BILL NUMBER: AB 1464 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 15, 2009
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 4, 2009
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 16, 2009
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Smyth
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Chesbro)
FEBRUARY 27, 2009
An act to add Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 889) to Chapter
8 of Division 1 of the Streets and Highways Code, relating to
transportation.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1464, as amended, Smyth. Transportation: California Bicycle
Routes of State or Regional Significance Act.
Existing law requires the Department of Transportation, in
cooperation with county and city governments, to establish minimum
safety design criteria for the planning and construction of bikeways
and roadways where bicycle travel is permitted.
This bill would enact the California Bicycle Routes of State or
Regional Significance Act, which would authorize the department
, through its statewide bicycle planning process,
to establish a process for identifying and promoting bicycle routes
of state national, state, or regional
significance, as specified. The bill would authorize the department
to form an advisory committee to help implement the process for
identifying and promoting these bicycle routes. The bill would
authorize the department to establish a process for
organizations, including, but not limited to, local bicycle
organizations, private entities, or local government
or state governmental entities to nominate a
route for inclusion in the system of bicycle routes of national,
state , or regional significance. The bill would
authorize the department to install bicycle route signs identifying
these bicycle routes, as specified. The bill would require
provide that applicants or nominating entities
to may pay the cost for bicycle route
signs , as determined by the department .
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
(a) Bicycle-related transactions resulted in nearly $1
$1.5 billion in sales in California last year,
creating and sustaining jobs and generating tax revenues to support
state and local economies.
(b) Cycling not only results in economic benefits to the state but
health benefits to cyclists as well, providing California residents
with a low-impact alternative to other fitness and recreational
pursuits.
(c) Cycling can play an important part in helping California meet
its carbon reduction goals.
(d) Cycling tourism is a growing industry and California's mild
weather and diversity of topography and landscape, including the wine
country, the coast, the inland valleys, and the Sierra Nevada,
provide California with unique attributes that can attract a large
share of this tourism industry.
(e) Many states have already invested considerable resources to
attract cycling tourism and Californians have demonstrated their
interest in cycling as an estimated 2 million spectators attended the
Amgen Tour of California, placing it as the most
attended spectator event in California on record and demonstrating
the interest of Californians in increased cycling opportunities.
(f) In October 2008, the American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials approved a plan to create a National
Corridor Plan, which seeks to identify corridors connecting America's
urban, suburban, and rural landscapes covering over 50,000 miles.
(f)
(g) Given the state's current fiscal condition, the
cycling community does not envision a substantial infusion of state
resources into cycling. Therefore, the cycling community is looking
to partner with the state to identify ways in which to spur economic
activity through this growing trend in cycling.
SEC. 2. Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 889) is added to
Chapter 8 of Division 1 of the Streets and Highways Code, to read:
Article 2.5. California Bicycle Routes of State or Regional
Significance
889. This article shall be known and may be cited as the
California Bicycle Routes of State or Regional Significance Act.
889.1. (a) The department may , through its statewide
bicycle planning process, establish a process for
identifying and promoting bicycle routes of state
national, state, or regional significance that meet
specified criteria.
(b) In designating routes, the department may consider the
following:
(1) Historic routes.
(2) Established training routes or race
other designated routes, including legs of the Amgen
Tour of California.
(3) Routes of unique scenic significance.
(c) In identifying bicycle routes of state
national, state, or regional significance, the department may
work with the California Travel and Tourism Commission, the
Department of Parks and Recreation, federal agencies that operate and
maintain roadways for public use, statewide trade organizations,
including the California Chamber of Commerce and the California
Bicycle Coalition, local tourism entities, chambers of commerce, and
local bicycle organizations.
(d) The department may form an advisory committee to help
implement the provisions of this section. The department may
establish a process whereby organizations, including, but not
limited to, local bicycle organizations, private entities, or
local government or state governmental
entities may nominate a route for inclusion in the system of bicycle
routes of state national, state, or
regional significance.
(e) The department may develop criteria for the design, placement,
and installation of signs relative to bicycle routes of
state national, state, or regional significance.
(f) It is the intent of the Legislature that city or county
participation in establishing local routes of significance under this
article shall be voluntary, similar to the State Scenic Highway
Program.
889.2. (a) The department may install bicycle route signs,
identifying bicycle routes of state national,
state, or regional significance, that are associated only with
the state highway system, which includes state highways, United
States highways, and interstate freeways, and state-financed public
transportation systems. The physical placement of bicycle route signs
on all other roads and transit systems shall be left to the
appropriate local jurisdiction. However, when requested by a city or
county and reimbursed, the department shall place bicycle route signs
on the state highway system and state-financed public transportation
systems that direct traffic to bicycle routes on city or county
roads.
(b) Bicycle route signs shall meet the standards and
specifications established pursuant to Section 21400 of the Vehicle
Code but shall not be classified as traffic control devices.
Code.
(c) The cost to purchase, erect, and maintain bicycle route signs
shall may be paid by applicants or
nominating entities , as determined by the department
. These costs shall may be
reimbursed to the department at their actual cost, including
administrative expenses. If a bicycle route sign becomes
damaged, vandalized, or is missing, the department shall not be
required to replace the sign without compensation from an applicant
or nominating entity.