Red light flashers called for at right-turn lane school bus stops

Proposed changes to requirements around school bus stops within right turn lanes are headed to the House Floor.

Unless directed otherwise by their school board, bus drivers would be required to use pre-warning stop lights, a stop-arm and red warning lights system for a stop in a right turn lane under HF455, sponsored by Rep. Laurie Halverson (DFL-Eagan).

The legislation mirrors a bill she sponsored last year that cleared committee but was not brought up for a vote on the House Floor.

“It’s really about student safety,” Halverson said.

HF455 is headed for the House Floor after the House Transportation and Regional Governance Policy Committee approved the bill Monday.

The bill would also:

• require a school district’s transportation director to designate the stop in a designated right-turn lane or adjacent lane;
• prohibit such a stop if a pupil needs to cross a street to arrive at or leave the designated bus stop; and
• direct the Department of Public Safety to update its administrative rules on school bus operation to align with the bill’s proposed statutory changes.

A companion, SF246, sponsored by Sen. Jim Carlson (DFL-Eagan), has been referred to the Senate Transportation Finance and Policy Committee.