BILL ANALYSIS Ó SB 461 Page 1 Date of Hearing: August 19, 2015 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Jimmy Gomez, Chair SB 461 (Hernandez) - As Amended July 8, 2015 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Policy |Transportation |Vote:|16 - 0 | |Committee: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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: SB 461 Page 2 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 SB 461 Page 3 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 SB 461 Page 4