BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 218
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Date of Hearing: March 23, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Jim Frazier, Chair
AB 218
(Melendez) - As Introduced February 2, 2015
SUBJECT: State Highway Route 74
SUMMARY: This bill authorizes the California Transportation
Commission (CTC) to relinquish a portion of State Route (SR) 74
to the County of Riverside. Specifically, this bill:
1)Authorizes CTC to relinquish the portion of SR 74, located
within the unincorporated area east of the City of Lake
Elsinore and west of the City of Perris, upon terms
established by the California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) and the County of Riverside.
2)Specifies that the relinquishment will become effective
immediately after the county recorder records the
relinquishment resolution that contains CTC approval.
3)Provides that, on the effective date of the relinquishment,
the relinquished portion of SR 74 will cease to be a state
highway and may not be considered for future re-adoption as a
state highway.
AB 218
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4)Requires that the County of Riverside maintain signs directing
motorists to the continuation of SR 74.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Defines a "state highway" as any roadway that is acquired,
laid out, constructed, improved, or maintained as a state
highway pursuant to constitutional or legislative
authorization.
2)Statutorily identifies state highway system routes.
3)Specifies that it is the intent of the Legislature that the
prescribed routes of the state highway system connect
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.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown
COMMENTS: Each session, numerous bills authorizing CTC to
relinquish segments of the state highway to local jurisdictions
are passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor.
Relinquishment transactions are generally preceded by a
negotiation of terms and conditions between the local
jurisdiction and Caltrans. Once an agreement has been
established, the Legislature authorizes CTC to relinquish the
segment and CTC then approves the relinquishment and verifies
its approval via resolution. The final step is for the
Legislature to delete these segments from current law.
AB 218
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State highway relinquishments provide the recipient agencies
with greater control over a local transportation segment and
relieve Caltrans of any further responsibility to improve,
maintain, or repair the segment.
Writing in support of this bill, the Southwest California
Legislative Council notes that relinquishment of the specified
portion of SR 75 would allow the County of Riverside to manage
and maintain the segment thereby reducing the state taxpayer
burden as well as allow for much needed maintenance improvements
along the route.
Related legislation: The administration is proposing a budget
trailer bill to, among other things, establish an administrative
process to relinquish state highways.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
Riverside County Board of Supervisors
Southwest California Legislative Council
Opposition
AB 218
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None on file
Analysis Prepared by:Victoria Alvarez / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093