BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1670
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 1670 (Beall)
As Amended July 15, 2010
Majority vote
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|ASSEMBLY: |77-0 |(June 1, 2010) |SENATE: |34-0 |(August 18, |
| | | | | |2010) |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Original Committee Reference: TRANS.
SUMMARY : Allows the California Transportation Commission (CTC)
to relinquish two specific segments of the state highway system
to the City of San Jose.
The Senate amendments require the City of San Jose to ensure
traffic flow continuity on the relinquished routes.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Statutorily identifies state highway system routes.
2)Defines "state highway" as any roadway that is acquired, laid
out, constructed, improved, or maintained as a state highway
pursuant to constitutional or legislative authorization.
3)Specifies that it is the intent of the Legislature that the
prescribed routes of the state highway system connect the
communities and regions of the state and that they serve the
state's economy by connecting centers of commerce, industry,
agriculture, mineral wealth, and recreation.
4)Provides for the expansion or deletion of the state highway
system through a process whereby CTC makes a finding that it
is in the best interest of the state to include or delete a
specified portion of roadway to the system.
5)Provides for the relinquishment of a portion of state highway
to a city or county under an agreement between the local
jurisdiction and the Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
when an act of the Legislature has deleted the portion of
highway from the state highway system.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill:
AB 1670
Page 2
1)Authorized CTC to relinquish to the City of San Jose an
11-mile portion of State Route (SR) 82 and a 2.25-mile portion
of SR 130, upon terms and conditions CTC finds to be in the
best interest of the state, if the department and the city
enter into an agreement providing for the relinquishments.
2)Provided that the relinquishments will become effective
immediately following the county recordation of the
relinquishment resolutions containing CTC's approval of the
specified terms and conditions.
3)Specified that, following the effective date of
relinquishment, the relinquished segments will no longer be
state highways and may not be considered for future adoption
as state highways.
4)Required the City of San Jose to maintain signs along the
relinquished segments in their jurisdiction directing
motorists to the continuation of the respective state routes.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee:
1)Potentially moderate one-time costs (perhaps up to millions of
dollars) depending on the outcome of negotiations between
Caltrans and the City of San Jose and on CTC approval.
2)Long-term maintenance and repair savings to Caltrans if the
CTC exercises its authority to relinquish these highway
segments.
COMMENTS : Each session, numerous bills authorizing CTC to
relinquish segments of the state highway segments to local
jurisdictions are passed by the Legislature and signed by the
Governor. Relinquishment transactions are generally preceded by
a negotiation of terms and conditions between the local
jurisdiction and Caltrans. Once an agreement has been
established, CTC typically approves the relinquishment and
verifies its approval via a resolution. The final step is for
the Legislature to delete these segments from current law.
State highway relinquishments provide recipient agencies with
greater control over a local transportation segment and relieve
AB 1670
Page 3
Caltrans of any further responsibility to improve, maintain, or
repair it.
SR 82 and SR 130, commonly referred to as the Alameda and
Monterey Highway (SR 82) and Alum Rock Avenue (SR 130), serve
primarily as urban arterials within the City of San Jose. The
city is seeking control of these highway segments so that it
may pursue economic development and community enhancements
without the constraints of Caltrans' requirements.
According to the author, the City of San Jose and Caltrans have
engaged in discussions regarding the proposed relinquishments
and Caltrans has indicated its support.
Analysis Prepared by : Janet Dawson / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093
FN: 0005936