BILL NUMBER: AB 1464 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 30, 2009
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)
( Coauthors: Senators
DeSaulnier, Pavley, and Wolk )
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 National, 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 National, State, or Regional Significance
Act, which would authorize the department to establish a process for
identifying and promoting bicycle routes of 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 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 provide that
applicants or nominating entities 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 $1.5 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
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.
(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
National, State, or Regional Significance
889. This article shall be known and may be cited as the
California Bicycle Routes of State National,
State, or Regional Significance Act.
889.1. (a) The department may establish a process for identifying
and promoting bicycle routes of 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 other designated routes,
including legs of the Tour of California.
(3) Routes of unique scenic significance.
(c) In identifying bicycle routes of 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 or state
governmental entities may nominate a route for inclusion in the
system of bicycle routes of national, state, or regional
significance.
(e) The department may develop criteria for the design, placement,
and installation of signs relative to bicycle routes of 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 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.
(c) The cost to purchase, erect, and maintain bicycle route signs
may be paid by applicants or nominating entities, as determined by
the department. These costs may be reimbursed to the department at
their actual cost, including administrative expenses.