102
signal is showing. 103
(c) When an illuminated flashing red or yellow signal is used in a 104
traffic sign or signal, it shall require obedience by vehicular traffic as 105
follows: 106
(1) Flashing red: When a red lens is illuminated by rapid 107
intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles shall stop before entering the 108
nearest crosswalk at an intersection, or at a limit line when marked or, 109
if none, then before entering the intersection, and the right to proceed 110
shall be subject to the rules applicable after making a stop at a stop 111
sign. 112
(2) When a yellow lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent 113
flashes, drivers of vehicles facing such signal may proceed through the 114 Substitute Bill No. 904
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intersection or past such signal only with caution. 115
(d) Lenses of the following colors only shall be used and shall be 116
arranged vertically in the signal face or, when necessary, horizontally, 117
and shall conform to the following positions: When arranged 118
vertically, red shall be located at the top, yellow shall be located 119
directly below red and the remaining indications below the yellow in 120
the following order: Flashing yellow, circular green, vertical arrow, 121
left-turn arrow and right-turn arrow, as needed; when arranged 122
horizontally, red shall be located at the left, yellow shall be located 123
directly to the right of red and the remaining indications to the right of 124
yellow in the following order: Flashing yellow, left-turn arrow, circular 125
green, vertical arrow and right-turn arrow, as needed. 126
(e) When lane-direction-control signals are placed over the 127
individual lanes of a street or highway, vehicular traffic may travel in 128
any lane over which a green arrow signal is shown, but shall not enter 129
or travel in any lane over which a red X signal is shown. 130
(f) If a traffic control signal, approved by the Office of the State 131
Traffic Administration, is erected and maintained at a place other than 132
an intersection, the provisions of this section shall be applicable except 133
as to those provisions which by their nature can have no application. 134
Any stop required shall be made at a sign or marking on the pavement 135
indicating where the stop shall be made, but in the absence of any sign 136
or marking, the stop shall be made at the signal. 137
Sec. 3. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 14-300 of the general 138
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 139
(Effective October 1, 2023): 140
(a) The traffic authority [shall have power to] may designate, by 141
appropriate official traffic control devices, as defined in section 14-297, 142
or markers, or by lines upon the surface of the highway, such 143
crosswalks and intersections as, in its opinion, constitute a danger to 144
pedestrians crossing the highway including, but not limited to, 145 Substitute Bill No. 904
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specially marked crosswalks in the vicinity of schools, which 146
crosswalks shall have distinctive markings, in accordance with the 147
regulations of the Office of the State Traffic Administration, to denote 148
use of such crosswalks by school children; and may maintain suitable 149
signs located at intervals along highways, particularly where there are 150
no sidewalks, directing pedestrians to walk facing vehicular traffic. 151
(b) At any intersection where special pedestrian-control signals 152
bearing the words "Walk" or "Don't Walk" or the image of a walking 153
person symbolizing "Walk" or an upraised hand symbolizing "Don't 154
Walk" are placed, pedestrians may cross the highway only as indicated 155
by the signal. At any intersection where traffic is controlled by other 156
traffic control signals or by police officers, pedestrians shall not cross 157
the highway against a red or "Stop" signal and shall not cross at any 158
place not a marked or unmarked crosswalk. A pedestrian started or 159
starting across the highway [on a "Walk" signal] or on any such 160
crosswalk [on a green or "Go" signal] shall have the right-of-way over 161
all vehicles, including those making turns, until such pedestrian has 162
reached the opposite curb or safety zone. 163
Sec. 4. Section 14-311 of the general statutes is repealed and the 164
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 165
(a) No person, firm, corporation, state agency [,] or municipal 166
agency, or any combination thereof, shall build, expand, establish or 167
operate any open air theater, shopping center or other development 168
generating large volumes of traffic that substantially affect state 169
highway traffic within this state, as determined by the Office of the 170
State Traffic Administration, until such person, firm, corporation [,] or 171
agency has procured from said office a certificate that the operation 172
thereof will not imperil the safety of the public, except that any 173
development, including any development to be built in phases, 174
without regard to when such phases are approved by the municipal 175
planning and zoning agency or other responsible municipal agency, 176
that contains a total of one hundred or fewer residential units shall not 177
be required to obtain such certificate if such development is a 178 Substitute Bill No. 904
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residential-only development and is not part of a mixed -use 179
development that contains office, retail or other such nonresidential 180
uses, provided if any future development increases the total number of 181
residential units to more than one hundred, and such total 182
substantially affects state highway traffic within the state as 183
determined by the Office of the State Traffic Administration, a 184
certificate shall be procured from said office. 185
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection or permitted by 186
the Office of the State Traffic Administration, no local building official 187
shall issue a building or foundation permit to any person, firm, 188
corporation, state agency or municipal agency to build, expand, 189
establish or operate such a development until the person, firm, 190
corporation or agency provides to such official a copy of the certificate 191
issued under this section by the office. No local building official shall 192
issue a certificate of occupancy to any such person, firm, corporation or 193
agency for such development until the conditions of the certificate 194
issued by the office under this section have been satisfied. If the office 195
determines that any person, firm, corporation [,] or [state or municipal] 196
agency has (1) started building, expanding, establishing or operating 197
such a development without first obtaining a certificate from said 198
office, or (2) has failed to comply with the conditions of such a 199
certificate, it shall order the person, firm, corporation or agency to (A) 200
cease constructing, expanding, establishing or operating the 201
development, or (B) comply with the conditions of the certificate 202
within a reasonable period of time. If such person, firm, corporation or 203
agency fails to (i) cease such work, or (ii) comply with an order of the 204
office within such time as specified by the office, the office may [make 205
an application] apply to the superior court for the judicial district of 206
Hartford or the judicial district where the development is located 207
enjoining the construction, expansion, establishment or operation of 208
such development. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, 209
for single family home building lots within a subdivision of land, for 210
which a certificate is required and which do not have a direct exit or 211
entrance on, or directly abut or adjoin any state highway, no local 212 Substitute Bill No. 904
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building official shall issue a certificate of occupancy to any person, 213
firm, corporation, state agency or municipal agency to occupy homes 214
on such lots until the person, firm, corporation or agency provides to 215
such official a copy of the certificate issued under this section by the 216
office and such official confirms that the certificate conditions have 217
been satisfied. 218
(c) The Office of the State Traffic Administration, to the extent 219
practicable, shall begin its review of an application prior to final 220
approval of the proposed activity by the municipal planning and 221
zoning agency or other responsible municipal agency. 222
(d) In determining the advisability of such certification, the Office of 223
the State Traffic Administration shall include, in its consideration, 224
highway safety, bicycle and pedestrian access and safety, the width 225
and character of the highways affected, the density of traffic thereon, 226
the character of such traffic and the opinion and findings of the traffic 227
authority of the municipality wherein the development is located. The 228
office may require improvements to be made by the applicant to the 229
extent that such improvements address impacts to state highway 230
safety or bicycle and pedestrian access and safety created by the 231
addition of the applicant's proposed development or activity. If the 232
office determines that such improvements, including traffic signals, 233
pavement markings, channelization, pavement widening or other 234
changes or traffic control devices, are required to handle traffic safely 235
and efficiently, one hundred per cent of the cost thereof shall be borne 236
by the person, firm, corporation or agency building, establishing or 237
operating such open air theater, shopping center or other development 238
generating large volumes of traffic, except that such cost shall not be 239
borne by any municipal agency. The Commissioner of Transportation 240
may issue a permit to [said] such person, firm, corporation or agency 241
to construct or install the changes required by the office. 242
(e) Any person, firm, corporation or agency building, establishing or 243
operating such open air theater, shopping center or other development 244
generating large volumes of traffic aggrieved by any decision of the 245 Substitute Bill No. 904
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Office of the State Traffic Administration [hereunder] under this 246
section may appeal therefrom in accordance with the provisions of 247
section 4-183, except venue for such appeal shall be in the judicial 248
district in which it is proposed to operate such establishment. The 249
provisions of this section, except insofar as such provisions relate to 250
expansion, shall not apply to any open air theater, shopping center or 251
other development generating large volumes of traffic in operation on 252
July 1, 1967. 253
(f) Before submitting an application for any development generating 254
large volumes of traffic pursuant to subsection (a) of this section to the 255
Office of the State Traffic Administration, the [individual or entity] 256
person, firm, corporation or agency submitting such application shall 257
attend a mandatory meeting with the Office of the State Traffic 258
Administration and other staff from the Department of Transportation. 259
At such meeting, such [individual or entity] person, firm, corporation 260
or agency shall present the applicant's proposed development [to such 261
department staff] and receive feedback, including, but not limited to, 262
information as to what [needs] materials need to be submitted for an 263
application to be considered complete. 264
Sec. 5. Section 14-311c of the general statutes is repealed and the 265
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 266
(a) No [group of persons, firms, corporations, state agencies or 267
municipal agencies] person, firm, corporation, state agency or 268
municipal agency, or any combination thereof, shall build, expand, 269
establish or operate any open air theater, shopping center or other 270
development generating large volumes of traffic on any group of 271
individual parcels of land which are separately owned but are utilized 272
together for a single development purpose, whether or not such 273
parcels are separated by any state, local or private roadway that 274
substantially affect state highway traffic within this state, as 275
determined by the Office of the State Traffic Administration, until such 276
[group] person, firm, corporation or agency has procured from the 277
Office of the State Traffic Administration a certificate that the 278 Substitute Bill No. 904
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operation thereof will not imperil the safety of the public, except that 279
any development, including any development to be built in phases 280
without regard to when such phases are approved by the municipal 281
planning and zoning agency or other responsible municipal agency, 282
that contains a total of one hundred or fewer residential units shall not 283
be required to obtain such a certificate if such development is a 284
residential-only development and not part of a mixed -use 285
development containing office, retail or other such nonresidential uses, 286
provided if any future development increases the total number of 287
residential units to more than one hundred, and this total substantially 288
affects state highway traffic within the state as determined by the 289
Office of the State Traffic Administration, a certificate shall be 290
procured from said office. 291
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection or permitted by 292
the Office of the State Traffic Administration, no local building official 293
shall issue a building or foundation permit to any such [group or 294
member thereof] person, firm, corporation or agency to build, expand, 295
establish or operate such a development until the [group or member] 296
person, firm, corporation or agency provides to such official a copy of 297
the certificate issued under this section by the Office of the State Traffic 298
Administration. No local building official shall issue a certificate of 299
occupancy to any such person, firm, corporation or agency for such 300
development until the conditions of the certificate issued by the office 301
under this section have been satisfied. If the Office of the State Traffic 302
Administration determines that any [group or member] person, firm, 303
corporation or agency has (1) started building, expanding, establishing 304
or operating such a development without first obtaining a certificate 305
from said office, or (2) has failed to comply with the conditions of such 306
a certificate, it shall order the [group or member] person, firm, 307
corporation or agency to (A) cease constructing, expanding, 308
establishing or operating the development, or (B) to comply with the 309
conditions of the certificate within a reasonable period of time. If such 310
[group or member] person, firm, corporation or agency fails to (i) cease 311
such work, or (ii) comply with such order within such time as specified 312 Substitute Bill No. 904
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by the Office of the State Traffic Administration, said office or the 313
traffic authority of the municipality wherein the development is 314
located may [make an application] apply to the superior court for the 315
judicial district of Hartford or the judicial district where the 316
development is located enjoining the construction, expansion, 317
establishment or the operation of such development. Notwithstanding 318
the provisions of this subsection, for single family home building lots 319
within a subdivision of land, for which a certificate is required and 320
which do not have a direct exit or entrance on, or directly abut or 321
adjoin any state highway, no local building official shall issue a 322
certificate of occupancy to any such [group or member thereof or] 323
person, firm, corporation or agency to occupy homes on such lots until 324
such [group, member or] person, firm, corporation or agency provides 325
to such official a copy of the certificate issued under this section by 326
said office and such official confirms that the certificate conditions 327
have been satisfied. 328
(c) The Office of the State Traffic Administration, to the extent 329
practicable, shall begin its review of an application prior to final 330
approval of the proposed activity by the municipal planning and 331
zoning agency or other responsible municipal agency. 332
(d) In determining the advisability of such certification, the Office of 333
the State Traffic Administration shall include, in its consideration, 334
highway safety, the width and character of the highways affected, the 335
density of traffic thereon, the character of such traffic and the opinion 336
and findings of the traffic authority of the municipality wherein the 337
development is located. The Office of the State Traffic Administration 338
may require improvements to be made by the applicant to the extent 339
that such improvements address impacts to state highway safety 340
created by the addition of the applicant's proposed development or 341
activity. If the Office of the State Traffic Administration determines 342
that such improvements, including traffic signals, pavement markings, 343
channelization, pavement widening or other changes or traffic control 344
devices, are required to handle traffic safely and efficiently, one 345 Substitute Bill No. 904
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hundred per cent of the cost thereof shall be borne by the [group] 346
person, firm, corporation or agency building, establishing or operating 347
such open air theater, shopping center or other development 348
generating large volumes of traffic, except that such cost shall not be 349
borne by any municipal agency. The Commissioner of Transportation 350
may issue a permit to [said group] such person, firm, corporation or 351
agency to construct or install the changes required by the Office of the 352
State Traffic Administration, in consultation with the local traffic 353
authority. 354
(e) Any [group] person, firm, corporation or agency building, 355
establishing or operating such open air theater, shopping center or 356
other development generating large volumes of traffic aggrieved by 357
any decision of the Office of the State Traffic Administration 358
[hereunder] under this section may appeal therefrom in accordance 359
with the provisions of section 4-183, except venue for such appeal shall 360
be in the judicial district in which it is proposed to operate such 361
establishment. The provisions of this section except insofar as such 362
provisions relate to expansion shall not apply to any open air theater, 363
shopping center or other development generating large volumes of 364
traffic which has received all necessary permits, variances, exceptions 365
and approvals from the municipal zoning commission, planning 366
commission, combined planning and zoning commission and zoning 367
board of appeals in which such development is located prior to or on 368
July 1, 1985, or to any such development which is in operation on that 369
date. 370
(f) Before submitting an application for any development generating 371
large volumes of traffic pursuant to subsection (a) of this section to the 372
Office of the State Traffic Administration, the person, firm, corporation 373
or agency submitting such application shall attend a mandatory 374
meeting with the Office of the State Traffic Administration and other 375
staff from the Department of Transportation. At such meeting, such 376
person, firm, corporation or agency shall present the applicant's 377
proposed development and receive feedback, including, but not 378 Substitute Bill No. 904
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limited to, information as to what materials need to be submitted for 379
an application to be considered complete. 380
Sec. 6. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) The Connecticut Training 381
and Technical Assistance Center at The University of Connecticut shall 382
conduct training sessions, at least three times a year, for traffic 383
authorities concerning the powers and responsibilities of traffic 384
authorities, the installation of official traffic control devices and an 385
overview of the applicable provisions of the general statutes and any 386
regulations adopted by the Office of the State Traffic Administration. 387
(b) On or before January 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, each 388
traffic authority, or such authority's appointed representative, shall 389
complete the training offered pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. 390
The Connecticut Training and Technical Assistance Center shall 391
maintain records indicating when a traffic authority, or such 392
authority's representative, completed such training. 393
Sec. 7. Subsection (b) of section 14-218a of the general statutes is 394
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 395
October 1, 2023): 396
(b) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the 397
Office of the State Traffic Administration shall establish a speed limit 398
[of] not to exceed sixty-five miles per hour on [any] each multiple lane, 399
limited access [highways] highway. The office shall establish speed 400
limits that are suitable for [a speed limit of sixty-five miles per hour] 401
each such highway, taking into consideration relevant factors 402
including design, population of area and traffic flow. 403
(2) The Commissioner of Transportation may establish the speed 404
limit on limited access highways during a weather event or an 405
emergency, provided the commissioner erects electronic signs 406
indicating such speed limit. 407
Sec. 8. Section 13b-212b of the general statutes is repealed and the 408
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 409 Substitute Bill No. 904
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(a) There is established a Connecticut [Commuter Rail] Public 410
Transportation Council which shall consist of fifteen members, 411
[appointed with the advice and consent of the General Assembly,] all 412
of whom shall be (1) [commuters] residents who regularly use the 413
transportation services of the New Haven commuter railroad line 414
which includes the New Canaan, Danbury and Waterbury branches of 415
such line, (2) [commuters] residents who regularly use the 416
transportation services of the [Shoreline] Shore Line East railroad line, 417
[or] (3) residents [of a municipality in which the Commissioner of 418
Transportation has proposed a new rail line or in which a rail line has 419
commenced operation after July 1, 2013] who regularly use the 420
transportation services of the Hartford railroad line, or (4) residents 421
who regularly use bus public transportation services funded by the 422
state. Members shall be appointed as follows: (A) The Governor shall 423
appoint four members; [, one of whom shall be the chief elected official 424
of a municipality located on an operating or proposed new rail line;] 425
(B) the president pro tempore of the Senate shall appoint three 426
members, one of whom regularly uses bus public transportation 427
services funded by the state and one of whom regularly uses the 428
transportation services of the New Haven railroad line; (C) the speaker 429
of the House of Representatives shall appoint three members, one of 430
whom regularly uses bus public transportation services funded by the 431
state and one of whom regularly uses the transportation services of the 432
Hartford railroad line; (D) the minority leader of the Senate shall 433
appoint one member; (E) the minority leader of the House of 434
Representatives shall appoint one member; (F) the chairpersons of the 435
joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance 436
of matters relating to transportation shall each appoint one member, 437
one of whom [shall be from a municipality in which the Commissioner 438
of Transportation has proposed a new rail line or in which a rail line 439
has commenced operation after July 1, 2013, and one of whom shall be 440
from a municipality in which a station for the Shoreline East railroad 441
line is located] regularly uses bus public transportation services 442
funded by the state and one of whom regularly use s the 443
transportation services of the Shore Line East railroad line; and (G) the 444 Substitute Bill No. 904
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ranking members of said committee shall jointly appoint one member 445
who [shall be from a municipality served by the Danbury or 446
Waterbury branches of the New Haven commuter railroad line ] 447
regularly uses bus public transportation services funded by the state. 448
Each member shall serve for a term of four years. All initial 449
appointments to the council shall be made by August 1, [2013] 2023, 450
and initial members shall serve a four-year term commencing on 451
August 1, [2013] 2023, except that members appointed prior to July 1, 452
2023, to serve on the Connecticut Commuter Rail Council and whose 453
term has not expired as of July 1, 2023, shall be deemed appointed to 454
serve on the Connecticut Public Transportation Council until the 455
expiration of the term of the member or the occurrence of a vacancy, 456
whichever occurs first. Any vacancy shall be filled by the original 457
appointing authority by appointment for the unexpired portion of any 458
term. Members of the council shall serve until their respective 459
successors are appointed. [and approved by the General Assembly.] 460
(b) [The] Notwithstanding the provisions of section 4-9a, the 461
members of the council shall choose one of the members of the council 462
to be chairperson of the council. A majority of the members of the 463
council then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of 464
any business, and action shall be by vote of a majority of the members 465
present at a meeting. The council shall meet at least once during each 466
calendar quarter and at such other times as the chairperson deems 467
necessary or upon the request of a majority of the members in office. 468
Special meetings shall be held at the request of such majority after 469
notice in accordance with the provisions of section 1-225. Any member 470
who fails to attend fifty per cent of all meetings held during any 471
calendar year or who fails to attend three consecutive meetings shall 472
be deemed to have resigned from office. Not later than ten days after a 473
vacancy occurs in the council or the resignation of a member, the 474
chairperson shall notify the appointing authority of such vacancy or 475
resignation. 476
(c) The Department of Transportation shall maintain records of each 477 Substitute Bill No. 904
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request for information and data received from the council and denote 478
the status of any such request. 479
Sec. 9. Section 13b-212c of the general statutes is repealed and the 480
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 481
The Connecticut [Commuter Rail] Public Transportation Council 482
shall study and investigate all aspects of the daily operation of 483
[commuter rail lines in] the commuter railroad systems and bus public 484
transportation services funded by the state, monitor their performance 485
and recommend changes to improve the efficiency, equity and [the] 486
quality of service [of the operation of such lines] on such commuter rail 487
systems and bus public transportation services. The council may 488
request and shall receive, if available, from any department, division, 489
board, bureau, commission, agency [,] or public authority of the state, 490
or any political subdivision thereof, such assistance and data [as it 491
requests and] that will enable it to properly carry out its activities for 492
the purposes set forth in this section. The council shall also [work with 493
the Department of Transportation to] serve as an advocate for 494
customers of all commuter [lines in] railroad systems and bus public 495
transportation services funded by the state. [and shall make 496
recommendations for improvements to such lines.] The Department of 497
Transportation shall (1) submit monthly reports with information and 498
data concerning the on-time performance by station and passenger 499
ridership of the commuter railroad systems and bus public 500
transportation services funded by the state, and (2) make quarterly 501
presentations at the meetings of the council concerning such reports 502
and respond to reasonable inquiries made in advance of any meeting 503
by the council. The council shall report its findings and 504
recommendations annually on or before January fifteenth, to the 505
Governor, the Commissioner of Transportation, the General Assembly, 506
the Metro North Rail Commuter Council located in the state of New 507
York and the management advisory board of the office of the inspector 508
general of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority located in the 509
state of New York. The council shall also annually present its findings 510 Substitute Bill No. 904
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and recommendations to the joint standing committee of the General 511
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to transportation. 512
Sec. 10. (Effective from passage) On or before February 1, 2024, the 513
Connecticut Public Transportation Council, established under section 514
13b-212b of the general statutes, as amended by this act, shall submit, 515
in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general 516
statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly 517
having cognizance of matters relating to transportation, a report 518
regarding the organizational structure of the council and any 519
recommendations to improve or modify such structure and the 520
mission of the council. 521
Sec. 11. Section 20 of public act 21-175 is repealed and the following 522
is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 523
The Commissioner of Transportation shall study the feasibility of (1) 524
extending the Shore Line East rail line to the state of Rhode Island, (2) 525
establishing a new passenger rail service from the town of New 526
London to the town of Norwich, (3) establishing a new passenger train 527
station in the town of Groton and the borough of Stonington, and (4) 528
extending ground transportation systems in the eastern region of the 529
state and providing interconnection between such systems and rail 530
lines. The commissioner may seek and use any available federal funds 531
to conduct such study. On or before [January] December 1, 2023, the 532
commissioner shall submit the results of such study to the joint 533
standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 534
matters relating to transportation, in accordance with the provisions of 535
section 11-4a of the general statutes. 536
Sec. 12. Section 13b-103 of the general statutes is repealed and the 537
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 538
(a) (1) No person, association, limited liability company or 539
corporation shall operate a motor vehicle in livery service until such 540
person, association, limited liability company or corporation has 541 Substitute Bill No. 904
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obtained a permit from the Department of Transportation, specifying 542
the nature and extent of the service to be rendered and certifying that 543
public convenience and necessity will be improved by the operation 544
and conduct of such livery service. Such permits shall be issued only 545
after a written application for the same has been made and a public 546
hearing has been held thereon. Upon receipt of such application, 547
together with the payment of a fee of two hundred dollars, the 548
department shall fix a time and place of hearing thereon, within a 549
reasonable time, and shall promptly give written notice of the 550
pendency of such application and of the time and place of such 551
hearing to each applicant, the mayor of each city, the warden of each 552
borough and the first selectman of each town, within which any such 553
applicant desires to maintain an office or headquarters, to any carrier 554
legally operating motor vehicles in livery service within the same 555
territory and to other interested parties as determined by the 556
department. (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of 557
this subsection, the department may issue a permit for the operation of 558
vehicles (A) having a capacity of less than eleven adults or to be used 559
exclusively at funerals, weddings, christenings, processions or 560
celebrations, without holding a hearing and certifying that public 561
convenience and necessity would be improved by the operation of 562
such vehicles, or (B) having a capacity of not less than eleven or more 563
than fourteen adults and used for sightseeing and related purposes, 564
without holding a hearing, provided the department issues a legal 565
notice, as provided under section 1-2, of such application and no 566
objection is filed with the department within thirty days of publication 567
of such notice. (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of 568
this subsection, the department may issue a temporary or permanent 569
permit to any person, association, limited liability company or 570
corporation operating a motor vehicle engaged in the transportation of 571
passengers for hire by virtue of a contract with, or a lower tier contract 572
for, any federal, state or municipal agency that (A) is in effect on July 1, 573
1997, with or without hearing, after a written application for the same 574
has been made and the department has determined that the applicant 575
meets the requirements of subsection (b) of this section except with 576 Substitute Bill No. 904
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respect to public convenience and necessity, or (B) becomes effective 577
after July 1, 1997, with or without hearing, after a written application 578
for the same has been made and the department has determined that 579
the applicant meets the requirements of subsection (b) of this section. 580
Any such permit issued under the provisions of this subdivision (i) 581
shall be limited to service provided under any such contract, and (ii) 582
with respect to any contract under the provisions of subparagraph (A) 583
of this subdivision, shall not authorize a total number of motor 584
vehicles exceeding the number required to provide service existing 585
under such contract on July 1, 1997. (4) Notwithstanding the 586
provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, the department shall 587
issue to any person who has an intrastate livery permit for at least one 588
year, upon the application of such person, up to two additional vehicle 589
authorizations each year without a hearing and without written notice 590
of the pendency of the application, if all the existing permits held by 591
such person are registered and in use and if there are no outstanding 592
violations or matters pending adjudication against such person. Such 593
person may submit a second application for up to two additional 594
vehicle authorizations each year. The department shall have thirty 595
calendar days to issue such amended permit upon receipt of an 596
application and the payment of the fee described in subdivision (1) of 597
this subsection. 598
(b) In determining whether or not such a permit will be granted, the 599
Department of Transportation shall take into consideration the present 600
or future public convenience and necessity for the service the applicant 601
proposes to render, the suitability of the applicant or the suitability of 602
the management if the applicant is a limited liability company or 603
corporation, the financial responsibility of the applicant, the ability of 604
the applicant efficiently and properly to perform the service for which 605
authority is requested and the fitness, willingness and ability of the 606
applicant to conform to the provisions of this chapter and the 607
requirements and regulations of the department under this chapter. 608
(c) Any interested party may bring a written petition to the 609 Substitute Bill No. 904
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Department of Transportation in respect to fares, service, operation or 610
equipment, or the convenience, protection and safety of the public 611
with regard to any carrier operating a motor vehicle in livery service. 612
Thereupon, the department may fix a time and place for a hearing 613
upon such petition and give notice thereof. No permit shall be sold or 614
transferred until the department, upon written application to it setting 615
forth the purpose, terms and conditions thereof and accompanied by a 616
fee of two hundred dollars, after investigation, approves the same. The 617
department may amend or, for sufficient cause shown, may suspend 618
or revoke any such permit. The department may order appropriate 619
corrective action as the department deems necessary, including, but 620
not limited to, the attendance of a motor vehicle operator retraining 621
program. The department may impose a civil penalty on any person or 622
any officer of any association, limited liability company or corporation 623
who violates any provision of this chapter or any regulation adopted 624
under section 13b-102, as amended by this act, with respect to fares, 625
service, operation, [or] equipment, management or staffing, in an 626
amount not to exceed one thousand dollars per day for each violation. 627
Prior to the imposition of a civil penalty under this subsection, the 628
department shall provide notice to [said] such person or officer no later 629
than fifteen business days after receipt of information concerning an 630
alleged violation and shall provide an opportunity for a hearing. 631
[(d) The owner or operator of each motor vehicle in livery service 632
shall display in such vehicle such permit or a memorandum thereof.] 633
[(e)] (d) (1) Any person who holds himself or herself out to be the 634
operator of a motor vehicle in livery service who has not received a 635
permit under this section shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor. 636
(2) The state shall remit to a municipality fifty per cent of the fine 637
amount received for a violation of subdivision (1) of this subsection 638
with respect to each summons issued by such municipality. Each clerk 639
of the Superior Court or the Chief Court Administrator, or any other 640
official of the Superior Court designated by the Chief Court 641
Administrator, shall, on or before the thirtieth day of January, April, 642 Substitute Bill No. 904
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July and October in each year, certify to the Comptroller the amount 643
due for the previous quarter under this subsection to each 644
municipality served by the office of the clerk or official. 645
[(f)] (e) The Department of Transportation may revoke a permit 646
issued under this section or section 13b-105 without a hearing, 647
provided (1) the department sends a notice of revocation to the permit 648
holder at the address of the permit holder on file with the department 649
and (A) the notice is returned as undeliverable or could not be 650
delivered, or (B) the permit holder fails to respond to the notice within 651
the time period specified by the department in such notice, (2) the 652
department conducts a physical inspection of the address of the permit 653
holder on file with the department and determines that no livery 654
service is operated at such address, and (3) no motor vehicle is 655
registered by the permit holder with the Department of Motor Vehicles 656
to be used as specified in the permit pursuant to section 13b-106. 657
Sec. 13. Subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 13b-102 of the 658
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 659
thereof (Effective October 1, 2023): 660
(a) (1) Each person, association, limited liability company or 661
corporation owning or operating a motor vehicle in livery service shall 662
be subject to the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation, and 663
the department may prescribe adequate service and reasonable rates 664
and charges and prescribe and establish such reasonable regulations, 665
in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, with respect to fares, 666
service, operation, [and] equipment, management and staffing as it 667
deems necessary for the convenience, protection, safety and best 668
interests of passengers and the public. 669
Sec. 14. (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions of 670
sections 2-14 and 7-273b of the general statutes, the Norwalk Transit 671
District shall be dissolved on January 1, 2024, on which date (1) all 672
funds and property of the district shall pass to the Department of 673
Transportation, (2) the Department of Transportation shall assume and 674 Substitute Bill No. 904
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be liable for all debts and obligations of the district, and shall be liable 675
to pay all such debts and obligations, and (3) the Department of 676
Transportation shall provide transit services to the areas previously 677
served by the district. 678
Sec. 15. (Effective from passage) The Department of Transportation 679
shall paint and maintain route shield pavement markings at the 680
intersection of Interstate Routes 95 and 91 in the city of New Haven 681
and at the intersection of Interstate Routes 91 and 84 in the city of 682
Hartford to depict interchange geometry in accordance with the 683
Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control 684
Devices for Streets and Highways, as amended from time to time. 685
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2023 14-314
Sec. 2 October 1, 2023 14-299
Sec. 3 October 1, 2023 14-300(a) and (b)
Sec. 4 October 1, 2023 14-311
Sec. 5 October 1, 2023 14-311c
Sec. 6 from passage New section
Sec. 7 October 1, 2023 14-218a(b)
Sec. 8 July 1, 2023 13b-212b
Sec. 9 July 1, 2023 13b-212c
Sec. 10 from passage New section
Sec. 11 from passage PA 21-175, Sec. 20
Sec. 12 October 1, 2023 13b-103
Sec. 13 October 1, 2023 13b-102(a)(1)
Sec. 14 from passage New section
Sec. 15 from passage New section
Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In Section 8(b), "The" was changed to "[The] Notwithstanding the
provisions of section 4-9a, the" for statutory consistency; in Section 9,
"such systems and services" was changed to "such commuter railroad
systems and bus public transportation services" for clarity; in Section
10 ", established under section 13b-212b of the general statutes, as Substitute Bill No. 904
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amended by this act," was inserted for clarity; and in Section 12(a)(4),
"for" and "such" were deleted for clarity.
TRA Joint Favorable Subst.