BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 726
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Date of Hearing: April 27, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Jim Frazier, Chair
AB 726
(Nazarian) - As Amended April 29, 2015
SUBJECT: Vehicles: Los Angeles County Metropolitan
Transportation Authority
SUMMARY: Authorizes the Los Angeles County Metropolitan
Transportation Authority (MTA) to operate articulated buses of
up to 82 feet in length on the route designated as the Orange
Line in Los Angeles County. Specifically, this bill:
1)Authorizes MTA to operate 82-foot articulated buses on the
Orange Line.
2)Specifies that MTA's use of the longer buses on the Orange
Line is subject to specified collective bargaining
requirements.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Generally limits the length of a vehicle to 40 feet, but
creates numerous exceptions to the limit.
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2)Limits the length of a bus to 45 feet.
3)Limits the length of an articulated bus to 60 feet.
FISCAL EFFECT: None
COMMENTS: MTA purchased the abandoned Southern Pacific Burbank
Branch railroad line in 1991 and eventually constructed a bus
rapid transit (BRT) line, known as the Orange Line, along the
route. The Orange Line opened in 2005 as a 14-mile route
consisting of two-lane dedicated busways for 60-foot articulated
buses. The line crosses 34 streets and five mid-block
pedestrian crosswalks. At signalized intersections, loop
detectors give Orange Line buses traffic signal priority.
Adjacent to the dedicated busways there are eight miles of
bicycle and pedestrian paths, with designated on-street bike
lanes for the remaining six miles. In 2012 MTA completed a
four-mile northern extension of the Orange Line, connecting four
new stations.
When the Orange Line opened, MTA estimated that ridership would
average 16,000 riders on weekdays. By 2012, daily ridership had
grown to 31,787 and continues to grow. The line operates near
capacity, especially during peak periods. In 2011, MTA, in
partnership with the City of Los Angeles, developed the Orange
Line Bus Rapid Transit Sustainable Corridor Implementation Plan
(Orange Line CRT Sustainable CIP). The plan identified the use
of longer articulated buses on the Orange Line as one way to
expand capacity on the line and improve travel times. In
addition to examining improvements to the existing BRT system,
MTA also analyzed the possible conversion of the Orange Line to
a light-rail line.
AB 726 authorizes the MTA to run articulated buses of up to 82
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feet in length on the Orange Line. According to the author, AB
726 is needed to "effectively address the growing public
transportation needs of the San Fernando Valley, alleviate
congestion, and take advantage of available transportation
resources." The author notes that AB 726 does not mandate the
use of longer articulated buses, but rather gives MTA the option
as one way to address overcrowding issues on the Orange Line.
Given that the Orange Line is a dedicated busway and the longer
buses would not be interacting with other vehicles, this
authorization is a reasonable tool to give MTA as it tries to
address Orange Line capacity issues.
Arguments in support: Writing in support, MTA, the sponsor of
this bill, argues that "bi-articulated buses could allow for
expansion on this important line. Bi-articulated buses would be
restricted to running exclusively in the [Orange Line]
right-of-way and would be segregated from other vehicles. On
the [Orange Line] right-of-way, the extended length of these
vehicles is not expected to have any impact on safety."
Arguments in opposition: Writing in opposition, the United
Transportation Union argues that "unsafe conditions created by
this size of a bus being allowed to operated, especially in the
greater Los Angeles area, far outweighs any benefit for using
busses of this size and length."
Double referral: This bill passed out of the Assembly Local
Government Committee on
April 22, 2015, with a 9-0 vote.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
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Support
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
(Sponsor)
Honorable Eric Garcetti, Mayor, City of Los Angeles
Opposition
United Transportation Union
Analysis Prepared by:Anya Lawler / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093