BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING
Senator Jim Beall, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: AB 2559 Hearing Date: 6/28/2016
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|Author: |Frazier |
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|Version: |4/13/2016 |
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|Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |Yes |
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|Consultant|Manny Leon |
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SUBJECT: Visitor centers: guide signs
DIGEST: This bill directs the California Department of
Transportation (Caltrans) to make changes to tourist-oriented
directional signs (TODS) requirements, as specified.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
1)Provides that Caltrans is charged with ownership and operation
of the state highway system.
2)Authorizes Caltrans to post various types of highway signs.
3)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.
4)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
AB 2559 (Frazier) Page 2 of ?
forth in the California MUTCD.
5)Provides that only those traffic control devices that conform
to the California MUTCD may be placed on a street or highway.
This bill requires Caltrans to authorize guide signs for any
visitor center seeking a sign if the visitor center is located
within two miles from the highway intersection. This bill
further specifies that a guide sign must be in compliance with
all other existing provisions related to uniform traffic control
devices.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. The author asserts, "In 1994, the TODS Program was
enacted. TODS authorizes Caltrans to provide signage on
freeway intersections that direct motorists to various
attractions, including but not limited to wineries, gift
shops, restaurants, service stations, etc. The original
intent of TODS was to increase the visibility of rural
businesses and tourist attractions. Many motorists and
vacationers may not be familiar with attractions and
destinations in a given area."
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 mile from a freeway.
2)California TODS program. AB 2339 (O'Connell, Chapter 572,
Statutes of 1994) established the California TODS program in
order to increase the visibility of rural businesses and
tourist attractions, particularly those businesses not
immediately visible from a state highway. The purpose of the
program is to guide out-of-town travelers to California's
tourist attractions. The TODS program requires that Caltrans
establish and charge a fee to place and maintain TODS signage.
Businesses such as wineries, gift shops, restaurants, arts and
crafts shops, etc., can qualify if the eligibility
requirements are met.
3)What is the MUTCD? The MUTCD is a document issued by the
Federal Highway Administration to specify the standards by
which traffic signs, road surface markings, and signals are
designed, installed, and used. These specifications include
AB 2559 (Frazier) Page 3 of ?
the shapes, colors, and fonts used in road markings and signs.
In the United States, all traffic-control devices must legally
conform to these standards. The MUTCD is used by state and
local agencies as well as private construction firms to ensure
that the traffic control devices they use conform to the
national standard. States have the option to specifically
modify the MUTCD to their own set of standards as long as they
substantially conform to the federal MUTCD. Caltrans released
its latest state MUTCD in 2014, with the most recent set of
revisions released in December of 2015.
Changes to the state MUTCD are reviewed and approved by the
California Traffic Control Devices Committee (CTCDC). The
CTCDC is comprised of representatives from the League of
California Cities, the California Association of Counties,
Caltrans, and the two auto clubs operating in California. The
CTCDC meets on a quarterly basis and reviews any proposed
changes to the MUTCD prior to their incorporation. The current
policy in the 2014 state MUTCD with respects to tourist
information signage specifies signs should be within 0.5 miles
of the highway.
4)Necessary bill? This bill proposes to change and enact into
statute an existing provision that is currently included in
the state MUTCD. While the author notes that the current
eligible TODS distance is insufficient in various areas
throughout the state, it is unclear why a legislative vehicle
is necessary to remedy this issue when a process currently
exists to evaluate any changes to the state MUTCD. The
existing process would allow technical experts to evaluate
expanding the qualifying distance for potential traffic safety
issues such as increased highway signage and distracted
driving associated with the increase in TODS signage.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
Assembly Votes:
Floor: 76-0
Appr: 20-0
Trans.: 14-0
A,E,S,T&IM: 7-0
AB 2559 (Frazier) Page 4 of ?
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the committee before noon on
Wednesday,
June 8, 2016.)
SUPPORT:
California Travel Association
Fairfield Conference and Visitors Bureau
OPPOSITION:
None RECEIVED
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