MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2012 Regular Session

To: Transportation; Appropriations

By: Representative Formby

House Bill 594

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A HIGHWAY MEDIAN CROSSING SAFETY PROJECT, DESIGNED TO PLANT TREES ON THE MEDIAN OF THOSE HIGHWAYS WHERE FEW OR NO TREES EXIST; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROJECT SHALL BEGIN ALONG THE MEDIAN OF A CERTAIN PORTION OF INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 59 WHERE THE DEPARTMENT LAST REMOVED TREES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  For the purpose of protecting the lives and  property of the motoring public and persons using our state highways from the dangers inherent in motorists accidentally or inadvertently crossing the median of divided roadways into the path of oncoming traffic, the Mississippi Department of Transportation shall develop and implement a highway median crossing safety project that is designed to plant trees on the median of those highways where few or no trees exist.  The project shall begin with the replanting of trees where the department last removed, or contracted for removal of, trees on the median of Interstate Highway 59 beginning at the Mississippi/Louisiana state line and extending northerly to the point in the median where such removal was not accomplished.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2012.