BILL ANALYSIS Ó SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE BILL NO: Ab 747 SENATOR MARK DESAULNIER, CHAIRMAN AUTHOR: levine VERSION: 5/28/13 Analysis by: Eric Thronson FISCAL: yes Hearing date: June 4, 2013 SUBJECT: Relinquishment of State Route 131 DESCRIPTION: This bill authorizes the California Transportation Commission (CTC) to relinquish the segment of State Route (SR) 131 in the Town of Tiburon. ANALYSIS: Existing law: Identifies the California state highway system through a description of segments of the state's regional and interregional roads that are owned and operated by the Department of Transportation (Caltrans). Defines a "state highway" as any roadway that is acquired, laid out, constructed, improved, or maintained as a state highway according to legislative authorization. Specifies that it is the intent of the Legislature for the routes of the state highway system to connect the communities and regions of the state and that they serve the state's economy by connecting centers of commerce, industry, agriculture, mineral wealth, and recreation. Provides that any expansion or deletion of the state highway system occurs through a statutory process requiring the CTC to make findings that it is in the best interest of the state to include or delete a specified portion of roadway from the system. This bill authorizes the CTC to relinquish to the Town of Tiburon the portion of SR 131 within its city limits or sphere of influence, upon terms and conditions the CTC finds to be in AB 747 (LEVINE) Page 2 the best interest of the state. Further, the bill provides that the relinquishment will become effective immediately following the county recordation of the relinquishment resolution and specifies that following the effective date of relinquishment, the relinquished segment will no longer be a state highway and may not be considered for future adoption as a state highway. Finally, the bill requires the Town of Tiburon to ensure the continuity of traffic flow, including any traffic signal progression, and to provide signage directing motorists to the continuation of SR 131. COMMENTS: Purpose . According to the author, it is important for the state to relinquish the road to Tiburon in order to grant Tiburon more direct control of the road. The portion of SR 131 this bill relinquishes is an approximately one-mile section of road that looks and feels like a typical main street. The author argues that relinquishment of the road will speed up the time it takes for Tiburon to make changes to the roadway such as signage, landscaping, decorations, bike lanes, or parking. Assembly Votes: Floor: 76-0 Appr: 17-0 Trans: 16-0 POSITIONS: (Communicated to the committee before noon on Wednesday, May 29, 2013.) SUPPORT: None received. OPPOSED: None received.