BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                  AB 1128
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 18, 2011

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Felipe Fuentes, Chair

                  AB 1128 (Furutani) - As Amended:  April 25, 2011 

          Policy Committee:                              
          TransportationVote:14-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program: 
          No     Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill expands the specific roadways around the ports of Los 
          Angeles and Long Beach on which the Department of Transportation 
          (Caltrans) may issue permits exempting certain commercial 
          vehicles from weight limits.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          The only state highway affected by this bill is a stretch of 
          Pacific Coast Highway about 1/3 of a mile in length.  The 
          increase in heavy vehicle traffic will cause the roadway to 
          deteriorate much more quickly that it would under the weight of 
          the types of vehicles to which the roadway would otherwise be 
          limited.  However, Caltrans reports the maintenance costs for 
          the roadway to be absorbable.

           COMMENTS  

           1)Rationale.   The author seeks to improve the goods movement 
            traffic flow and use of commercial storage space near the 
            ports.

           2)Background.   Existing law specifies maximum gross weight 
            limits for vehicles and vehicle combinations using public 
            highways but authorizes Caltrans to issue weight exemption 
            permits to the operator of vehicles and loads on specified 
            roadways around the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, which 
            together are among the world's busiest port. 

           3)Support.  The bill is supported by the California Association 
            of Port Authorities and industry groups that utilize the ports 








                                                                  AB 1128
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            and facilities in and around them.

           4)There is no formal opposition registered to this bill.  


           Analysis Prepared by  :    Jay Dickenson / APPR. / (916) 319-2081