BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 461
Page 1
Date of Hearing: July 13, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Jim Frazier, Chair
SB
461 (Hernandez) - As Amended July 8, 2015
SENATE VOTE: 38-0
SUBJECT: State Highway Route 164: relinquishment.
SUMMARY: Authorizes the California Transportation Commission
(CTC) to relinquish to Los Angeles County a segment of State
Route (SR) 164 south of Temple City. Specifically, this bill:
1)Authorizes CTC to relinquish to Los Angeles County the portion
of SR 164 (also known as Rosemead Boulevard) from Gallatin
Road near Pico Rivera to the southern city limits of South El
Monte in the vicinity of Rush Street, upon terms and
conditions approved by CTC.
2)Authorizes CTC to relinquish to the City of South El Monte the
portion of SR 164 (also known as Rosemead Boulevard) from the
southern city limit of El Monte in the vicinity of the Rio
Hondo River to the southern city limit of Temple City in the
vicinity of Grand Avenue, upon terms and conditions approved
by CTC.
3)Provides that the relinquishments will become effective
SB 461
Page 2
immediately following recordation of the relinquishment
resolution.
4)Specifies that following the effective date of relinquishment,
the relinquished segments will no longer be state highways and
may not be considered for future adoption as state highways.
5)Requires Los Angeles County and the City of El Monte to
maintain signage directing motorists to the continuation of SR
164.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Defines a "state highway" as any roadway that is acquired,
laid out, constructed, improved, or maintained as a state
highway pursuant to constitutional or legislative
authorization.
2)Statutorily identifies state highway system routes.
3)Specifies that it is the intent of the Legislature that the
prescribed routes of the state highway system connect
communities and regions of the state and that they serve the
state's economy by connecting centers of commerce, industry,
agriculture, mineral wealth, and recreation.
4)Provides for a two-step state highway relinquishment process
allowing for the deletion of sections of the state highway
system beginning with the Legislature amending existing law to
allow for the state highway segment to be deleted and
culminating with the CTC making a finding that it is in the
best interest of the state to delete a specified portion of
roadway from the system.
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Senate Appropriations
SB 461
Page 3
Committee, this bill would result in 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.
COMMENTS: According to the author, the goal of SB 461 is to
relinquish two segments of
SR 164, also known as Rosemead Boulevard, to the County of Los
Angeles and to the City of El Monte for the purpose of realizing
a community-driven vision for a Complete Streets corridor
project. This corridor project fully accommodates safe and
convenient travel for all users of the road, especially
vulnerable roadway users such as people with disabilities,
seniors, youth, pedestrians and cyclists. This project also aims
to compliment the surrounding Whittier Narrows Recreational Area
- the largest park in the region - by enhancing recreation
opportunities and access to the park.
Each session the Legislature passes, and the governor signs,
numerous bills authorizing CTC to relinquish segments of the
state highway system to local jurisdictions. Relinquishment
transactions are generally preceded by a negotiation of terms
and conditions between the local jurisdiction and Caltrans.
Once an agreement has been established, CTC typically approves
the relinquishment and verifies its approval via a resolution.
That is the case with SB 461 in that Caltrans has negotiated
agreements with both Los Angeles County and the City of El Monte
for the specified segments of SR 164 that are proposed for
relinquishment. SB 461 authorizes CTC to relinquish the road to
these entities should they determine it is in the best interest
of the state to do so.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
SB 461
Page 4
Support
Los Angeles Board of Supervisors
Narrows Mounted Assistance Unit
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by:Victoria Alvarez / TRANS. / (916)
319-2093