BILL ANALYSIS Ó
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair
SB 468 (Kehoe)
Hearing Date: 05/26/2011 Amended: 05/17/2011
Consultant: Mark McKenzie Policy Vote: N.R.&W. 5-3; T.&H.
6-2
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BILL SUMMARY: SB 468 would prescribe coordinated duties for the
Department of Transportation (Caltrans), the San Diego
Association of Governments (SANDAG), and the California Coastal
Commission (CCC) with respect to a 40-year plan for
transportation improvements in the coastal zone in San Diego
County known collectively as the north coast corridor project
(NCCP). Specifically, this bill would:
Require Caltrans and SANDAG to prepare a "public works
plan" (PWP) for submittal to the CCC. The PWP is an
expedited process that describes, evaluates, and provides
mitigation for highway, transit, multimodal and community
enhancement projects within the NCCP.
Require Caltrans, SANDAG, and the CCC to work
cooperatively toward completing all design approvals,
reviews, determinations, and permitting for the NCCP on an
expedited basis.
Require Caltrans and SANDAG to perform all work in
conformance with the phasing program specified in the PWP,
unless otherwise approved by the CCC.
Require Caltrans and SANDAG to comply with specified
requirements for any elements of the NCCP that are in the
coastal zone, including: collaboration with all
stakeholders to ensure inclusion of multimodal
transportation options; require the "8+4" Buffer
Alternative as the preferred alternative for State Highway
Route (SR) 5 improvements; require concurrent construction
of rail and highway bridges crossing lagoons; ongoing
monitoring of environmental consequences of the projects;
and concurrent construction of highway improvements,
multimodal projects, and environmental mitigation and
enhancement projects in each phase.
Authorize SANDAG to conduct, administer, and operate
high-occupancy vehicle toll (HOT) lanes on State Highway
Route (SR) 5, and requires all revenues from the HOT lanes
to be used for transit improvements and high-occupancy
vehicle facilities in the SR 5 corridor.
SB 468 (Kehoe)
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Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 Fund
Caltrans state operations unknown moderate increase in
staff costs Special*
associated with prescribed coordination
duties
Caltrans capital costs unknown costs or savings as a result of
Special*
phasing requirements
Coastal Commission admin likely minor costs related to
prescribed duties General
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* State Highway Account
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STAFF COMMENTS: SUSPENSE FILE. AS PROPOSED TO BE AMENDED.
This bill is intended to provide a roadmap for the planning and
construction of the NCCP in the coastal zone, striking a balance
between the need for both rail and highway capacity expansion
and the sensitivity of environmental issues that are particular
to this part of the coastal zone. Many of the requirements of
the bill are consistent with the duties of the various entities
involved and largely reflect agreements that have been satisfied
to date. To the extent that the bill memorializes a path for
the various interests involved in the development of the
project, this bill could provide substantial benefit by moving
the project forward in a cooperative way. Locking specific
duties and responsibilities in statute could have a twofold
impact of providing certain benefits related to settling
conflicting objectives while limiting the ability to react to
changes that may be necessary on a long term project as
complicated as the NCCP.
While it is difficult to identify fiscal impacts attributable to
specific requirements of the bill, Caltrans indicates that the
bill's prescriptive requirements related to project phasing and
concurrent activities will likely increase state operations
costs related to the increased coordination. While a specific
estimate of these costs is currently unavailable, staff
estimates that this could require Caltrans to devote several
SB 468 (Kehoe)
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staff to act in a project management capacity at a cost of
$150,000 to $250,000 annually as projects are constructed. The
bill also requires SANDAG to establish a safe routes to transit
program that integrates the adopted regional bike plan with
transit services. Caltrans would likely complete this plan on
behalf of SANDAG at a cost of around $100,000 in a future fiscal
year.
Caltrans also indicates that the bill could result in some
capital cost savings by accelerating certain phases of the
project to meet the bill's requirement for coordinated efforts.
Accelerating some projects may also result in the delay in
others, thereby creating offsetting increased costs. The
magnitude of any costs or savings are difficult to quantify as
it is currently impossible to determine which parts of the
project may be accelerated or delayed as a result of the bill's
prescriptive requirements.
The Coastal Commission indicates that the bill does not result
in any increased workload for the commission beyond what was
planned. The bill is primarily driving the ongoing policies for
the project while the procedures would remain the same. CCC
currently has several staff dedicated specifically to the NCCP,
and they have been working closely with both Caltrans and SANDAG
on the draft PWP.
Staff notes that the bill contains a substantial body of
findings and declarations that frame the issues related to the
development of the NCCP in the coastal zone.
Proposed committee amendments remove the findings and
declarations from statute and put them in a separate uncodified
section at the beginning of the bill.