BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 810
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Date of Hearing: April 27, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Jim Frazier, Chair
AB 810
(Ridley-Thomas) - As Amended April 20, 2015
SUBJECT: State Highway Relinquishment
SUMMARY: Allows the California Transportation Commission (CTC)
to relinquish two segments of the state highway system to the
City of Los Angeles (Los Angeles). Specifically, this bill:
1)Authorizes the CTC to relinquish to Los Angeles, the portion
of State Route (SR) 1 within the city between the southern
city limit of Santa Monica (approximately post mile 33.3) and
SR 105 (approximately 25.9) and the portion SR 187 within the
city limits between the route's western terminus at Lincoln
Boulevard (approximately post mile 3.5) and its eastern
terminus at Cadillac Avenue near SR 10 (approximately post
mile 8.9).
2)Provides that the relinquishments will become effective
immediately following the county recordation of the
relinquishment resolutions containing CTC's approval of the
specified terms and conditions.
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3)Specifies that, following the effective date of
relinquishment, the relinquished segments will no longer be
state highways and may not be considered for future adoption
as state highways.
4)Requires Los Angeles to ensure continuity of traffic flow,
maintain traffic signal progression, and maintain signs along
the segments in their jurisdiction directing motorists to the
continuation of the respective state routes.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Statutorily identifies state highway system routes.
2)Defines "state highway" as any roadway that is acquired, laid
out, constructed, improved, or maintained as a state highway
pursuant to constitutional or legislative authorization.
3)Specifies that it is the intent of the Legislature that the
prescribed routes of the state highway system connect the
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.
4)Provides for the expansion or deletion of the state highway
system through a process whereby CTC makes a finding that it
is in the best interest of the state to include or delete a
specified portion of roadway.
5)Provides for the relinquishment of a portion of state highway
to a city or county under an agreement between the local
jurisdiction and the Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
when an act of the Legislature has deleted the portion of
highway from the state highway system.
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FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown
COMMENTS: Each session, numerous bills authorizing CTC to
relinquish segments of the state highway to a 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, CTC typically approves the relinquishment and
verifies its approval via a resolution. The final step is for
the Legislature to delete these segments from current law.
State highway relinquishments provide recipient agencies with
greater control over a local transportation segment and relieve
Caltrans of any further responsibility to improve, maintain, or
repair it.
The section of SR 1 proposed for relinquishment in this bill,
also known as Lincoln Boulevard, State Route 1, is an important
north-south thoroughfare through several communities on the west
side of Los Angeles. Los Angeles envisions focusing on a series
of roadway improvements for this corridor including the need to
address critical multi-modal chokepoints as Lincoln Boulevard
crosses the Ballona Creek between Fiji Way and Jefferson
Boulevard. Local residents also hope to see Lincoln Boulevard
treated more as a local street than a highway, with special
attention paid to bicyclist and pedestrian access. While future
plans for Lincoln Boulevard are in the early stages of
development, Los Angeles would like to begin engaging the
community with regard to roadway maintenance and improvement
projects concurrent with the relinquishment process.
The section of SR 187 that is proposed for relinquishment in
this bill, also known as Venice Boulevard, and serves as an
important thoroughfare, shopping, dining destination, and public
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gathering place for several communities in Los Angeles.
According to the author, this segment of Venice Boulevard has
been selected as part of Los Angeles' Great Streets Initiative,
which aims to activate public spaces, provide economic
revitalization, increase public safety, and enhance local
culture through roadway and streetscape improvements. Los
Angeles is currently performing extensive public outreach in the
Mar Vista neighborhood to develop a community-led plan for these
improvements, which will include creative solutions to address
safety and mobility issues that may not necessarily be in line
with the Caltrans design guidelines. According to the author,
this project will be used as a model for further improvements
along additional sections of the Venice corridor. Los Angeles
wishes to gain ownership of Venice Boulevard to allow for the
locally-controlled, streamlined Great Streets Initiative project
to proceed, while maintaining flexibility to experiment with
innovative solutions that can be adapted to meet the community's
changing needs over time.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
None on file
Opposition
None on file
AB 810
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Analysis Prepared by:Victoria Alvarez / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093