BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 157
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CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB
157 (Levine)
As Amended June 25, 2015
2/3 vote. Urgency
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|ASSEMBLY: | 75-0 | (March 26, |SENATE: |40-0 | (August 31, |
| | |2015) | | |2015) |
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| | | | | | |
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Original Committee Reference: TRANS.
SUMMARY: Authorizes an environmental review to be completed
concurrent with design work for a project to open a third lane
in each direction on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, under
certain conditions.
The Senate amendments authorize, rather than require, the
environmental review for the project to be completed concurrent
with design work.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY, this bill:
1)Made legislative findings and declarations regarding the
history of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and of a planned
project to improve traffic flow on the bridge by re-opening a
third lane to vehicle traffic in the eastbound direction and
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to bicycle traffic in the westbound direction.
2)Required, to the extent possible, environmental work and
design work be done concurrently on the project if the
Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) develop
such a project.
3)Included an urgency clause, allowing this bill's provisions to
take effect immediately.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown. This bill is keyed non-fiscal by the
Legislative Counsel.
COMMENTS: The Richmond-San Rafael Bridge originally opened in
1956 with three lanes of vehicular traffic in each direction.
In the 1970s, one lane of the bridge was temporarily closed to
allow for an aqueduct to transport water to a drought-stricken
Marin. Even though the aqueduct was later removed, the bridge
continues to operate with two traffic lanes in each direction.
The author introduced this bill to address growing concerns
about congestion delays in the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge
corridor. According to the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA), a
public instrumentality governed by the same board that governs
MTC, regional population growth and local business developments
in Marin County have resulted in significant traffic increases
on eastbound Interstate 580 (I-580) and the bridge approach
during evening peak commute periods. BATA also reports that the
congestion in the bridge corridor backs up traffic on northbound
United States Highway 101 in Marin County. In addition to
traffic congestion, the current configuration on the bridge (two
lanes in each direction) does not allow for bicycle and
pedestrian facilities. As a result, there is a significant gap
in the 270-mile Bay Trail, reportedly one of the most heavily
used recreation and non-motorized transportation assets in the
region.
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Earlier this year, BATA voted to proceed with the I-580 Access
Improvement Project. The project includes improvements for
motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians in the Richmond-San
Rafael Bridge corridor. Proposed improvements include opening a
third lane of vehicular traffic in the eastbound direction of
I-580 from Marin County to Contra Costa County (across the
bridge) and converting an existing shoulder in the westbound
direction of the bridge to a barrier-separated path for
bicyclists and pedestrians.
BATA's action authorized its staff to proceed with a
"design-at-risk" strategy (i.e., begin design in advance of
environmental clearance) to shorten the timeframe for opening
all improvements. BATA's stated goal is to complete the final
design and be able to advertise for construction at the
completion of the environmental review. According to the
author, the design-at-risk strategy will expedite completion of
the project by as much as 18 months.
Assembly Transportation Committee staff concerns: As amended in
the Senate, this bill authorizes, rather than requires, BATA to
proceed with a design-at-risk strategy. However, since BATA is
already pursuing this approach, it is not clear why this bill is
necessary.
Analysis Prepared by:
Janet Dawson / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093 FN:
0001286
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