BILL ANALYSIS Ó
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Kevin de León, Chair
SB 1175 (Walters) - Motorsports vehicles: length limitations.
Amended: May 12, 2014 Policy Vote: T&H 10-0
Urgency: No Mandate: No
Hearing Date: May 19, 2014 Consultant: Mark McKenzie
This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.
Bill Summary: SB 1175 extends the authority for certain
vehicle-trailer combinations used in connection with motorsports
to exceed specified vehicle length limitations until January 1,
2018. The bill would also require the Department of
Transportation (Caltrans) to conduct field tests and evaluate
performance of these vehicles on all highway segments and
transition routes connecting to motorsport racecourses, and
require Caltrans to make specified roadway improvements
identified in previous field tests related to the Pomona and
Sonoma Raceways.
Fiscal Impact:
Caltrans costs of approximately $2.8 million to make
identified roadway improvements on transition routes at the
Pomona and Sonoma Raceways. (State Highway Account)
One-time Caltrans costs of approximately $300,000 over two
years to conduct field tests on the remaining 14 transition
routes to sanctioned race tracks. (State Highway Account)
One-time Caltrans costs of up to $150,000 in 2016-17 to
prepare a report to the Legislature that includes results of
field tests on the remaining transition routes and an
overview of necessary improvements identified and made.
(State Highway Acccount)
Caltrans costs of approximately $300,000 in 2015-16 to
update transition routes to reflect projects completed since
the original routes were identified, and to develop new
transition routes that could accommodate the vehicle-trailer
combinations specified in this bill. These costs would be
repeated every five years if the statute is re-authorized
beyond the specified 2018 sunset date. (State Highway
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Account)
Unknown future cost pressures, likely in the millions, to
make road improvements identified in the field testing of
the remaining 14 transition routes. (State Highway Account)
Background: Existing law generally limits a vehicle's length to
40 feet, and limits a combination of vehicles coupled together
to a length of 65 feet. When a truck tractor is pulling a
semitrailer, the distance from the kingpin (the main pin used to
connect the truck to the trailer) to the rearmost axle of a
semitrailer cannot exceed 40 feet when the trailer has two rear
axles. The kingpin to rear axle (KP-RA) length determines the
turning radius of the truck-semitrailer combination. Existing
law limits the length of a semitrailer to 53 feet.
Existing law, SB 1174 (Walters), Chap. 292/2012, authorizes
over-length truck-semitrailer combinations to travel on
specified Interstate highways and identified transition routes
to race tracks until January 1, 2016. This authority allows a
semitrailer to have a length of up to 56 feet, if the KP-RA
distance is no more than 46 feet, and the semitrailer is used
primarily in connection with motorsports. SB 1174 required
Caltrans to conduct field tests of these motorsport
truck-semitrailer combinations on the authorized Interstate
highways and transition routes, and report to the Legislature on
the tests and make recommendations on whether the over-length
vehicle combinations should continue past the 2016 sunset date.
California has 16 sanctioned race tracks with authorized
transition routes allowing access for motorsport trucks.
Caltrans conducted field testing at four race tracks and one
truck stop in 2013, with actual on-road testing with a
motorsport truck and 56 foot trailer on routes, ramps, and
intersections leading to motorsports events at the Sonoma and
Pomona Raceways, and measuring various types of vehicle
combinations at five motorsports events. Field tests at the two
test sites were generally favorable for the motorsports
exception, as the test vehicle passed field tests on all of the
straight segments where there are no turn options, and on 7 of
the 12 curve segments (including turn lanes). Two of the failed
curve segments were on private property, but on the three failed
curve segments on roadways, the test vehicle encroached into an
adjacent lane while in a single turn lane, encroached into an
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opposing lane on an off-ramp, and fully occupied both lanes on a
two-lane left turn.
Proposed Law: SB 1175 would extend the sunset on the
authorization to operate motorsport trucks with a trailer of up
to 56 feet in length and a KP-RA distance of up to 46 feet until
January 1, 2018. In addition, the bill would require Caltrans
to:
Conduct field testing of these motorsport
truck-semitrailer combinations on all of the remaining
segments of the specified Interstate highway and transition
routes.
Make all identified road improvements identified in the
field tests of the Pomona and Sonoma Raceways to
accommodate these motorsport truck-semitrailer
combinations.
Update transition routes to reflect road projects
completed since the 1990s, develop new transition routes,
and review and update the transition routes every five
years thereafter.
Submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2017
that includes the results of the field tests, an overview
of related roadway improvements identified and made, and a
recommendation, in consultation with the California Highway
Patrol (CHP), as to whether the 56 foot trailer length
should be reauthorized.
Staff Comments: As noted above, existing law requires Caltrans
to conduct field testing of motorsport truck-semitrailer
combinations with a 56 foot trailer on the Interstate highways
and specified transition routes to race tracks, and submit a
report on results to the Legislature. Caltrans issued the
mandated report on March 27, 2014, noting the results of the
field tests at Pomona and Sonoma Raceways and necessary roadway
improvements on the failed curve sections, such as re-striping,
lane widening, and installation of dotted intersection turn
markings to correct lane encroachments. Because of the dangers
associated with crossing into adjacent lanes, Caltrans, in
consultation with CHP, recommends that the authorization for
over-length motorsport trailers be extended only upon completion
and resolution of the following issues:
Conduct field testing on the transition routes at the 14
remaining sanctioned race tracks at an estimated one-time
cost of $300,000.
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Extend the sunset date on the authority to authorizing
statutes to January 1, 2018 to allow time to complete
evaluations and roadway improvements.
Complete recommended roadway improvements at Pomona and
Sonoma Raceways at an estimated cost of $2.8 million.
Develop new transition routes to account for changes to
roadways since the original transition routes were
identified in the 1990s, and update those routes every five
years, at a cost of $300,000 for each update.
SB 1175 would extend the authorization to operate over-length
motorsport truck-semitrailer combinations for two years and
require Caltrans to conduct all of the activities recommended in
the report.