BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular Session
SB 461 (Hernandez) - State Highway Route 164: relinquishment
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|Version: April 6, 2015 |Policy Vote: T. & H. 10 - 0 |
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|Urgency: No |Mandate: No |
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|Hearing Date: May 4, 2015 |Consultant: Mark McKenzie |
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This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.
Bill
Summary: SB 461 would authorize the California Transportation
Commission (CTC) to relinquish a specified segment of State
Highway Route (SR) 164 to the County of Los Angeles (LA County).
Fiscal
Impact: Unknown one-time costs ranging from minor up to several
million to the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) prior to
the relinquishment of the designated segment of SR 164 to LA
County (State Highway Account). These costs would be offset in
future years due to avoided maintenance costs on the
relinquished segment.
SB 461 (Hernandez) Page 1 of
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Background: The Legislature has provided statutory authorization to CTC to
relinquish a number of state highway segments to local
jurisdictions under specified conditions. Relinquishment
provides the recipient agency with greater control over local
transportation projects and relieves Caltrans of any further
responsibility to improve, maintain, or repair infrastructure
related to the relinquished segment of state highway.
Generally, relinquishments are subject to terms and conditions
of agreements between Caltrans and a local jurisdiction seeking
control of a local highway segment. CTC must determine that the
agreement for relinquishment, which has typically involved a
one-time payment of State Highway Account funds to the local
entity, is in the best interests of the state. Historically,
Caltrans has annually set aside $12 million of State Highway
Operations and Protection Plan (SHOPP) funding for
rehabilitation necessary for highway relinquishments. In recent
years, however, Caltrans has not set aside funding to
rehabilitate relinquished highways.
Proposed Law:
SB 461 would authorize CTC to relinquish to LA County the
portion of SR 164 (Rosemead Boulevard) from Gallatin Road near
Pico Rivera to the southern city limit of South El Monte in the
vicinity of Grand Avenue, pursuant to the terms of a specified
cooperative agreement and upon a determination that the
relinquishment is in the state's best interest. This segment of
SR 164 would cease to be a part of the state highway system, and
would be ineligible for future adoption as a state highway. The
bill would require LA County to maintain signs along the
relinquished portion directing motorist to the continuation of
SR 164.
Staff
Comments: Relinquishment of this segment would allow LA County to assume
direct control of the roadway and pursue a community-driven
vision for a "complete streets" corridor project. The project
would also enhance recreation opportunities and access to the
Whittier Narrows Recreational Area. Transferring control of the
roadway to LA County allows for the construction of improvements
and enhancements without the constraints of Caltrans' state
highway design standards, encroachment permit processes, and
other state requirements.
SB 461 (Hernandez) Page 2 of
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Caltrans usually provides State Highway Account funding to a
local entity that is assuming control over state highway
segments in order to bring the roadway up to a "state of good
repair," although there is no statutory obligation to do so.
The actual amounts vary for each relinquished highway segment
and are determined by a negotiation of terms and conditions
between Caltrans and the local jurisdiction, but those costs are
based upon a cost-benefit analysis covering a ten-year period,
which is included in a Project Scope Summary Report prepared for
legislative relinquishments.
Caltrans has not identified a specific cost estimate for the
relinquishment of this segment, but based on other
relinquishments, one-time costs may range from minimal up to $1
million per centerline mile of roadway depending on numerous
factors such as roadway condition, projected maintenance costs,
and any planned capital projects. The segment of SR 164
specified in the bill is approximately 2.6 miles long, so
initial costs could be minimal but may be as high as several
million dollars. The relinquishment of these segments would
relieve Caltrans of any future maintenance and repair costs,
resulting in unknown long-term annual savings.
Actual costs and savings would be more certain if legislation to
authorize relinquishment followed, rather than preceded, the
completion of the cost-benefit analysis and an agreement between
Caltrans and LA County. However, Caltrans does not typically
conduct the analysis and enter into negotiations until
legislative authority for relinquishment has been provided.
Staff notes that the Governor has proposed budget trailer bill
language this year that is intended to broaden and streamline
the state process for relinquishing state highway routes that
are deemed to no longer serve an interregional purpose, and
instead operate primarily as regional or local routes. The
Senate Budget Subcommittee #2 rejected the trailer bill proposal
at its hearing on April 16, 2015, without prejudice, so that it
could be considered instead by the Senate Transportation and
Housing Committee.
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