BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 998
Page 1
Date of Hearing: August 3, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
SB 998
(Wieckowski) - As Amended May 3, 2016
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: YesReimbursable:
No
SUMMARY:
This bill prohibits a person from operating a motor vehicle on,
or from stopping, parking, or leaving a vehicle standing in, a
portion of the highway designated for the exclusive use of
SB 998
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public transit buses, except in compliance with the directions
of a peace officer or official traffic control device.
FISCAL EFFECT:
Minor nonreimbursable costs for enforcement, offset to some
extent by fine revenues.
COMMENTS:
Purpose. Several public transit agencies are currently operating
or constructing bus rapid transit (BRT) projects utilizing
exclusive bus-only lanes. These include the Alameda-Contra Costa
Transit District (AC Transit), the Los Angeles County
Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Omnitrans in San
Bernardino County, the Sacramento Regional Transit District, the
San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, and the Santa Clara
Valley Transportation Authority (VTA).
Current law prohibits motorists from stopping, parking or
leaving a vehicle in a bus stop area; however there is no
comparable state law relating to bus-only lanes. As noted by
VTA, the co-sponsor of this bill, because there is no state
prohibition of this activity, public transit agencies cannot
ticket motorists who are inappropriately using bus-only lanes
and obstructing the operation of BRT service.
SB 998
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Analysis Prepared by:Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916)
319-2081