BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 516
Page 1
Date of Hearing: June 29, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Jim Frazier, Chair
SB
516 (Fuller) - As Amended July 1, 2015
SENATE VOTE: 35-1
SUBJECT: Transportation: motorist aid services.
SUMMARY: Expands the primary purposes for which Service
Authorities for Freeway Emergencies (SAFEs) can use revenue from
a $1 vehicle registration surcharge to include other elements of
a motorist aid system in addition to call boxes. Specifically,
this bill:
1)Authorizes SAFEs to use revenue from a $1 vehicle registration
surcharge for other elements of a motorist aid system in
addition to call boxes, such as traveler information systems,
intelligent transportation system architecture, transportation
demand management services, and safety-related hazard and
obstruction removal.
2)Explicitly provides that SAFEs are responsible for determining
how vehicle registration surcharge revenue is to be used,
except that the California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) will
continue to be responsible for reviewing and approving plans
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related to call boxes.
3)Declares that funding provided by a SAFE for changeable
message signs, traveler information systems, intelligent
transportation systems, transportation demand management
services, and safety-related hazard and obstruction removal is
intended to supplement, not replace, Caltrans' expenditures
for similar improvements and services.
4)Makes other, non-substantive but related amendments to
provisions related to motorist aid systems.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Authorizes county boards of supervisors and city councils to
establish SAFEs for their county; authorizes the Metropolitan
Transportation Commission and the Sacramento Area Councils of
Government to be the SAFE for counties within their respective
jurisdictions.
2)Authorizes SAFEs to impose a $1 fee on vehicles registered in
the county to implement, maintain, and operate a motorist aid
system of call boxes on the California Freeway and Expressway
System, county expressway systems, unincorporated county
roads, and state highway routes within the county.
3)Directs Caltrans and the CHP to review and approve proposed
implementation plans and plan updates for motorist aid systems
of call boxes.
4)Authorizes SAFEs to use any money received in excess of funds
needed to fully implement and operate call box systems for
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additional motorist aid services or support, such as
changeable message signs, lighting, and support for traffic
operations center.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown
COMMENTS: SAFE programs were first authorized in 1985 to fund
and implement a motorist aid system of call boxes. Call boxes
provide a direct communication link to the CHP and are available
to motorists to seek assistance for, for example, mechanical
breakdowns, flat tires, traffic accidents, or other incidents.
According to Caltrans, 29 of the state's 58 counties have call
box programs. These range from the system in Los Angeles
County, with more than 4,000 call boxes, to Humboldt and Del
Norte counties, where only a few call boxes have been installed
in particularly isolated areas.
Call box usage peaked in about 1996 and has steadily declined
since, due primarily to the proliferation of cell phones. For
example, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC)
reports that in 1996, over 216,000 calls were made on a network
of over 3,000 call boxes in the nine-county MTC region. Those
numbers declined to less than 13,000 calls made on a network
1,600 call boxes in 2014.
SB 516 will authorize SAFEs to look beyond just call boxes to
provide motorist aid systems. The expanded list of allowable
expenditures provided for in SB 516 will allow SAFEs to use
newer technology, such as phone- and Web-based 511 traveler
information systems. SAFEs have long been able to use their
funds for some of these other components but only if they had
revenue in excess of that needed to fully build out and operate
a call box system. SB 516 gives SAFEs flexibility to design and
implement whatever motorist aid system will work best in their
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county. For instance, while some rural areas may prefer call
boxes on remote state highways, urban regions may find
additional intelligent transportation systems architecture a
more relevant service for congestion relieve and safety
purposes.
Caltrans and the CHP will continue to maintain approval
authority over plans related to call box systems.
Previous legislation: AB 1572 (Fletcher), Chapter 299, Statutes
of 2012, made the San Diego Association of Governments the
successor agency to the San Diego County Service Authority for
Freeway Emergencies.
SB 1418 (Wiggins) of 2010, would have authorized a $1 increase
in the vehicle registration surcharge for SAFEs. SB 1418 failed
passage in the Assembly Transportation Committee and was
returned to the Chief Clerk pursuant to JR 62(a).
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
Kern County Council of Governments (sponsor)
California Association of Councils of Government
SB 516
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Merced County Association of Governments
Metropolitan Transportation Commission
San Luis Obispo Council of Governments
Transportation Agency for Monterey County
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by:Janet Dawson / TRANS. / (916)
319-2093