BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2559
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB
2559 (Frazier)
As Amended April 13, 2016
Majority vote
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|Committee |Votes|Ayes |Noes |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------|
|Arts |7-0 |Chu, Obernolte, | |
| | |Hadley, Levine, Low, | |
| | |Medina, Nazarian | |
| | | | |
|----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------|
|Transportation |14-0 |Frazier, Linder, | |
| | |Bloom, Brown, Chu, | |
| | |Daly, Dodd, Gomez, | |
| | |Kim, Mathis, Medina, | |
| | |Melendez, Nazarian, | |
| | |O'Donnell | |
| | | | |
|----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------|
|Appropriations |20-0 |Gonzalez, Bigelow, | |
| | |Bloom, Bonilla, | |
| | |Bonta, Calderon, | |
| | |Chang, Daly, Eggman, | |
| | |Gallagher, Eduardo | |
| | |Garcia, McCarty, | |
| | |Holden, Jones, | |
AB 2559
Page 2
| | |Obernolte, Quirk, | |
| | |Santiago, Wagner, | |
| | |Weber, Wood | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
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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
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.
AB 2559
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FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, potential minor costs to Caltrans to install any
additional signs ($1,000 to $3,000 per sign), to be reimbursed
by the visitor centers.
COMMENTS: The author introduced this bill 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
center must be within one half of a mile from the freeway. Only
signs provided for in the MUTCD can be lawfully placed on public
roads.
This bill 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.
AB 2559
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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.
Analysis Prepared by:
Janet Dawson / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093 FN:
0002888