HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1806        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Tommy Vitolo

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to improve pedestrian safety.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1806        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act to improve pedestrian safety.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 85 Section 2 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting in line 61 after the word “prohibited” the following: -

“The department’s manual must indicate that where pedestrians who walk slower, use mobility aids, or who walk at slower speeds resulting from transporting, assisting, or conveying another person, routinely use the crosswalk, these factors should be considered in determining the pedestrian clearance time. The department will be responsible for promulgating regulations that direct a municipality to: 

(a.) create a list of locations within their boundaries that are heavily used by pedestrians who are likely to have: (i.) a slower than average walking speed resulting due to age, (ii.) a slower than average walking speed due to a physical mobility issue, and (iii.) slower walking speeds resulting from transporting, assisting, or conveying another person through a signalized crosswalk.

(b.) require that locations contained in said list, where there are signalized crosswalks regularly in use, account for the slower walking speed of pedestrians by adjusting signal walk clearance times to a reasonable degree to allow for pedestrians to safely compete a crossing.”

SECTION 2. The administrator of the department of highways will promulgate regulations for the implementation of Section 1 not later than January 1, 2026. Municipalities must be in compliance with said regulations not later than January 1, 2027