BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1128
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 2, 2011
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Bonnie Lowenthal, Chair
AB 1128 (Furutani) - As Amended: April 25, 2011
SUBJECT : Vehicles: Terminal Island Freeway: special permits
SUMMARY : Authorizes the California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) to issue overweight truck permits on designated
roadways to allow for the movement shipping containers from the
Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles into the City of Carson.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Prescribes, according to state and federal law, maximum gross
weight limits for vehicles and vehicle combinations using
public highways.
Authorizes Caltrans to issue weight exemption permits to the
operator of vehicles and loads, as specified, on the following
roadways:
a) On a 3.66-mile portion of State Route (SR) 47 and SR 103
known as Terminal Island Freeway, between Willow Street in
the City of Long Beach and Terminal Island in the City of
Long Beach and the City of Los Angeles; and,
b) On a 2.1-mile portion of SR 1 between Blinn Avenue in
the City of Los Angeles and Harbor Avenue in the City of
Long Beach.
1)Specifies that to obtain weight exemption permits from
Caltrans, the vehicle and its load must meet specified
criteria.
2)Prohibits Caltrans from issuing a weight exemption permit for
the movement of hazardous materials.
3)Requires that the weight exemption permit issued by Caltrans
contain certain criteria related to description of the load,
liability waivers, and proof insurance.
4)Requires overweight trucks to carry and display the weight
exemption permit and furnish a copy of the permit to the
AB 1128
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California Highway Patrol (CHP) or Caltrans, upon request.
5)Specifies that weight exemption permits issued by Caltrans are
valid for one year and may be cancelled by Caltrans.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS:
The Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles are considered among the
most active port facilities in the world and no other commercial
facility in Southern California produces more vehicular traffic
congestion. In light of these significant traffic congestion
issues, the City of Long Beach requested the weight exemption
authorized by AB 2438 (Karnette), Chapter 1037, Statutes of
1993, and later extended by SB 839 (Karnette), Chapter 358,
Statutes of 1997, contending that this unique situation
necessitated allowing heavier vehicles to use the roadways to
enhance the growth and efficiency of both Ports. The City of
Long Beach further asserted that without this exemption cargo
could be diverted to other ports, both in California and in the
Pacific Northwest.
The author introduced this legislation to allow overweight
vehicles carrying port cargo to use additional roadway segments
in and around the City of Carson. The author contends that by
doing so, underutilized warehouses in and around the City of
Carson can be accessed for port cargo storage. To accomplish
this, this bill would authorize Caltrans to increase the
distance that overweight vehicles can travel on a relatively
small section of the Pacific Coast Highway, upon the adoption of
an ordinance or resolution by the City of Carson.
Increasing overweight truck use on the state highway system
would likely result in accelerated pavement degradation.
However, the cost of this degradation is outweighed by the
benefits of allowing overweight trucks to travel on an
additional, relatively short, segment of state highway.
Previous legislation : AB 2438 (Karnette), Chapter 1037,
Statutes of 1993, authorized Caltrans, upon ordinance or
resolution by the City of Long Beach and the City of Los Angeles
to issue a permit to certain overweight trucks carrying cargo
containers for use of the Terminal Island Freeway in Los Angeles
County, under certain conditions.
AB 1128
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SB 839 (Karnette), Chapter 358, Statutes of 1997, extended the
January 1, 1998 sunset to January 1, 2003, authorizing Caltrans,
upon the adoption of an ordinance or resolution by both the City
of Long Beach and the City of Los Angeles, to issue a special
permit to the operator of a vehicle that exceeds the maximum
gross weight limits.
SB 2072 (Karnette), Chapter 229, Statutes of 2002, extended
indefinitely the existing law allowing Caltrans, upon adoption
of conforming ordinances by the City of Long Beach and the City
of Los Angeles, for overweight vehicles.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
ACX Pacific Northwest, Inc.
California Association of Port Authorities
International Warehouse Logistics Association
Los Angeles County Business Federation
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
Opposition
None received
Analysis Prepared by : Victoria Alvarez / TRANS. / (916) 319-
2093