Amended in Senate June 4, 2014

Amended in Assembly January 6, 2014

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 577


Introduced by Assembly Member Nazarian

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(Coauthors: Assembly Members Bocanegra, Dababneh, and Wilk)

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February 20, 2013


An act to repeal Sections 30648 and 130265 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to transportation.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 577, as amended, Nazarian. Rail construction: County of Los Angeles.

Existing law prohibits the construction of a mass transportation rail project, other than as a subway, within a specified corridor within the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, and imposes other conditions in that regard. Existing law also imposes certain requirements on the construction phasing of a mass transportation rail project between the San Fernando Valley and downtown Los Angeles.

This bill would repeal these provisionsbegin insert and state the intent of the Legislatureend insert.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

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(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to give local
2residents the flexibility needed to address the growing demands
P2    1of public transportation in the greater San Fernando Valley by
2allowing the installation of above-ground rail transit along the
3Los Angeles Metro Orange Line.

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4(b) Currently, the Los Angeles Metro Orange Line runs on a
5dedicated bus route known as a bus rapid transit system. When
6bus rapid transit was determined to be the preferred alternative,
7the Metropolitan Transportation Authority estimated that Orange
8 Line ridership would average 16,000 riders on weekdays. As of
9September 2012, average ridership was 31,787, nearly double the
10initial estimate. It is evident that the San Fernando Valley has
11outgrown this bus rapid transit system. The greater San Fernando
12Valley needs a rail system on par with other parts of the region in
13order to transport a larger number of riders quickly, efficiently,
14and cost effectively.

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15(c) By repealing the ban on light rail installation along the
16Orange Line, local residents will be able to take the first step
17toward a 21st Century transit system, which will lead to greater
18connectivity to other transportation lines throughout Los Angeles
19and the San Fernando Valley.

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Section 30648 of the Public Utilities Code is repealed.

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Section 130265 of the Public Utilities Code is repealed.



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