BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2289
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Date of Hearing: April 4, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Jim Frazier, Chair
AB 2289
(Frazier) - As Introduced February 18, 2016
SUBJECT: Department of Transportation: capital improvement
projects
SUMMARY: Clarifies that capital improvement projects relative
to operations on the state highway system are eligible for
inclusion in the State Highway Operation and Protection Program
(SHOPP).
EXISTING LAW: Directs the Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) to prepare the SHOPP to guide expenditure of
transportation funds for major capital improvements that are
necessary to protect the state highway system. The SHOPP is
specifically limited to capital improvement projects related to
maintenance, safety, and rehabilitation of state highways and
bridges that do not add a new traffic lane to the system.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown, however, any cost should be minimal
since the bill codifies existing practice.
COMMENTS: For nearly 20 years, Caltrans has been statutorily
required to prepare the SHOPP to guide investments in state
highways and bridges owned by the state. Projects to improve
traffic operations, such as ramp meters and changeable message
signs, have always been included in the SHOPP. The SHOPP
specifically excludes projects that increase the capacity of the
state highway system. However, operational improvements that
AB 2289
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increase capacity by virtue of improving operational
efficiencies in the existing system are, and always have been,
included in the SHOPP.
Oddly, despite past practices, statutes governing preparation of
the SHOPP do not explicitly include operational improvements in
the types of projects to be included in the SHOPP. AB 2289
remedies this inconsistency by specifically providing that
operational improvements are to be included in the SHOPP.
AB 2289 is a technical cleanup bill. It will not have any
significant impact in the way the SHOPP has always been
developed. However, as the state is increasingly looking to
traffic operations improvements to provide greater efficiencies
in the operation of the state highway system, AB 2289 makes it
abundantly clear that these operational improvements are to be
included in the SHOPP.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
Automobile Club of Southern California
California Transportation Commission
AB 2289
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Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by:Janet Dawson / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093