BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1115
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Date of Hearing: January 21, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB
1115 (Salas) - As Amended January 13, 2016
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill designates a school zone on State Route (SR) 184 near
Sunset Middle School in Kern County, thus requiring Caltrans to
provide standard warning signs and establishing a prima facie
speed limit of 25 miles per hour in this zone.
AB 1115
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FISCAL EFFECT:
Minor one-time special fund costs (less than $10,000) for
Caltrans to install signs and pavement markings for the school
zone. Ongoing maintenance costs would be negligible. [State
Highway Acccount]
COMMENTS:
1)Background. Since 2010, there have been over 20 collisions
near the intersection of SR 184 and Sunset Boulevard in Kern
County, including several resulting in fatalities. The
intersection is the main access point to Sunset Middle School.
Stop signs on Sunset Boulevard control traffic traveling east
and west through this intersection, but there are no stops
signs for north/south traffic on the state highway.
According to the author, the local school district and local
residents have long sought traffic control devices, such as
stop lights, flashing lights, rumble strips, and even an
all-way stop at this intersection to improve safety. Caltrans
recently evaluated the intersection and determined that an
all-way stop was not warranted. However, the department has
committed to installing a number of flashing beacons, warning
signs, and lighted stop signs at this intersection.
2)Purpose. The author remains concerned that Caltrans'
installations may take too long and that these measures may be
insufficient in slowing traffic on SR 184 approaching the
school. As a result, the author intends to amend AB 1115 in
committee to designate a school zone on SR 184 near the
school. The area is not eligible for such a designation under
AB 1115
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existing law because the school is not directly contiguous to
SR 184. (The school property is about 200 feet from the
intersection along Sunset Boulevard.) Designating this area
as a school zone will facilitate slowing traffic speeds
approaching this intersection.
Analysis Prepared by:Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916)
319-2081