BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                     SB 461  


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          Date of Hearing:  August 19, 2015


                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS


                                 Jimmy Gomez, Chair


          SB 461  
          (Hernandez) - As Amended July 8, 2015


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          Urgency:  No  State Mandated Local Program:  NoReimbursable:  No


          SUMMARY:


          This bill authorizes the California Transportation Commission  
          (CTC) to relinquish the following portions of State Route 164:










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          1)To Los Angeles County, the portion from Gallatin Road near  
            Pico Rivera to the southern city limit of South El Monte.


          2)To the City of South El Monte, the portion from the southern  
            city limit of South El Monte up to the southern city limit of  
            El Monte.


          FISCAL EFFECT:


          1)Potentially significant one-time costs (State Highway Account  
            [SHA]) depending on the outcome of negotiations between  
            Caltrans and the County and City, and a determination by  
            Caltrans that the relinquishment is in the best interest of  
            the state.  (See Comment #1)

          2)Moderate long-term maintenance and repair savings to Caltrans,  
            if the CTC exercises its authority to relinquish the highway  
            segments.
          


          COMMENTS:





          1)Background. Legislation is required before any segment of  
            state highway can be relinquished to another governmental  
            entity.  Relinquishment provides the recipient agency with  
            more control over a local transportation project and relieves  
            Caltrans of further responsibility to improve, maintain, or  
            repair infrastructure related to the relinquished state  
            highway segment.

            According to Caltrans, in recent years the initial cost of  








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            relinquishments has ranged from $0 to over $1 million per  
            centerline mile.  These costs are driven by a number of  
            factors, including roadway condition, projected maintenance  
            costs and any planned capital projects. The actual cost of a  
            particular relinquishment is negotiated directly with the  
            local agency, but must be based on a cost-benefit analysis  
            using a 10-year analysis period.  Prior to this analysis, the  
            baseline cost is assumed to be $0.  All proposed costs beyond  
            the baseline are subject to review and approval by the  
            Department's Relinquishment Advisory Committee to ensure  
            statewide consistency in application of the established  
            evaluation criteria.





          2)Purpose. 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 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.
          Analysis Prepared by:Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081














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