Roadway Shoulder Access For Buses

The department of transportation (CDOT) is authorized to designate an area on a roadway not otherwise laned for traffic for use by commercial vehicles that are designed to transport 16 passengers or more, including the driver, and that are operated by a governmental entity or a government-owned business that transports the general public or by a contractor on behalf of such an entity or government-owned business. Only a vehicle authorized by CDOT and operating under conditions of use established by CDOT may travel on such a designated area but, subject to the conditions of use, the driver of an authorized vehicle has sole discretion to decide whether or not to drive on such an area based on the driver's assessment of the safety of doing so.

CDOT must consult with the Colorado state patrol before making such a designation and establishing conditions of use for the designated area and must work with local governmental agencies in implementing such a designation and associated conditions of use. CDOT must impose and each authorized user must acknowledge the conditions of use for the designated area by written agreement.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)