COMMITTEE
HCS HB 595 -- HIGHWAY SIGNS
SPONSOR: Koller
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Transportation by a vote of 13 to 3.
This substitute requires that when 2 lane highways are being
upgraded to 4 lane limited access, the regulations for freeway
primary highways will apply as of the date the Transportation
Commission acquires all access rights on the property adjoining
the right-of-way.
Any commercial cave located within the state and open to the
public will automatically qualify for signs without regard to
attendance figures or any other criteria established by the
Transportation Commission.
The Transportation Commission may elect to regulate signs on
supplemental highways when no local regulations are in effect.
If the commission elects to regulate such highway, it will do so
in accordance with regulations used for primary highways.
The substitute also establishes guidelines for determining
whether the primary use of property is commercial or industrial
for signing purposes, establishes the authority of cities and
counties to regulate signs with respect to size, lighting, and
spacing which comply with state regulations, sets compensation
for signs required to be removed, and establishes guidelines for
the use of new technology by the commission in providing
information to the traveling public which is beneficial to the
growth of tourism.
FISCAL NOTE: Costs to the Department of Transportation of
$17,361 to $312,500 for FY 1998, $20,833 to $386,250 for FY
1999, and $20,833 to $397,838 for FY 2000.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this substitute is a compromise
which has been in the works for several years between the
industry and local control supporters.
Testifying for the bill were Representative Levin; Missouri
Department of Transportation; Bob Osborn; St. Louis County
Municipal League; Conservation Federation of Missouri; and Chris
Hayday.
OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.
Robert Triplett, Research Analyst