BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 1128 Page 1 Date of Hearing: May 2, 2011 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION Bonnie Lowenthal, Chair AB 1128 (Furutani) - As Amended: April 25, 2011 SUBJECT : Vehicles: Terminal Island Freeway: special permits SUMMARY : Authorizes the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to issue overweight truck permits on designated roadways to allow for the movement shipping containers from the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles into the City of Carson. EXISTING LAW : 1)Prescribes, according to state and federal law, maximum gross weight limits for vehicles and vehicle combinations using public highways. Authorizes Caltrans to issue weight exemption permits to the operator of vehicles and loads, as specified, on the following roadways: a) On a 3.66-mile portion of State Route (SR) 47 and SR 103 known as Terminal Island Freeway, between Willow Street in the City of Long Beach and Terminal Island in the City of Long Beach and the City of Los Angeles; and, b) On a 2.1-mile portion of SR 1 between Blinn Avenue in the City of Los Angeles and Harbor Avenue in the City of Long Beach. 1)Specifies that to obtain weight exemption permits from Caltrans, the vehicle and its load must meet specified criteria. 2)Prohibits Caltrans from issuing a weight exemption permit for the movement of hazardous materials. 3)Requires that the weight exemption permit issued by Caltrans contain certain criteria related to description of the load, liability waivers, and proof insurance. 4)Requires overweight trucks to carry and display the weight exemption permit and furnish a copy of the permit to the AB 1128 Page 2 California Highway Patrol (CHP) or Caltrans, upon request. 5)Specifies that weight exemption permits issued by Caltrans are valid for one year and may be cancelled by Caltrans. FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown COMMENTS: The Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles are considered among the most active port facilities in the world and no other commercial facility in Southern California produces more vehicular traffic congestion. In light of these significant traffic congestion issues, the City of Long Beach requested the weight exemption authorized by AB 2438 (Karnette), Chapter 1037, Statutes of 1993, and later extended by SB 839 (Karnette), Chapter 358, Statutes of 1997, contending that this unique situation necessitated allowing heavier vehicles to use the roadways to enhance the growth and efficiency of both Ports. The City of Long Beach further asserted that without this exemption cargo could be diverted to other ports, both in California and in the Pacific Northwest. The author introduced this legislation to allow overweight vehicles carrying port cargo to use additional roadway segments in and around the City of Carson. The author contends that by doing so, underutilized warehouses in and around the City of Carson can be accessed for port cargo storage. To accomplish this, this bill would authorize Caltrans to increase the distance that overweight vehicles can travel on a relatively small section of the Pacific Coast Highway, upon the adoption of an ordinance or resolution by the City of Carson. Increasing overweight truck use on the state highway system would likely result in accelerated pavement degradation. However, the cost of this degradation is outweighed by the benefits of allowing overweight trucks to travel on an additional, relatively short, segment of state highway. Previous legislation : AB 2438 (Karnette), Chapter 1037, Statutes of 1993, authorized Caltrans, upon ordinance or resolution by the City of Long Beach and the City of Los Angeles to issue a permit to certain overweight trucks carrying cargo containers for use of the Terminal Island Freeway in Los Angeles County, under certain conditions. AB 1128 Page 3 SB 839 (Karnette), Chapter 358, Statutes of 1997, extended the January 1, 1998 sunset to January 1, 2003, authorizing Caltrans, upon the adoption of an ordinance or resolution by both the City of Long Beach and the City of Los Angeles, to issue a special permit to the operator of a vehicle that exceeds the maximum gross weight limits. SB 2072 (Karnette), Chapter 229, Statutes of 2002, extended indefinitely the existing law allowing Caltrans, upon adoption of conforming ordinances by the City of Long Beach and the City of Los Angeles, for overweight vehicles. REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION : Support ACX Pacific Northwest, Inc. California Association of Port Authorities International Warehouse Logistics Association Los Angeles County Business Federation Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce Opposition None received Analysis Prepared by : Victoria Alvarez / TRANS. / (916) 319- 2093