BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular Session
AB 194 (Frazier) - High-occupancy toll lanes
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|Version: August 31, 2015 |Policy Vote: T. & H. 10 - 0 |
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|Urgency: No |Mandate: No |
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|Hearing Date: August 27, 2015 |Consultant: Mark McKenzie |
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*********** ANALYSIS ADDENDUM - SUSPENSE FILE ***********
The following information is revised to reflect amendments
adopted by the committee on August 27, 2015
Bill
Summary: AB 194 would authorize the Department of
Transportation (Caltrans) and regional transportation agencies
to apply to the California Transportation Commission (CTC) to
develop and operate high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes or other
toll facilities, as specified.
Fiscal
Impact:
CTC costs of approximately $200,000 per application for due
diligence reviews and approvals of project proposals. Costs
to review proposals submitted by regional transportation
agencies will be reimbursed by the applicant, but CTC would
need additional resources for each proposal submitted by
Caltrans. (State Highway Account)
Unknown costs to Caltrans and regional transportation agencies
AB 194 (Frazier) Page 1 of
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to develop and operate HOT lanes. The bill authorizes
Caltrans and regional transportation agencies to retain up to
three percent of toll revenues for administrative expenses
related to the operation of the facilities.
Unknown toll revenue gains for Caltrans and regional
transportation agencies related to the operation of HOT lanes
and other toll facilities. For illustrative purposes, HOT
lanes administered by MTA generate approximately $17 million
annually. Excess revenues must be used within the corridor
from which it was generated.
Author
Amendments:
Consolidate the separate statutory provisions that apply to
Caltrans and regional transportation agencies into a single
general statutory authorization to develop and operate toll
facilities.
Delete a requirement that a proposed facility has received
environmental clearance and instead require that a project
initiation document has been completed for the proposed toll
facility.
Delete an explicit requirement that the CTC establish
guidelines for the development and operation of toll
facilities.
Require a regional transportation agency sponsoring a toll
facility to enter into an agreement with Caltrans that
addresses all matters related to design, construction, and
maintenance, and operation of the toll facility, as specified,
rather than developing and operating the facilities in
cooperation with Caltrans and participation of the California
Highway Patrol.
Make a regional transportation agency sponsoring a toll
facility responsible for reimbursing Caltrans for its costs
related to the toll facility, as specified.
Authorize a sponsoring agency to provide discounts and
premiums for the use of the toll facility.
Specify that toll revenues are available for debt service
related to the toll facility, development, repair,
rehabilitation, improvement, reconstruction, and reserves, in
addition to other specified uses in the current bill.
Require an expenditure plan for a facility sponsored by a
regional transportation agency to be reviewed and approved by
AB 194 (Frazier) Page 2 of
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the agency's governing board. If Caltrans is the sponsoring
agency, the expenditure plan must be reviewed and approved by
the CTC.
Add clarifying language to the provisions related to bonds
issued for purposes of funding toll facilities.
Establish the Highway Toll Account in the State Transportation
Fund for the management of funds received by Caltrans for toll
facilities operated by the department, and specify that funds
in the account that are necessary for payment of debt service
on toll facilities are continuously appropriated for that
purpose.
Make other clarifying and conforming changes.
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