Virginia SB 832: Vulnerable road user safety zones; VDOT to develop criteria & recommendations for designation.

Bill Text

2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26105294D

SENATE BILL NO. 832

Offered January 23, 2026

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 7 of Chapter 15 of Title 33.2 a section numbered 33.2-1533 and by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 8 of Title 46.2 a section numbered 46.2-818.3, relating to vulnerable road user safety zones; Vulnerable Road User Safety Improvement Fund; civil penalty; reports.

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Patrons—Srinivasan and Surovell

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Referred to Committee on Transportation

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 7 of Chapter 15 of Title 33.2 a section numbered 33.2-1533 and by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 8 of Title 46.2 a section numbered 46.2-818.3, as follows:

§ 33.2-1533. Vulnerable Road User Safety Improvement Fund.

A. There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Vulnerable Road User Safety Improvement Fund, referred to in this section as "the Fund." The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller.

B. The civil penalties collected pursuant to § 46.2-818.3 and any funds as may be appropriated by the General Assembly shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund.

C. Moneys in the Fund shall be allocated by the Commissioner and used solely for the purposes of funding safety improvements in vulnerable road user safety zones, as provided in § 46.2-818.3. For purposes of this section, "safety improvements" includes:

1. Installation and maintenance of pedestrian crosswalks, signals, and refuge islands;

2. Construction of sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and multi-use paths;

3. Improved street lighting;

4. Traffic calming measures;

5. Signage and pavement markings to enhance visibility of vulnerable road users, as defined in § 46.2-816.1; and

6. Public education campaigns regarding vulnerable road user safety.

D. The Commissioner shall prioritize expenditures from the Fund based on the severity of safety concerns within each zone and the potential impact of proposed improvements.

§ 46.2-818.3. Vulnerable road user safety zones; automated traffic enforcement; civil penalties; reports.

A. As used in this section:

"Automated traffic enforcement system" means equipment that automatically produces one or more photographs, microphotographs, videotapes, or other recorded images of vehicles for the purpose of enforcing traffic violations. "Automated traffic enforcement system" includes photo speed monitoring devices, as defined in § 46.2-882.1, and traffic light signal violation monitoring systems, as defined in § 15.2-968.1.

"Division" means the Traffic Operations Division of the Department of Transportation.

"Fund" means the Vulnerable Road User Safety Improvement Fund established pursuant to § 33.2-1533.

"Vulnerable road user" means the same as that term is defined in § 46.2-816.1.

"Vulnerable road user safety zone" or "zone" means a segment of highway so designated by the Division pursuant to this section based on elevated rates of crashes, injuries, or fatalities involving pedestrians or cyclists.

B. No later than January 1, 2027, the Division shall:

1. Analyze crash data, injury reports, and fatality statistics from the previous five years to identify the 25 highway segments in the Commonwealth with the highest rates of crashes, injuries, or fatalities involving vulnerable road users;

2. Designate such segments as vulnerable road user safety zones; and

3. Submit a report to the Governor, the Commissioner of Highways, and the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees on Transportation identifying such zones and the methodology used for such designation.

C. Every three years the Division shall update the designation of vulnerable road user safety zones based on the most recent crash data, injury reports, and fatality statistics. The Division shall certify a vulnerable road user safety zone as improved if crash, injury, or fatality rates for vulnerable road users in such zone have decreased by 25 percent or more compared to baseline data from the time of the initial designation. A vulnerable road user safety zone that is certified as improved shall retain its designation as a vulnerable road user safety zone, and civil penalties collected from automated traffic enforcement within such zone shall continue to be deposited in the Fund for expenditure on safety improvements within such zone as provided in subsection M. During such three-year review, the Division may also designate additional zones beyond the initial 25 zones as vulnerable road user safety zones if crash data warrants such designation.

D. Within 180 days of receiving the report submitted by the Division pursuant to subsecti