EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb0278*
HOUSE BILL 278
R5 4lr1650
By: Delegate Kerr
Introduced and read first time: January 12, 2024
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 20, 2024
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Urban State Highways – Speed Limits – Exceptions 2
FOR the purpose of authorizing the State Highway Administration to decrease the 3
maximum speed limit by a certain amount on certain urban State highways without 4
an engineering and traffic investigation; and generally relating to speed limits on 5
urban State highways. 6
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 7
Article – Transportation 8
Section 8–630(a)(1) and (3) 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 11
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 12
Article – Transportation 13
Section 21–802 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 16
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 17
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 18
Article – Transportation 19
8–630. 20 2 HOUSE BILL 278
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 1
(3) “Urban highway” means a highway, other than an expressway, that is: 2
(i) 1. Constructed with a curb and gutter and an enclosed type 3
storm drainage system; 4
2. Located in an urban area and on which is located a public 5
facility that creates appreciable pedestrian traffic along the highway from adjacent areas; 6
3. Located within urban boundaries as defined by the U.S. 7
Census Bureau; or 8
4. Located within the boundaries of a municipal corporation; 9
and 10
(ii) Part of the State highway system. 11
21–802. 12
(a) If, on the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation, the State Highway 13
Administration determines that any maximum speed limit specified in this subtitle is 14
greater or less than reasonable or safe under existing conditions on any part of a highway 15
under its jurisdiction, it may establish a reasonable and safe maximum speed limit for that 16
part of the highway. 17
(b) An engineering and traffic investigation is not required [to]: 18
(1) TO conform a posted maximum speed limit in effect on December 31, 19
1974, to a different limit specified in § 21–801.1(b) of this subtitle; OR 20
(2) FOR THE STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION TO DEC REASE BY 5 21
MILES PER HOUR THE MAXIMUM SPEED LI MIT AUTHORIZED UNDER § 21–801.1(B)(2) 22
AND (3) OF THIS SUBTITLE ON ANY URBAN HIGHWAY , AS DEFINED IN § 8–630 OF THIS 23
ARTICLE, UNDER ITS JURISDICTI ON. 24
(c) Under this section, the State Highway Administration may: 25
(1) Establish a maximum speed limit to apply at all times or only at 26
specified times; and 27
(2) Establish differing limits for different times of day, different types of 28
vehicles, different weather conditions, or other factors bearing on safe speeds. 29
(d) An altered maximum speed limit established under this section is effective 30 HOUSE BILL 278 3
when posted on appropriate signs giving notice of the limit. 1
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 2
October 1, 2024. 3
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.