SB 591 would add a new chapter to Pennsylvania’s transportation code requiring the Department of Transportation to install a dry hydrant when a State-owned bridge is built, modified, or rehabilitated, so long as a suitable installation site exists. A dry hydrant is a non-pressurized water supply access point for fire apparatus, intended to help firefighters draw water from a nearby body of water. The bill defines key terms such as “bridge,” “department,” “historic resource,” and “occupied structure,” and applies only where the water source can sustain a specified flow rate during severe drought or freeze conditions.
The installation mandate is limited to locations that meet several conditions: the hydrant must be within 25 feet of an all-weather roadway, accessible to fire equipment, within 800 feet of at least one inhabited or occupied structure or historic resource, and expected to improve local fire prevention or suppression capability under the Fire Suppression Rating Schedule or similar criteria. If more than one qualifying site exists, PennDOT must choose the one closest to the roadway. The act would take effect 60 days after enactment.
Impact
The bill would amend Title 74 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes by creating a new Chapter 97 governing dry hydrant installation. It would impose a new duty on the Department of Transportation during certain bridge projects, potentially affecting project design, permitting, construction costs, and coordination with local fire protection agencies. The practical effect would be to expand fire-water access infrastructure near qualifying bridge sites, especially in rural or historic areas near occupied structures.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or formal support/opposition in the available record. Based on the bill text, the measure appears to be framed as a public safety and fire protection improvement, suggesting a generally favorable policy purpose. The absence of voting history or discussion prevents a reliable assessment of legislative sentiment beyond that inference.
Contention
The main points of potential contention are likely to be the added mandate on PennDOT and the narrow technical conditions that must be met before installation is required. Questions may arise over whether bridge projects should carry additional infrastructure obligations, how the water-supply and access criteria would be verified, and whether the cost or engineering impacts are justified by the fire-suppression benefit. Local governments, fire officials, preservation interests, and transportation planners could differ on where installations are most appropriate and how broadly the requirement should apply.
Prohibits water companies from assessing more than one charge per fire hydrant to fire departments, fire districts, or volunteer fire companies for use of fire hydrants.
In management of the condominium, providing for outdoor solar access for drying clothes; in management of cooperatives, providing for outdoor solar access for drying clothes; and, in management of planned community, providing for outdoor solar access for drying clothes.