BILL ANALYSIS Ó SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE BILL NO: ab 1957 SENATOR MARK DESAULNIER, CHAIRMAN AUTHOR: dickinson VERSION: 3/6/14 Analysis by: Eric Thronson FISCAL: yes Hearing date: June 17, 2014 SUBJECT: Relinquishment of State Highway Route 16 DESCRIPTION: This bill authorizes the California Transportation Commission (CTC) to relinquish segments of State Route (SR) 16 in the City of Sacramento as well as in the unincorporated portion of Sacramento County. 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 a two-step process for the state to expand or delete a section of the state highway system that begins with the Legislature amending existing law and then CTC making 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 : AB 1957 (DICKINSON) Page 2 Authorizes CTC to relinquish to the City of Sacramento the portion of SR 16 within its city limits, upon terms and conditions approved by CTC. Authorizes CTC to relinquish to Sacramento County the portion of SR 16 within the unincorporated area of the county that is east of the City of Sacramento and west of Watt Avenue, upon terms and conditions approved by CTC. Provides that the relinquishment will become effective the date following the county recordation of the relinquishment resolution. 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. Requires the City of Sacramento and Sacramento County to: o Ensure the continuity of traffic flow, including any traffic signal progression, and to provide signage directing motorists to the continuation of SR 16. o Maintain the federal Surface Transportation Assistance Act truck route designation for SR 16. COMMENTS: 1.Purpose . According to the author, local and regional plans include a major concentration of new development along the corridor that will transform SR 16, also known as Jackson Highway or Jackson Road, into a route of both interregional and local significance. At this time, however, the state does not have the resources to improve SR 16, nor does it have any plans to do so. The author argues that without this bill, any road improvement process would be cumbersome, inefficient, and expensive because Caltrans would need to be involved in the review and approval process. This bill enables the local governments to convert the SR 16 corridor from a state highway to an urban arterial consistent with local and regional transportation plans. 2.Relinquishments . Each session, the Legislature passes and the governor signs numerous bills authorizing CTC to relinquish segments of the state highway system to local jurisdictions. Relinquishment transactions are generally preceded by a AB 1957 (DICKINSON) Page 3 negotiation of terms and conditions between the local jurisdiction and Caltrans. Once an agreement has been established, CTC typically approves the relinquishment and verifies its approval via a resolution. Relinquishments can be win-win as they provide recipient agencies with greater control over a local segment of the state highway system and relieve Caltrans of any further responsibility to improve, maintain, or repair the segment. Assembly Votes: Floor:77-0 Appr: 17-0 Trans:15-0 POSITIONS: (Communicated to the committee before noon on Wednesday, June 11, 2014.) SUPPORT: City of Sacramento Sacramento Area Council of Governments Sacramento County Board of Supervisors OPPOSED: None received.