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
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|Author: |Atkins |
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|Version: |6/21/2016 |
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|Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |Yes |
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|Consultant|Manny Leon |
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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
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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
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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
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