BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2559
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Date of Hearing: April 18, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Jim Frazier, Chair
AB 2559
(Frazier) - As Amended April 13, 2016
SUBJECT: Visitor centers: guide signs
SUMMARY: Provides, notwithstanding existing provisions related
to uniform traffic control devices, that the California
Department of Transportation (Caltrans) may authorize guide
signs for any visitor center seeking a sign if the visitor
center is located within two miles from the highway
intersection.
EXISTING LAW:
1)At the federal level, requires all states to adopt the federal
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), or to at
least substantially comply with it. The federal MUTCD
prescribes standards for signs, signals, markings, and other
devices used to guide traffic on streets and highways
throughout the country.
2)Directs Caltrans, after consultation with local agencies and
public hearings, to adopt rules and regulations prescribing
uniform standards and specifications for all official traffic
control devices, including, but not limited to, stop signs,
guide signs, yield right-of-way signs, speed restriction
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signs, railroad warning approach signs, street name signs, and
lines and markings on the roadway. These regulations are set
forth in the California MUTCD.
3)Provides that only those traffic control devices that conform
to the California MUTCD may be placed on a street or highway.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown
COMMENTS: The author introduced AB 2559 to provide directional
signs to visitor centers that are not currently eligible for
directional signage by virtue of their location being greater
than one half of a mile from a freeway.
The purpose of traffic control devices (e.g., signs) is to
promote highway safety and efficiency by providing for the
orderly movement of all road users on streets, highways,
bikeways, and private roads open to public travel. Regulations
regarding signs are set forth in the MUTCD. In California,
development of the California MUTCD is the responsibility of the
California Traffic Control Devices Committee (CTCDC). The CTCDC
is convened and chaired by Caltrans and the committee's
membership includes eight voting members representing the
California Highway Patrol, the League of California Cities, the
California State Association of Counties, and auto clubs.
Meetings of the CTCDC serve as requisite public hearings prior
to promulgating rules related to traffic signs, signals, and
pavement markings. The California MUTCD includes provisions
governing directional signs to tourist centers, including a
requirement that, to be eligible for freeway signing, a visitor
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center must be within one half of a mile from the freeway. Only
signs provided for in the MUTCD can be lawfully placed on a
public roads.
AB 2559 is necessary because the California MUTCD does not
authorize signs to visitor centers that are further than a one
half of a mile from the freeway. The author hopes that more
flexible criteria will increase opportunities for visitor
centers signs and increase motorists' awareness and
accessibility to California's many attractions and destinations.
This should, in turn, generate further economic benefits to the
state. All other requirements set forth in the MUTCD for the
visitor signs would still apply.
Double referral: This bill passed out of the Assembly Arts,
Entertainment, Sports, Tourism, and Internet Media Committee on
April 12, 2016, with a vote of 7-0.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
None on file
AB 2559
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Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by:Janet Dawson / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093