BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 946
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Date of Hearing: April 29, 2013
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Bonnie Lowenthal, Chair
AB 946 (Stone) - As Amended: April 22, 2013
SUBJECT : Transit buses: Counties of Monterey and Santa Cruz
SUMMARY : Authorizes transit buses to utilize highway shoulders
in certain portions of Monterey and Santa Cruz counties.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Authorizes the Monterey-Salinas Transit District (MSTD) and
the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (SMTD), with the
approval of the California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) and the California Highway Patrol (CHP), to
designate highway shoulders that may be used as bus-only
traffic corridors during peak congestion hours (bus on
shoulder program).
2)Requires that the participating transit districts actively
work with Caltrans and CHP to develop guidelines that ensure
driver and vehicle safety and infrastructure integrity for the
bus on shoulder program.
3)Requires that the bus on shoulder program be developed with
transparency which includes the opportunity for public
comment.
4)Requires Caltrans and participating transit districts to
monitor of the state of repair of the highway shoulders
including needed repairs that may be attributable to the bus
on shoulder program.
5)Requires participating transit districts to be responsible for
all costs attributable to the bus on shoulder program.
6)Specifies that the bus on shoulder program may commence as
soon as guidelines are agreed to by the participating transit
districts, Caltrans, and CHP.
7)Defines a "highway" for the purposes of this bill as including
a "freeway."
8)Authorizes the operation of a transit bus on the shoulder of a
AB 946
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state highway in conjunction with the implementation of the
bus on shoulder program within the areas served by MSTD and
SMTD.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Creates the MSTD and the SMTD with various powers and duties
relative to the operation of public transit in those counties.
2)Generally requires vehicles to ride on the right half of the
roadway, including only that portion of the highway that is
improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicle travel.
3)Generally prohibits the driver of a vehicle from overtaking
and passing another vehicle by driving off of the paved or
main-traveled portion of the roadway.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : According to the author, a number of bus-on-shoulder
programs have been implemented throughout the country and these
programs have been successful in shortening commute times and
increasing transit ridership without increasing the number of
collisions. The author notes that successful bus on shoulder
programs are being operated in over a dozen cities in the United
States and Canada, and that in California, the San Diego
Association of Governments (SANDAG) initiated a successful bus
on shoulder program in partnership with the Metropolitan Transit
Systems, Caltrans, and CHP in 2005.
According to SANDAG, the bus on shoulder program achieved in San
Diego positive results and that Caltrans is generally supportive
of bus on shoulder programs as long as they are authorized to
provide prior review and approval of such programs to ensure
that the safety, operation, and integrity of highway facilities
are maintained. Specifically, Caltrans' interest in providing
prior approval stems primarily from concerns that such programs,
if not thoughtfully crafted, could introduce conflict with
vehicles using the shoulders for emergencies, limit access by
emergency vehicles, and increases conflicts between buses and
cars as a result of the increased speed differential between
buses and vehicles in adjacent lanes. Caltrans also expressed
concerns that such programs can impact roadway facilities
including guard rails, light standards and pavement.
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In 2006, the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP)
conducted a comprehensive study which examined jurisdictions
that allow buses to use highway shoulders. The study provided
guidelines for transit operations, highway design, pavement
markings, and implementation. The study concluded that bus on
shoulder programs have been proven successful but that success
has largely resulted from tailoring the programs to the
corridors where they will be used. The study specifically
pointed out that transit, highway, and safety agencies must
partner together to produce a safe and effective programs.
Supporters of this bill point out that allowing transit buses to
use highway shoulders is a low-cost strategy to improve bus
running times and the reliability of transit systems. They also
note that positive passenger perception of travel time savings
helps to attract patronage and that passengers who enjoy the
feeling of moving faster than the general speed of traffic tend
to continue to use public transit. Supporters also note that
bus on shoulder programs all to offer benefits of relieving
traffic congestion and improving air quality.
Double referred: This bill was previously heard in the Assembly
Local Government Committee where it was approved 9-0.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Monterey-Salinas Transit District (sponsor)
California Transit Association
Fort Ord Reuse Authority
Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Victoria Alvarez / TRANS. / (916) 319-
2093
AB 946
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