BILL NUMBER: SB 313 CHAPTERED 09/10/01 CHAPTER 275 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 10, 2001 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 8, 2001 PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 28, 2001 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 27, 2001 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 23, 2001 AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 26, 2001 INTRODUCED BY Senators Alpert and Peace (Coauthors: Senators Battin and Morrow) (Coauthors: Assembly Members Bates, Kehoe, Kelley, Vargas, Wyland, and Zettel) FEBRUARY 20, 2001 An act to amend Section 149.1 of the Streets and Highways Code, relating to highways. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 313, Alpert. Highway tolls: transit service: program. Existing law authorizes the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), in cooperation with the Department of Transportation, to conduct a demonstration program pursuant to which single-occupant vehicles are allowed to use the high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane on a specified portion of the Interstate Highway Route 15 (I-15) for a fee. Existing law requires the department to annually audit the level of operating services during peak traffic hours. Existing law requires SANDAG to submit a report to the Legislature and repeals all of these provisions on January 1, 2002. This bill would delete reference to "demonstration," would delete the requirement that SANDAG report to the Legislature, would delete certain obsolete provisions, and would delete the repeal date, thereby continuing the program indefinitely. The bill would require the department to report the audit results at meetings of the program management team and would require program agreements to be consistent with agreements between the department and the United States Department of Transportation. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 149.1 of the Streets and Highways Code is amended to read: 149.1. (a) Notwithstanding Sections 149 and 30800 of this code, and Section 21655.5 of the Vehicle Code, the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) may conduct, administer, and operate a value pricing and transit development program on the Interstate Highway Route 15 (I-15) high-occupancy vehicle expressway. The program, under the circumstances described in subdivision (b), may direct and authorize the entry and use of the I-15 high-occupancy vehicle lanes by single-occupant vehicles during peak periods, as defined by SANDAG, for a fee. The amount of the fee shall be established from time to time by SANDAG, and collected in a manner determined by SANDAG. (b) Implementation of the program shall ensure that Level of Service C, as measured by the most recent issue of the Highway Capacity Manual, as adopted by the Transportation Research Board, is maintained at all times in the high-occupancy vehicle lanes, except that subject to a written agreement between the department and SANDAG that is based on operating conditions of the high-occupancy vehicle lanes, Level of Service D shall be permitted on the high-occupancy vehicle lanes. If Level of Service D is permitted, the department and SANDAG shall evaluate the impacts of these levels of service of the high-occupancy vehicle lanes, and indicate any effects on the mixed-flow lanes. Continuance of Level of Service D operating conditions shall be subject to the written agreement between the department and SANDAG. Unrestricted access to the lanes by high-occupancy vehicles shall be available at all times. At least annually, the department shall audit the level of service during peak traffic hours and report the results of that audit at meetings of the program management team. (c) Single-occupant vehicles that are certified or authorized by SANDAG for entry into, and use of, the I-15 high-occupancy vehicle lanes are exempt from Section 21655.5 of the Vehicle Code, and the driver shall not be in violation of the Vehicle Code because of that entry and use. (d) SANDAG shall carry out the program in cooperation with the department, and shall consult the department in the operation of the project and on matters related to highway design and construction. With the assistance of the department, SANDAG shall establish appropriate traffic flow guidelines for the purpose of ensuring optimal use of the express lanes by high-occupancy vehicles. (e) (1) Agreements between SANDAG, the department, and the Department of the California Highway Patrol shall identify the respective obligations and liabilities of those entities and assign them responsibilities relating to the program. The agreements entered into pursuant to this section shall be consistent with agreements between the department and the United States Department of Transportation relating to this program and shall include clear and concise procedures for enforcement by the Department of the California Highway Patrol of laws prohibiting the unauthorized use of the high-occupancy vehicle lanes. The agreements shall provide for reimbursement of state agencies, from revenues generated by the program, federal funds specifically allocated to SANDAG for the program by the federal government, or other funding sources that are not otherwise available to state agencies for transportation-related projects, for costs incurred in connection with the implementation or operation of the program. Reimbursement for SANDAG's program-related planning and administrative costs in the operation of the program shall not exceed 3 percent of the revenues. (2) All remaining revenue shall be used in the I-15 corridor exclusively for (A) the improvement of transit service, including, but not limited to, support for transit operations, and (B) high-occupancy vehicle facilities and shall not be used for any other purpose. (f) SANDAG, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit Development Board, and the department shall cooperatively develop a single transit capital improvement plan for the I-15 corridor.