Florida Senate - 2026                                     SB 498
       
       
        
       By Senator Rodriguez
       
       
       
       
       
       40-00761-26                                            2026498__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to school zone and pedestrian safety;
    3         amending s. 336.045, F.S.; requiring that design and
    4         construction plans for the installation of crosswalks
    5         in school zones or on certain streets, roads, or
    6         highways include certain traffic control devices;
    7         providing an effective date.
    8          
    9  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   10  
   11         Section 1. Subsection (7) is added to section 336.045,
   12  Florida Statutes, to read:
   13         336.045 Uniform minimum standards for design, construction,
   14  and maintenance; advisory committees.—
   15         (7) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, beginning
   16  October 1, 2026, all design and construction plans for the
   17  installation of a crosswalk in a school zone, or on any public
   18  street, road, or highway with a posted speed limit exceeding 35
   19  miles per hour, when located at any point other than at a
   20  signalized intersection, shall include appropriate traffic
   21  control devices that conform to either:
   22         (a) Chapter 4J titled “Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons” of the
   23  most recent Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and any
   24  other applicable standards of the department; or
   25         (b) Chapter 4L titled “Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons,”
   26  Chapter 4S titled “Flashing Beacons,” or Chapter 4U titled “In
   27  Roadway Warning Lights” of the most recent Manual on Uniform
   28  Traffic Control Devices and any other applicable standards of
   29  the department. In-Roadway Warning Lights shall be used in
   30  conjunction with Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons or Flashing
   31  Beacons to improve visibility of the crosswalk.
   32         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.