BILL ANALYSIS �
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SCR 59
Author: Knight (R)
Amended: 8/26/13
Vote: 21
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE : 7-3, 8/20/13
AYES: DeSaulnier, Gaines, Beall, Cannella, Pavley, Roth, Wyland
NOES: Galgiani, Hueso, Lara
NO VOTE RECORDED: Liu
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
SUBJECT : Highway directional signs
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This resolution requests that the Department of
Transportation (Caltrans) erect signs on State Highway Route
(SR) 14 in Los Angeles County directing motorists to the William
J. "Pete" Knight Veterans Home.
ANALYSIS : Existing law assigns Caltrans the responsibility of
operating and maintaining the state highway system, including
the installation and maintenance of highway signs. In
administering its duties, Caltrans has developed guidelines to
use when considering whether to erect non-required signage along
the state's highways, or what Caltrans refers to as
"supplemental destination signage."
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Supplemental destination signs give information to motorists
regarding the location of specific destinations, such as
historical sites, cultural centers, and tourist attractions,
which are accessible from an upcoming highway exit. Caltrans
has established specific qualifying criteria for certain
destinations considered traffic generators, for example:
Post-secondary schools (public or private) with a minimum
enrollment of 1,000 students each week;
Museums, zoos, stadiums, and sports arenas (publicly owned and
nonprofit) with a minimum of one million in annual attendance;
Convention centers (publicly owned) with a minimum of 500,000
in annual attendance;
Fairgrounds (publicly owned and operated) with a minimum of
500,000 in annual attendance;
Governmental centers with a 5,000 minimum number of employees.
The operative theory regarding these criteria is that only those
facilities that generate a substantial amount of traffic should
receive highway signing. For destinations such as veterans'
homes, for which attendance criteria are not specifically
identified in its manual, Caltrans considers destination signs
only when "unusual operational or safety issues become apparent
that would be mitigated by signing."
The Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) maintains six veterans
homes in the state to provide long-term care to resident
veterans, with two additional homes under construction. These
live-in, residential care facilities offer comprehensive
services and social activities for veteran residents, and range
in size from 60 to over 1,000 residents. Veterans who are over
55 years old, or disabled, and discharged from active military
service under honorable conditions are eligible to apply for
admission.
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This resolution requests that Caltrans erect four signs on SR 14
in Los Angeles County directing motorists to the William J.
"Pete" Knight Veterans Home, consistent with the signing
requirements of the state highway system, upon receiving
donations from non-state sources sufficient to cover the
erection costs.
Comments
According to the author, this resolution is necessary to ask
Caltrans to place signs directing traffic to the William J.
"Pete" Knight Veterans Home. Due to former Senator Knight's
illustrious career, the state chose to memorialize him by naming
the Veterans Home in Lancaster after him. Caltrans refuses to
place directional signs on SR 14 to this Veterans Home, and
therefore the author has introduced this resolution to ask
Caltrans to do so.
DVA notes that Veterans Homes are centers where veterans'
organizations, community groups, and others congregate to
recognize and thank veterans for their service. At each of the
state's homes there are multiple celebrations throughout the
year including Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day,
Pearl Harbor Day, VE Day, VJ Day, Flag Day, the birthdays of
each of the military branches, Women Military History Week, and
many more. While the William J. "Pete" Knight Veterans Home may
only have 60 permanent residents, its community impact is much
larger. It has become a hub where veterans and the community
come together.
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: Yes
SUPPORT : (Verified 9/9/13)
Board of Equalization Member George Runner
American Legion
AMVETS
California State Commanders Veterans Council
Veterans of Foreign Wars
Vietnam Veterans of America
William J. "Pete" Knight Veterans Home
JA:d:n 9/9/13 Senate Floor Analyses
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SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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