BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 218 Page 1 ASSEMBLY THIRD READING AB 218 (Melendez) As Introduced February 2, 2015 Majority vote -------------------------------------------------------------------- |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 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Page 2 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: AB 218 Page 3 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 Page 4 Analysis Prepared by: Victoria Alvarez / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093 FN: 0000584