BILL ANALYSIS �
ACR 145
Page 1
Date of Hearing: June 9, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Bonnie Lowenthal, Chair
ACR 145 (Achadjian) - As Introduced: May 5, 2014
SUBJECT : Faces of Freedom Veterans Memorial
SUMMARY : Requests the California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) to determine the cost of directional signs directing
motorists to the Faces of Freedom Veterans Memorial from State
Highway 101 and, after receiving donations from non-state
sources sufficient to cover the cost, to erect those signs.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Grants Caltrans broad responsibilities to operate and maintain
the state highway system, including installation and
maintenance of signs.
2)Directs Caltrans to adopt rules and regulations prescribing
uniform traffic control devices. Caltrans carries out this
responsibility through the Committee on Uniform Traffic
Control Devices (CUTCD), which it chairs. The CUTCD is
comprised primarily of public works directors and engineers
and traffic engineers representing local jurisdictions.
3)Provides that only those official traffic control devices
(such as highway signs) that conform to the uniform standards
and specifications promulgated by the CUTCD may be placed on a
roadway.
4)As set forth in regulations promulgated by the CUTCD, provides
guidance in the use of supplemental destination signs that are
intended to provide motorists with information regarding
access to specific destinations, such as museums, zoos,
convention centers, military bases, federal or state
hospitals, airports, and fairgrounds. Criteria for
determining eligibility for signage typically include the type
of destination, the number of visitors/employees/students
associated with the destination, and the distance between the
freeway and the destination. For example, supplemental
destination signs are authorized for a museum, zoo, stadium,
or sports arena if the facility is publicly owned and not for
profit, has a minimum annual attendance greater than one
ACR 145
Page 2
million people, and is no more than three miles from the
freeway (less in urban areas).
FISCAL EFFECT : The bill requires the use of non-state sources
to cover Caltrans' costs for the directional signs.
COMMENTS: The placement of supplemental destination signs on
state highways is ultimately the responsibility of Caltrans,
based on guidance and standards approved by the CUTCD and as set
forth in the California Manual of Uniform Traffic Control
Devices (CMUTCD). The CUTCD authorizes supplemental destination
signs because the signs offer helpful information to motorists.
However, a proliferation of nonessential signs can divert driver
attention from more important messages, such as speed limits,
exit ramp locations, dangerous conditions warnings, and the
like. Consequently, the CUTCD generally only authorizes
supplemental destination signs to facilities that attract large
numbers of visitors such as stadiums, convention centers,
universities, airports, and museums.
In 2012, the CUTCD wrestled with setting guidance that would
authorize placement of supplemental destination signs for
veterans' memorial monuments similar to the Faces of Freedom
Veterans Memorial. Ultimately, the CUTCD could not resolve the
issue and supplemental destination signs to monuments are not
currently authorized. However, legislative requests for
supplemental destination signs that do not comply with the
standards and guidance found in the CMUTCD are not without
precedent, and Caltrans typically complies with these requests.
These requests include:
1)The Agua Fria historic monument (ACR 140 (House), Resolution
Chapter 96, 2000);
2)The Ridge Route Highway historical monument (ACR 98 (Runner),
Resolution Chapter 150, 2001);
3)The Aerospace Valley monument (ACR 120 (Runner), Resolution
Chapter 84, 2002);
4)The Wall Las Memorias Project AIDS monument (SCR 3 (Cedillo),
Resolution Chapter 102, 2007);
5)The Armenian Genocide Martyrs monument (ACR 148, Charles
Calderon, Resolution Chapter 10, 2010); and,
ACR 145
Page 3
6)The Venice Japanese American memorial marker (ACR 46, Butler,
Resolution Chapter 50, 2011).
This bill would add to this list by requesting Caltrans to
determine the cost of directional signs directing motorists to
the Faces of Freedom Veterans Memorial from State Highway 101
and, after receiving donations from non-state sources sufficient
to cover the cost, to erect those signs. The memorial consists
of three elements: the Pathway to Freedom, the Faces of Freedom
sculpture, and the Heroes Wall. According to the author, the
memorial is one of San Luis Obispo County's official veterans'
memorials and honors veterans from World War I through the wars
in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Related legislation: AB 2498 (Achadjian) would have required
Caltrans to place directional signs onto National Purple Heart
Trail memorial signs directing motorists to veterans memorials
within 3 miles of State Route 101. That bill was never heard in
committee.
SB 842 (Knight) requests Caltrans to erect signs on state
highway routes directing motorists to each veterans' home in
California. That bill is currently in the Assembly
Transportation Committee pending a hearing.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
The Purple Heart Trail Committee of the Marine Corps League #680
Veterans Caucus of the California Democratic Party
One individual
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Janet Dawson / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093