BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 218
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ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB
218 (Melendez)
As Introduced February 2, 2015
Majority vote
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|Committee |Votes |Ayes |Noes |
|----------------+------+----------------------+---------------------|
|Transportation |16-0 |Frazier, Achadjian, | |
| | |Baker, Bloom, Campos, | |
| | |Chu, Daly, Dodd, | |
| | |Eduardo Garcia, | |
| | |Gomez, Kim, Linder, | |
| | |Medina, Melendez, | |
| | |Nazarian, O'Donnell | |
| | | | |
|----------------+------+----------------------+---------------------|
|Appropriations |17-0 |Gomez, Bigelow, | |
| | |Bonta, Calderon, | |
| | |Chang, Daly, Eggman, | |
| | |Gallagher, | |
| | |Eduardo Garcia, | |
| | |Gordon, Holden, | |
| | |Jones, Quirk, Rendon, | |
| | |Wagner, Weber, Wood | |
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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:
AB 218
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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.
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: According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee:
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1)Potentially significant one-time costs (State Highway Account)
depending on the outcome of negotiations between Caltrans and
the County and a determination by Caltrans that the
relinquishment is in the best interest of the state.
2)Significant long-term maintenance and repair savings to
Caltrans, if the CTC exercises its authority to relinquish the
highway segment.
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.
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 74 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.
Please see the policy committee analysis for full discussion of
this bill.
AB 218
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Analysis Prepared by:
Victoria Alvarez / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093 FN:
0000584