BILL ANALYSIS
SB 532
Page 1
Date of Hearing: June 29, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Mike Eng, Chair
SB 532 (Cogdill) - As Amended: June 22, 2009
SENATE VOTE : 36-0
SUBJECT : Relinquishment of State Route (SR) 201 within the City
of Kingsburg; SR 108 definitions
SUMMARY : Authorizes the California Transportation Commission
(CTC), upon terms and conditions that are in the best interests
of the state, to relinquish to the City of Kingsburg (city) the
portions of State Route (SR) 201 within the city. This bill
also adds a state highway route to the state network of
interregional roads, thus making them eligible for specified
state transportation funds. Specifically, this bill:
1)Allows CTC to relinquish to the City of Kingsburg, the portion
of SR 201 that is located within city limits.
2)Adds a portion of State Highway Route (SR) 108 in Stanislaus
County that extends from State Route 99 in Stanislaus County
to Route 120 east of the City of Oakdale between Route 120 at
Yosemite Junction and Route 395, to the state network of
interregional roads, thereby making them eligible for state
funding in the Interregional Transportation Improvement
Program (ITIP).
EXISTING LAW :
1)Establishes the state highway system through a listing and
description of portions and segments of the state's regional
and interregional roads that are owned and operated by the
Department of Transportation (Caltrans). A "state highway" is
defined as any roadway that is acquired, laid out,
constructed, improved, or maintained as a state highway
pursuant to constitutional or legislative authorization.
2)Specifies 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.
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3)Provides for the expansion or deletion of the state highway
system through a process where CTC makes a finding that it is
in the best interest of the state to include or delete a
specified portion of roadway from the system.
4)Provides for the relinquishment of a portion of state highway
to a city or county under an agreement between the local
jurisdiction and Caltrans, when an act of the Legislature has
deleted the portion of highway from the state highway system.
5)Requires certain transportation funds made available for
transportation capital improvement projects to be programmed
and expended in specified amount for interregional
improvements and regional improvements.
FISCAL EFFECT : This bill will enable Caltrans to redirect up to
$91 million in interregional road funding it had previously
committed to the Oakdale Bypass project to a newly identified,
alternative alignment along Route 108.
COMMENTS : According to the author, SR 201, known as Sierra
Street, is the major east-west route through the City of
Kingsburg (Fresno County) and serves as the city's de-facto
"main street." It is also the site of the city's annual Swedish
Festival. The City of Kingsburg would like to avoid the
necessity of obtaining state permits to make street improvements
or to close the street for the Swedish Festival and other
downtown events. By assuming ownership of the street, the city
and its residents can gain control over this important part of
their community while also saving money for the state, which
will no longer bear the responsibility of maintaining and
improving the roadway.
A 1995 internal Caltrans study identified state highway routes
that should be owned, operated, and maintained by local
agencies. That study concluded that a large portion of SR 201
could be relinquished to the City of Kingsburg or the County of
Fresno without jeopardizing traffic flow or public safety. As a
result, this bill is consistent with the Caltrans study.
The Legislature has historically enacted various bills
authorizing CTC to relinquish state highway segments to local
jurisdictions. There is currently a general procedure for
relinquishments, which entails a negotiation of terms and
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conditions between the local jurisdiction and Caltrans. Once an
agreement is reached, CTC may approve the relinquishment by
passing a resolution.
Additionally, this bill would amend the route alignment
description of Route 108 in Stanislaus County and include it
with the list of highways eligible for the ITIP road funds.
This change is needed in state law to allow Caltrans to redirect
funding from the previously planned Oakdale Bypass project in
Stanislaus County.
Under existing law, the State Transportation Improvement Program
(STIP) is a multi-year capital improvement program of
transportation projects on and off the State Highway System,
funded with revenues from the State Highway Account and other
funding sources. Under the STIP, 75% of the funds are allocated
to the Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP) for
regional projects decided by local transportation agencies. The
remaining 25% of the state transportation funds are allocated to
the ITIP to be used for capital improvement of interregional
projects nominated by Caltrans.
In 2004, Caltrans committed $91 million of ITIP funds to the
Oakdale Bypass project. Since that time, traffic patterns in
Stanislaus County have changed and the region has indicated that
an alternative project may better serve the county's needs.
Presently, Stanislaus County has proposed the North County
Corridor project, a 17- mile, east to west alignment to
accommodate inter-regional traffic, goods movement, and
anticipated traffic growth. This bill would codify the proposed
amended Route 108 alignment and allow the CTC to recognize and
approve future funding for the project.
Under Caltrans guidelines it is recommended that interregional
routes do the following:
1)Carry a major portion of the trips entering, traveling
through, or leaving the State.
2)Serve corridors of substantial statewide, interstate, and
international significance.
3)Connect all metropolitan areas and those urban areas with
population concentrations over 2,500 and all county seats, not
otherwise served.
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4)Serve those agricultural, natural resource areas, public-owned
recreational areas, and other travel generators of statewide
or major regional importance not otherwise served.
Since funding for the original project was deferred, Caltrans
has expressed commitment to restoring funding to the region once
a suitable replacement project was identified. Caltrans concurs
that the North County Corridor project meets the above mentioned
criteria for an interregional route and approves adding SR 108
to the list of highways eligible for the ITIP road funds.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
City of Kingsburg (sponsor)
North County Corridor Transportation Expressway Authority
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Alejandro Esparza / TRANS. / (916)
319-2093