BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 14
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 14 (Lowenthal)
As Amended May 6, 2013
Majority vote
TRANSPORTATION 13-2 APPROPRIATIONS 13-4
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|Ayes:|Lowenthal, Linder, |Ayes:|Gatto, Bocanegra, |
| |Achadjian, Ammiano, | |Bradford, |
| |Blumenfield, Bonta, | |Ian Calderon, Campos, |
| |Buchanan, Daly, Frazier, | |Eggman, Gomez, Hall, |
| |Gatto, Holden, Nazarian, | |Ammiano, Linder, Pan, |
| |Quirk-Silva | |Quirk, Weber |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Morrell, Patterson |Nays:|Harkey, Bigelow, |
| | | |Donnelly, Wagner |
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SUMMARY : Mandates the preparation of a state freight plan and
the establishment of an advisory committee to help develop the
plan. Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires the Transportation Agency (Agency) to prepare a state
freight plan (plan) with specified elements to govern the
immediate and long-range planning activities and capital
investments with respect to the movement of freight.
2)Requires that the plan comply with the relevant provisions of
the federal Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act
(MAP-21).
3)Requires the Agency to establish a freight advisory committee
(committee) and prescribes its composition.
4)Specifies the duties and responsibilities of the committee.
5)Delineates the minimum required elements of the plan.
6)Requires that the plan be submitted to the Legislature, the
Governor, and certain state agencies by December 31, 2014, and
updated every five years thereafter.
7)Allows the state freight plan to be developed separately from,
AB 14
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or incorporated into, the statewide strategic long-range
transportation plan required by federal law.
8)Allows the freight element of the state freight plan to be
developed separately from, or incorporated into, the state
rail plan prepared by the California Department of
Transportation (Caltrans).
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, costs will be absorbable to prepare the plan and
provide staff support to the advisory committee. This bill is
consistent with current efforts to comply with federal law.
COMMENTS : Last summer, Congress passed, and the President
signed, federal transportation reauthorization legislation,
MAP-21. MAP-21 directs the US Department of Transportation (US
DOT) to develop a new national freight program that will provide
a basis for federal investment in trade-facilitating
infrastructure development.
Going beyond federal law, this bill would mandate California to
develop a state freight plan as well as mandate the
establishment of a freight advisory committee consistent with
the federal requirements. According to the author, this bill
will ensure that the state is well-positioned to inform federal
policy decision-makers of California's goods movement
infrastructure needs. With a comprehensive freight plan in
hand, this will place California at the front of the line for
available federal money.
Current goods movement planning efforts : A number of efforts
are already underway at state, regional, and local levels to
address goods movement needs in California. For example, the
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has embarked
on the development of the California Freight Mobility Plan.
Also as a part of the Caltrans effort, a freight advisory
committee has been established to help guide the development of
their freight mobility plan.
On a parallel track, the Air Resources Board (ARB) is currently
developing their long-term vision for freight transport in
California, referred to as the "2050 vision" for freight
transport.
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Additionally, another major consideration in the adoption of the
plan's goals are the regional transportation plans adopted by
metropolitan planning organizations that ensure compliance with
greenhouse gas reduction regional targets as established by ARB,
pursuant SB 375 (Steinberg), Chapter 728, Statutes of 2008. The
sustainable communities strategies (SCS) are a new element of
the metropolitan planning organizations' regional transportation
plans that demonstrate how development patterns and
transportation policies and programs can work together to
achieve a region's greenhouse gas emission reduction targets
from cars and light trucks. Integrating the SCS plans of the
separate regions into the state freight plan would also lend
support to the regional agencies in achieving their greenhouse
gas emission reductions and environmental sustainability
objectives. With the few regional transportation plans approved
by ARB or nearing completion, these will ensure that we are
making transportation investments consistent with community
wishes along with achieving emission reductions.
Analysis Prepared by : Ed Imai / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093
FN: 0000812