BILL ANALYSIS Ó SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING Senator Jim Beall, Chair 2015 - 2016 Regular Bill No: AB 1500 Hearing Date: 6/28/2016 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Author: |Atkins | |----------+------------------------------------------------------| |Version: |6/21/2016 | ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |Yes | ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Consultant|Manny Leon | |: | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- SUBJECT: State highways: relinquishment: Route 75 DIGEST: This bill allows the California Transportation Commission (CTC) to relinquish segments of State Route (SR) 75 in San Diego County. ANALYSIS: Existing law: 1)Identifies the California state highway system through a description of segments of the state's regional and interregional roads that are owned and operated by the Department of Transportation (Caltrans). 2)Defines a "state highway" as any roadway that is acquired, laid out, constructed, improved, or maintained as a state highway according to legislative authorization. 3)Specifies that it is the intent of the Legislature for the routes of the state highway system to 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 that any expansion or deletion of the state highway system occurs through a statutory process requiring the CTC to make findings that it is in the best interest of the state to include or delete a specified portion of roadway from the AB 1500 (Atkins) Page 2 of ? system. This bill: 1)Authorizes CTC, upon a determination that it is the best interest of the state to do so and upon an agreement between Caltrans and the cities of Imperial Beach and San Diego, to relinquish that portion of SR 75 that lies within the applicable city limits. 2) Provides that the relinquishments will become effective on the date following the county recordation of the relinquishment resolutions containing CTC's approval of the specified terms and conditions. 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 cities that adopt a segment of SR 75 to ensure continuity of traffic flow, including traffic signal progression, on the relinquished segment. Also requires these cities to install and maintain signs directing motorists to the continuation of SR 75 to the extent that Caltrans determines such signage is necessary. COMMENTS: 1) Purpose. The author introduced this bill in response to the U.S. Navy starting a series of improvements on its property located along SR 75 in the area between the City of Imperial Beach and the City of Coronado. The improvements are expected to generate a significant amount of traffic when fully constructed and occupied. The Imperial Beach City Council would like to have more direct control over SR 75 within its boundaries so that it can work with the Navy in managing traffic. 1) Relinquishments. Each session, the Legislature passes and the governor signs numerous bills authorizing CTC to relinquish segments of the state highway system to local jurisdictions. Relinquishment transactions are generally preceded by a negotiation of terms and conditions between the local jurisdiction and Caltrans. Once an agreement has been AB 1500 (Atkins) Page 3 of ? established, CTC typically approves the relinquishment and verifies its approval via a resolution. 2) Caltrans study. In July 2014, Caltrans released an analysis titled "Transportation System Analyses and Evaluation for State Route 75 for Segment Within the City of Imperial Beach." The analysis indicated that the portion of SR 75 being evaluated for relinquishment operated like a city street rather than a state highway, with on-street parking, numerous driveways, and access points generated significant side friction. The Caltrans analysis identified that this portion of the SR 75 does not function as an interregional transportation facility. Furthermore, SR 75 parallels the Interstate 5 (I-5) freeway, which carries most of the interregional commercial and passenger vehicular traffic. This bill authorizes CTC to move forward with the recommendations identified in this Caltrans analysis of SR 75. FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local: No Assembly Votes: Prior votes not relevant POSITIONS: (Communicated to the committee before noon on Wednesday, June 22, 2016.) SUPPORT: The Honorable David Alvarez, Councilmember, City of San Diego OPPOSITION: None received -- END -- AB 1500 (Atkins) Page 4 of ?