BILL ANALYSIS �
HR 31
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Date of Hearing: July 2, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Bonnie Lowenthal, Chair
HR 31 (Williams) - As Introduced: June 11, 2012
SUBJECT : State Highway 154 in Santa Barbara County.
SUMMARY : Resolves to urge truck drivers traveling through Santa
Barbara County to use State Route (SR) 101 rather than SR 154 to
help reduce unnecessary truck traffic and improve safety on the
SR 154. The resolution makes the following statements:
1)SR 154 is located in Santa Barbara County.
2)SR 154 serves as a primary local commute corridor for
residents in northern and southern Santa Barbara County.
3)SR 154 is a two-lane, undivided, mountainous, rural highway
with tight curves, narrow shoulders, steep grades, limited
passing lanes, and reduced visibility.
4)Frequent inclement weather in the area poses difficulty for
many vehicles, especially large trucks.
5)Motorists not beginning or ending trips in the area tend to
utilize SR 154 as a shortcut to SR 101 and are often unaware
of the steep grade, number of turns, and navigation
constraints of the roadway.
6)SR 101 is the main north-south arterial highway that provides
a more suitable alternative for goods movement using large
trucks.
7)Lake Cachuma is the primary drinking water source for southern
Santa Barbara County residents and is located immediately
adjacent to SR 154.
8)Accidental release of hazardous material into Lake Cachuma
could contaminate the region's drinking water source.
9)Truck drivers using SR 154 who presume that using this roadway
will save driving time, operate on an incorrect assumption
and, in doing so, expose themselves and other motorists to
hazards.
HR 31
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10)The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has increased enforcement
on SR 154 to ensure the safety of all drivers using the
roadway.
EXISTING LAW :
Prohibits truck traffic on certain, limited state routes.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : This bill is sponsored by the Santa Barbary County
Association of Governments and addresses safety concerns on SR
154. SR 154 is a two-lane, undivided, mountainous highway that
has narrow shoulders and steep grades. According to the author
and sponsor, SR 154 serves primarily as a local commute corridor
linking the northern and southern communities of Santa Barbara
County. They cite that it is common for truck traffic to use SR
154 as a shortcut though the county rather than using SR 101,
which is the main thoroughfare for truck traffic. The author
notes that the prevalence of truck traffic on SR 154 creates
safety concerns not only for motorists but also for residents
along the corridor.
The catalyst for the issue of truck traffic on SR 154 was an
accident that occurred in August 2010 involving a gravel truck
travelling from the Bee Rock quarry located along SR 154. While
en route, the gravel truck experienced brake problems, the
driver lost control of the truck, and it crashed into a home at
the base of a steep curve near the intersection of SR 154 and
State Street. A family of three, in the home at the time of the
accident, perished in the crash. The incident has raised
significant community concerns regarding truck traffic on the
route.
Following the incident, CHP significantly increased enforcement
along the corridor with a focus on truck safety violations.
Numerous citations were issued to truckers for a number of
offenses with the majority including overweight vehicle
violations and improperly completed manifests. The author notes
that CHP contacted global positioning system service providers
and encouraged them to post advisory notices indicating that SR
154 is not an appropriate shortcut to SR 101 due to safety
concerns. This bill, in addition to the CHP crackdown, will
serve as another tool to encourage truckers to use SR 101 rather
HR 31
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than SR 154 to further improve safety along the corridor.
Related legislation: AB 537 (Williams, 2011) sought to
prohibit, with exceptions, the operation of commercial vehicles
or vehicle combinations with three or more axles or a gross
vehicle weight of 9,000 pounds or more on a segment of SR 154.
That bill was never heard in policy committee.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
None of file
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Victoria Alvarez / TRANS. / (916) 319-
2093