BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 615
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 615 (Bonnie Lowenthal)
As Amended September 2, 2011
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: | |(June 1, 2011) |SENATE: |23-13|(September 8, |
| | | | | |2011) |
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(vote not relevant)
Original Committee Reference: TRANS.
SUMMARY : Appropriates $4 million from the High-Speed Rail
Passenger Train Bond Fund to fund engineering and public
outreach for the Los Angeles to San Diego segment of the
high-speed rail system.
The Senate amendments delete the entire contents of the bill and
replace them with provisions to appropriate the $4 million as
follows:
1)$1.2 million for acquisition activities, including public
outreach; and,
2)$2.8 million for design activities.
Both appropriations are for use only on the Los Angeles to San
Diego segment.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Enacts the Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act
for the 21st Century (High-Speed Rail Bond Act). The
High-Speed Rail Bond Act, approved as Proposition 1A in
November 2008, provides $9.95 billion in general obligation
bond authority to fund the planning and construction of a
high-speed passenger train system and complementary
improvements to other specified rail systems in the state.
2)The Budget Act of 2011, appropriates $47.2 million from the
High-Speed Rail Passenger Train Bond Fund for acquisition
activities in nine different corridors and corridor segments.
AB 615
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3)Also appropriates almost $25 million for design activities in
those same corridors and corridor segments.
4)Does not appropriate money for high-speed rail activities in
the Los Angeles to San Diego segment.
5)Identifies Phase 1 of the high-speed train project as the
corridor of the high-speed train system between San Francisco
Transbay Terminal and Los Angeles Union Station and Anaheim.
6)Prohibits the expenditure of High-Speed Rail Bond Act proceeds
for capital costs in corridors that are not in Phase I unless
the High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) finds that the
expenditures will not have an adverse impact on construction
of Phase I projects.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill provided streamlined
procedures and authorities for the Authority to purchase
property, easements, and other property rights, similar to
procedures and authorities granted to other state agencies that
acquire significant rights of way.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : Writing in support of this bill, the Southern
California Association of Governments, Los Angeles County
Metropolitan Transportation Authority, San Bernardino Associated
Governments, Riverside County Transportation Commission, San
Diego County Regional Airport Authority, and San Diego
Association of Governments, working cooperatively as the
Southern California High-Speed Rail Inland Corridor Group (SOCAL
ICG), have worked for a number of years with the Authority in
support of the state's efforts to develop a state of the art
high-speed passenger rail system in the southern California
region. SOCAL ICG asserts that
"this work includes the participation of hundreds of
stakeholders and thousands of residents doing business and
living within the proposed rail corridors." SOCAL ICG further
explains that a "clear momentum has been built-up as a result of
this collaborative effort to find the best alignment linking Los
Angeles and San Diego via the Inland Empire through high speed
rail."
SOCAL ICG argues that the appropriation in this bill is
important to maintain the momentum they have gained in support
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of the project and that, without the funding, work in the
corridor will halt, resulting in increased costs, missed
opportunities to collaborate, and diminished public support for
the project.
The provisions of this bill have not been heard in any committee
in the Assembly.
Analysis Prepared by : Janet Dawson / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093
FN: 0002690