North Dakota House Bill HCR3027

North Dakota 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/21/23
• Refer: 2/21/23
• Report DNP: 3/3/23

Caption

A concurrent resolution directing the Legislative Management to consider studying, in consultation with the Department of Transportation, needed safety improvements to State Highway 22 at junctions Bureau of Indian Affairs 12, 30, and 14, State Highway 23 within the exterior boundaries of the Fort Berthold Reservation, State Highway 73 West before the Fort Berthold Reservation line, and State Highway 37; and the feasibility and desirability of reducing the speed limit on State Highways 22 and 23 to 55 miles per hour.

Impact

The proposed study will examine the current safety status of State Highways 22, 23, 73, and 37. Particularly, it will assess lighting issues, ineffective stop signs, and the general traffic conditions that compromise safety. A major component of the resolution is the consideration of reducing the speed limit on Highways 22 and 23 to 55 miles per hour, which is intended to mitigate risks associated with high vehicle volume and unsafe junctions that have historically posed dangers to first responders and general traffic alike.

Summary

HCR3027 is a concurrent resolution introduced in the Sixty-eighth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota. The bill directs the Legislative Management to study necessary safety improvements to several state highways, particularly focusing on specific junctions and areas surrounding the Fort Berthold Reservation. The intention is to enhance safety for a variety of roadway users, including school buses and oil field vehicles, which have been involved in numerous accidents due to existing conditions.

Contention

While the bill primarily seeks to enhance highway safety, potential points of contention may arise from stakeholders involved in local transport and the oil industry. There might be disagreements over whether reducing speed limits will sufficiently address underlying safety issues or if more drastic infrastructural changes are necessary. Additionally, the discussions could involve evaluating the economic impact on local industries that depend on these highways for transportation and commerce.