BILL ANALYSIS Ó SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING Senator Jim Beall, Chair 2015 - 2016 Regular Bill No: SB 516 Hearing Date: 4/28/2015 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Author: |Fuller | |----------+------------------------------------------------------| |Version: |4/21/2015 Amended | ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |Yes | ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Consultant|Randy Chinn | |: | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- SUBJECT: Transportation: motorist aid services. DIGEST: This bill authorizes funds which would be used to pay for the operation of freeway call boxes to also be used for transportation demand management services, litter and debris removal, and intelligent transportation systems. ANALYSIS: Existing law: Under current law, local governments are authorized to establish service authorities for freeway emergencies (SAFEs). Those authorities may impose a fee of $1 per year on vehicles registered in the applicable county. Those funds must be used to pay for the implementation and operation of a call-box system for motorist aid. Any funds in excess of the call-box system needs may be spent on additional motorist aid services or support, including, but not limited to, the following: Call boxes Changeable message signs Lighting for call boxes Support for traffic operations centers Contracting for removal of disabled vehicles This bill removes the priority that the funds must first be used to pay for a call-box system. It instead allows the funds to pay for any motor aid services and support, including the SB 516 (Fuller) Page 2 of ? following which were not specifically specified under current law: Traveler information systems and other transportation demand management services Litter and debris removal Intelligent transportation systems This bill requires that any plan by the SAFEs to install or remove call boxes must be reviewed and approved by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the California Highway Patrol (CHP). 1)For aid, not emergencies. Calls from freeway call boxes are routed directly to the CHP. While the call boxes are a convenience for the public, they are not good for dire emergencies. 911 calls, which often go directly to the CHP from cellphones, are treated as emergencies. Calls from freeway call boxes have a lesser priority. 2)Who makes the call? Counties in conjunction with their member cities may establish SAFEs. The SAFEs can be the county transportation commissions or, in the Bay Area, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission or, in the greater Sacramento area, the Sacramento Area Council of Governments. Alternatively, the SAFE can be a stand-alone entity which shall have seven members, two appointed by the county and five selected jointly by the cities. COMMENTS: 1)Purpose. The author and sponsor believe that call boxes are becoming an antiquated technology, largely due to cellphones. Call box usage is down significantly, making the boxes less cost-effective for taxpayers. Significant advancements in intelligent transportation systems and mobile technology have resulted in less expensive motorist aid services. This bill gives local governments the flexibility to pursue those more cost-effective alternatives. 2)Call box usage declining. Call box usage is declining in many areas. The sponsor notes that in Kern County the number of calls has declined by 75% since the late 1990s. In the Bay Area, the MTC reports that call box calls have declined by more than 90% to an average of less than one call per box per SB 516 (Fuller) Page 3 of ? month. In Los Angeles, the MTA reports that calls have declined about 70% since 2004. Caltrans reports an overall decline of 28% since 2011, consistent with the MTC figures. Less dramatically, San Luis Obispo County reports that calls have declined by about one-third since 2007. 3)Intelligent Transportation Systems defined. The U.S. Department of Transportation defines Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) as "the application of advanced information and communications technology to surface transportation in order to achieve enhanced safety and mobility while reducing the environmental impact of transportation. Wireless communication offers a powerful and transformative opportunity to establish transportation connectivity that further enables cooperative systems and dynamic data exchange using a broad range of advanced systems and technologies." 4)Program purpose. The program this bill amends was created to enable motorists in need of aid to obtain assistance. The near ubiquity of cellphones has undoubtedly contributed to the sharp decline in call volumes. In those circumstances it seems reasonable to allow the local authorities to choose to spend the limited funding on alternative motorist aid services. But even along major freeways and highways, cellphone service may not be available. The bill requires any proposal to remove call boxes to be reviewed and approved by Caltrans and the CHP, which should protect against the inappropriate removal of call boxes. The bill also defines litter and debris removal as eligible for funding as a motorist aid service. That activity does not seem consistent with the program purpose. While litter and debris removal is a valuable public service, the author and committee may wish to consider deleting this provision. FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No POSITIONS: (Communicated to the committee before noon on Wednesday, April 22, 2015.) SUPPORT: SB 516 (Fuller) Page 4 of ? Kern County Council of Governments (sponsor) Merced County Association of Governments Transportation Agency for Monterey County OPPOSITION: None received -- END --