BILL ANALYSIS �
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair
AB 957 (Lowenthal)
Hearing Date: 08/15/2011 Amended: 07/07/2011
Consultant: Mark McKenzie Policy Vote: T&H 9-0
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BILL SUMMARY: AB 957 would authorize the California
Transportation Commission (CTC) to relinquish a portion of State
Highway Route (SR) 225 to the City of Santa Barbara. The bill
would also enact the following non-controversial changes related
to transportation:
Expand the Sacramento Regional Transit District (Sac RT) to
include the cities of Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Rancho
Cordova, and West Sacramento.
Delete obsolete provisions relating to the transition from the
Sacramento Transit Board to Sac RT.
Clarify that Sac RT is prohibited from imposing a property tax
within its service area unless it is approved by 2/3 of the
electorate in the affected area.
Authorize Sac RT to set up trust accounts for its retirement
system.
Delete the requirement for the Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) to provide quarterly reports to the Legislature and
CTC on the status of specified seismic retrofit projects.
Require the release of an impounded rental car that was used
illegally as a taxicab or vehicle for hire in violation of
local licensing requirements.
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Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 Fund
SR 225, improvements unknown one-time cost (minor to
millions)Special*
prior to relinquishment (see staff
comments)
SR 225, maintenance unknown long-term savings
followingSpecial*
relinquishment
Seismic reports annual savings of approximately
$20Special*
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* State Highway Account
AB 957 (Lowenthal)
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STAFF COMMENTS: This bill meets the criteria for referral to the
Suspense File.
The Legislature has provided statutory authorization to CTC to
relinquish a number of state highway segments to local
jurisdictions under specified conditions. Relinquishment
provides the recipient agency with greater control over local
transportation projects and relieves Caltrans of any further
responsibility to improve, maintain, or repair infrastructure
related to the relinquished segment of state highway.
Generally, relinquishments are subject to terms and conditions
of agreements between Caltrans and a local jurisdiction seeking
control of a local highway segment. CTC must determine that the
agreement for relinquishment, which involves a one-time payment
of State Highway Account funds to the local entity, is in the
best interests of the state. Caltrans annually sets aside $12
million of State Highway Operations and Protection Plan (SHOPP)
funding for rehabilitation necessary for highway
relinquishments.
AB 957 would authorize CTC, upon a determination that the terms
and conditions are in the state's best interest, to relinquish
to the City of Santa Barbara the portion of SR 225 that is
located within the city limits. The relinquished segment would
cease to be a part of the state highway system, and would be
ineligible for future adoption as a state highway. The portion
of SR 225 specified in the bill is known locally as Las Positas
Road, Cliff Drive, and Castillo Street. Relinquishment of this
segment would provide Santa Barbara with jurisdiction over what
are now local roadways entirely within the city without the
constraints of Caltrans' state highway design standards,
encroachment permit processes, and other state requirements.
Caltrans usually provides State Highway Account funding to a
local entity that is assuming control over state highway
segments in order to bring the roadway up to a "state of good
repair." The actual amounts vary for each relinquished highway
segment and are determined by a negotiation of terms and
conditions between Caltrans and the local jurisdiction.
Caltrans does not currently have a specific cost estimate for
the relinquishment of this segment, but based on other
relinquishments, one-time costs range from minimal up to $1
AB 957 (Lowenthal)
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million per centerline mile of roadway depending on numerous
factors such as roadway condition, projected maintenance costs,
and any planned capital projects. The segment of SR 225
specified in the bill is approximately 4.8 miles long, so
initial costs could be minimal but may be as high as $4.8
million. The relinquishment of these segments would relieve
Caltrans of any future maintenance and repair costs, resulting
in unknown long-term annual savings. Actual costs and savings
would be more certain if legislation to authorize relinquishment
followed, rather than preceded, an agreement between Caltrans
and the City of Santa Barbara. However, Caltrans does not
typically enter into negotiations until legislative authority
for relinquishment has been provided.
AB 957 would also delete Caltrans reporting requirements related
to several seismic retrofit programs. The Seismic Retrofit and
Local Bridge Seismic Retrofit programs are effectively complete,
and the Toll Bridge Seismic Retrofit program reporting
requirement this bill deletes is now obsolete, since that
program is subject to an updated reporting requirement pursuant
to AB 144 (Hancock), Chapter 71 of 2005. Caltrans indicates
that elimination of the quarterly reports would result in
savings of approximately $20,000 per year.
The remaining provisions of this bill would have no state fiscal
impact.