Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024
(a)
Off-roadway loading zones. A school bus loading zone should be
established off the roadway whenever possible, provided the following items are
satisfied:
(1) There is an area of sufficient
width to safely accommodate both the bus and students.
(2) Students to be received or discharged
either reside or walk to or from the loading zone on the same side of the
roadway as the loading zone or are afforded the protection of a traffic signal,
stop sign, uniformed police officer, or other appropriately attired person-such
as a school crossing guard-authorized to direct, control or regulate
traffic.
(3) The loading zone can
withstand daily use by a school bus.
(4) If the loading zone is on private
property, permission is obtained from the owner or other person in charge or
possession of the property.
(5) If
the loading zone is within the highway right-of-way, approval is obtained from
the local authorities.
(b)
On-roadway loading
zones. If it is not possible or practical to establish a school bus
loading zone off the roadway, the loading zone should be located to optimize
driver sight distance to the school bus in both directions. Outside a business
or residence district, the required sight distance to a school bus stopped on
the roadway shall be a minimum of 500 feet unless:
(1) The school district chooses a location
for a loading zone with a lower sight distance because it is safer for the
school bus to stop at this location than it is for the student to walk to a
location that satisfies the 500-foot sight distance requirements.
(2) The local authorities as defined in
75 Pa.C.S. §
102
(relating to definitions) approve the location chosen by the school district.
See §
15.3 (relating to special
operating privileges).
(c)
Separate roadways. A
school bus loading zone may be established on a separate roadway only at the
following locations:
(1) Where the students
to be received or discharged reside on the same side of the roadway as the
school bus loading zone.
(2) At or
near a signalized intersection where students walking across the separate
roadway to the school bus loading zone are afforded the protection of the
traffic signal.
(3) At or near an
intersection where traffic on the separate roadway is required to stop for a
stop sign.
(4) At or near an
intersection or other place where students walking across the separate roadway
are afforded the protection of a uniformed police officer or other
appropriately attired person-such as a school crossing guard-authorized to
direct, control or regulate traffic.
(d)
Backing of school bus.
If a school bus is required to back in the vicinity of a loading zone, the
pupils to be received or discharged shall be on the bus during the
backing.
(e)
Use of visual
signals. The red and amber visual signals may not be actuated in an
off-roadway loading zone.
This section cited in 67 Pa. Code §
15.3 (relating to special
operating privileges).
