Committee clears technical questions on SB471 after MDT flags conflict with federal traffic manual

Senator Dave Fern opened discussion on SB471, explaining that an amendment placed on the bill prior to committee essentially resolved the immediate fiscal concerns by removing language that created a new fiscal note. The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) appeared as an informational witness to brief the committee on technical issues.

MDT traffic operations engineer Stan Bridal testified that a provision requiring vehicles to stop at certain flashing amber devices conflicted with the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. "A red flashing light or a steady, red light is for you have to stop with a flashing amber, that's a yield condition," Bridal said, describing the conflict and noting the potential consequence of having to remove or replace about 62 devices statewide. Bridal said the fiscal impact tied to that language (previously estimated at roughly $390,000) has been removed by the amendment and, with that change, MDT anticipates no material fiscal impact.

The sponsor said the bill aims to clarify how amber and red flashing devices function to protect pedestrians and that he would work to refine statutory language as needed. Committee questioning focused on the technical conflict with federal guidance and whether the amendment solved the fiscal and operational concerns. MDT confirmed the problem stemmed from language that would have forced a stop condition where federal guidance treats flashing amber as a yield.

With technical concerns addressed by amendment language, the hearing closed and the bill moved from a fiscal question to a technical policy discussion. No vote was taken in this meeting.