By Pacific Island Times News Staff
Sen. Sabina Flores Perez today introduced two bills seeking to improve road safety on Guam.
Bill 349-36 would streamline the installation and maintenance of streetlights and expand the use of funds for other safety improvements, including road repair.
Bill 350-36 would ensure compliance with federal safe vehicle operation mandates to enhance the safety of motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
Bill 349-36 proposes to delegate the Department of Public Works with the lead role in coordinating streetlight installation, maintenance, and operation in cooperation with Guam Power Authority, to facilitate road repaving, especially in secondary and tertiary roads, and to make upgrades to promote the safety of vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians.
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“Currently there is a backlog of streetlight projects in need of installation, repair, maintenance and operation in different villages, and we found that much of the delays are due to the jurisdictional conflicts between our agencies," Perez said.
"This bill streamlines the process, giving DPW the mandate it needs to address streetlight insufficiencies as well as improvements to lanes, sidewalks, bus shelters, and other improvements deemed necessary for the public,” she added.
Perez said the bill would also ensure that funds earmarked for road projects are not spent elsewhere, "an issue which has hindered our government in the past,"
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Perez said Bill 350-36 addresses the longstanding need to codify and update the Guam Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) regulations to ensure compliance of commercial motor vehicles to current national standards in the transportation of passengers, property and hazardous materials on Guam’s roads and to protect the safety of the public.
“Updating MCSAP regulations are needed to retain compliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration program and access to federal grants that sustain the program that is essential to protecting the public,” the senator said.
Perez said both bills were written in close collaboration with relevant agencies and "in direct response to community concerns, including students attending the recent 2022 Youth Summit. These are complementary, proactive measures essential to ensuring public safety on Guam’s roads.”
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