BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE BILL NO: ab 1464
SENATOR ALAN LOWENTHAL, CHAIRMAN AUTHOR: smyth
VERSION: 6/15/09
Analysis by: Jennifer Gress FISCAL: yes
Hearing date: June 23, 2009
SUBJECT:
Bicycle routes of significance
DESCRIPTION:
This bill permits, and provides guidance for, the California
Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to establish a process
for identifying and promoting bicycle routes of national, state,
or regional significance.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law requires Caltrans, 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. Caltrans is also required to
establish uniform specifications and symbols for signs, markers,
and traffic control devices to designate bikeways, regulate
traffic, improve safety and convenience for bicyclists, and
alert pedestrians and motorists of the presence of bicyclists on
bikeways and roadways where bicycle travel is permitted. City,
county, regional, and other local agencies responsible for the
development or operation of bikeways or roadways where bicycle
travel is permitted must utilize these minimum safety design
criteria and uniform specifications and symbols.
Existing law permits a city or county to prepare a bicycle
transportation plan and provides guidance on the elements that
may be included in such a plan. This plan is required if a city
or county applies to Caltrans for funding from the Bicycle
Transportation Account for bikeways and related facilities,
planning, safety, or educational efforts designed to promote or
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support bicycling.
Existing law requires Caltrans to publish a statewide map
illustrating state highway routes available for the use of
bicyclists and, where bicyclists are prohibited from using a
state highway, illustrating a safe, alternative route available
to cyclists.
This bill :
Permits Caltrans to establish a process for identifying and
promoting bicycle routes of national, state, or regional
significance. This process may allow local organizations,
private entities, and local or state governments to nominate
routes.
Allows Caltrans to consider specific criteria for designating
a bicycle route of significance, including that it is an
historic route, an established training or other designated
route, or is a route of unique scenic significance.
Specifies the types of organizations with which Caltrans may
work to designate bicycle routes of significance.
Permits Caltrans to form an advisory committee to assist with
the implementation of these provisions.
Authorizes Caltrans to develop criteria for the design,
placement, and installation of signs relative to bicycle
routes of significance and to install such signs on bicycle
routes of significance that are associated with the state
highway system.
Provides that the placement of bicycle route signs on all
other routes or transit systems shall be left to the
appropriate local jurisdiction, but that upon request from a
local governmental entity, allows Caltrans to place a bicycle
route sign on state-funded transportation systems to direct
traffic to bicycle routes on city or county roads, provided
the local governmental entity reimburses Caltrans for its
costs to do so.
AB 1464 (SMYTH) Page 3
States the intent of the Legislature that the participation of
city or county governments is voluntary.
Provides that bicycle route signs shall meet the standards for
official traffic control devices specified in current law.
Provides that the cost to purchase, erect, and maintain
bicycle routes signs may be paid by the applicant or
nominating entity, as determined by Caltrans, and that
Caltrans may be reimbursed for these costs at a rate not to
exceed their actual costs, including administrative expenses.
COMMENTS:
1.Purpose . According to the author, the bill allows cities and
counties to work with Caltrans to develop a list of "legacy
cycling trails" in order to promote bicycle routes of
national, state, or regional significance.
Additionally, as part of an effort to establish a United
States Bicycle Route System, the American Association of State
Highway and Transit Officials (AASHTO) approved a national
corridor plan that identifies cycling corridors throughout the
United States. This bill provides a framework for Caltrans to
establish specific routes in California for inclusion in the
U.S. Bicycle Route System.
The author and sponsor note the benefits of promoting
bicycling in California. Cycling tourism is a growing
industry, and California's mild weather and diversity of
topography and landscapes, including the coast, wine country,
inland valleys, and the mountains are unique attributes that
can attract a large share of this industry. Last year,
bicycle-related transactions resulted in nearly $1.5 billion
in sales in California, creating and sustaining jobs and
generating tax revenues to support state and local economies.
Cycling not only results in economic benefits, but also health
benefits, providing bicyclists with a low-impact alternative
to other modes of commuting, as well as additional fitness and
recreational pursuits. Cycling can also help the state meet
its greenhouse gas emission goals under AB 32.
2.U.S. Bicycle Route System . As noted above, the designation of
bicycle routes of significance provided for by this bill is a
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separate but complementary effort to a national initiative to
establish a U.S. Bicycle Route System. The U.S. Bicycle Route
System is a network of bicycle routes of national and regional
significance selected by the state departments of
transportation (DOTs), and designated and catalogued by
AASHTO.
The designation of bicycle routes under this initiative began
in the 1970s, but the effort became more formal in 2004 when
the AASHTO Standing Committee on Highways established the Task
Force on U.S. Bicycle Routes, which developed a draft National
Corridor Plan. In October 2008, the AASHTO Board of Directors
and the Standing Committee on Highways, of which Caltrans is a
member, passed a resolution to endorse the proposed U.S.
Bicycle Routes Corridor Plan.
The Corridor Plan consists of corridors 50 miles wide that
suggest where a route could be developed. The proposed
corridors link key destinations, urban centers, and take into
consideration the natural landscape. Under the initiative,
state and local governments work in cooperation with one
another and can use the plan as a guide for coordinating and
establishing routes within and between states.
3.Definition of routes of significance unclear . What
constitutes a route of significance under this bill is
somewhat unclear. The bill authorizes Caltrans to establish
criteria and provides some guidance concerning factors it may
consider in establishing such a route. AASHTO's instructions
for designating a bicycle route state that the route must
connect two or more states, a state and an international
border, or other U.S. Bicycle Routes.
4.Caltrans' statutory duty unfulfilled . SB 1095 (Killea),
Chapter 517, Statutes of 1993, established Caltrans'
obligation to develop a statewide bicycle map. In the 15
years since this requirement has been operative, Caltrans has
not produced such a map. When asked why, Caltrans responded
that it is a funding issue and that there are only a handful
of staff that work on bicycle issues across the state.
A map of bicycle routes would reinforce the objectives this
bill seeks to achieve by and making the designation of routes
of significance and U.S. Bicycle Routes more meaningful. This
bill would be strengthened by amending it to restate the
Legislature's intent that Caltrans produce a map of statewide
AB 1464 (SMYTH) Page 5
bicycle routes and to add to the map designated bicycle routes
of significance and U.S. Bicycle Routes. Because this action
would add costs to the bill, it may not be feasible to amend
the bill in such a manner in this fiscal climate.
Assembly Votes:
Floor: 74-1
Appr: 13-1
Trans: 12-0
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the Committee before noon on
Wednesday,
June 17, 2009)
SUPPORT: California Bicycle Coalition (sponsor)
OPPOSED: None received.