BILL ANALYSIS �
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE BILL NO: Ab 747
SENATOR MARK DESAULNIER, CHAIRMAN AUTHOR: levine
VERSION: 5/28/13
Analysis by: Eric Thronson FISCAL: yes
Hearing date: June 4, 2013
SUBJECT:
Relinquishment of State Route 131
DESCRIPTION:
This bill authorizes the California Transportation Commission
(CTC) to relinquish the segment of State Route (SR) 131 in the
Town of Tiburon.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
Identifies the California state highway system through a
description of segments of the state's regional and
interregional roads that are owned and operated by the
Department of Transportation (Caltrans).
Defines a "state highway" as any roadway that is
acquired, laid out, constructed, improved, or maintained as
a state highway according to legislative authorization.
Specifies that it is the intent of the Legislature for
the routes of the state highway system to 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.
Provides that any expansion or deletion of the state
highway system occurs through a statutory process requiring
the CTC to make findings that it is in the best interest of
the state to include or delete a specified portion of
roadway from the system.
This bill authorizes the CTC to relinquish to the Town of
Tiburon the portion of SR 131 within its city limits or sphere
of influence, upon terms and conditions the CTC finds to be in
AB 747 (LEVINE) Page 2
the best interest of the state. Further, the bill provides that
the relinquishment will become effective immediately following
the county recordation of the relinquishment resolution and
specifies that following the effective date of relinquishment,
the relinquished segment will no longer be a state highway and
may not be considered for future adoption as a state highway.
Finally, the bill requires the Town of Tiburon to ensure the
continuity of traffic flow, including any traffic signal
progression, and to provide signage directing motorists to the
continuation of SR 131.
COMMENTS:
Purpose . According to the author, it is important for the state
to relinquish the road to Tiburon in order to grant Tiburon more
direct control of the road. The portion of SR 131 this bill
relinquishes is an approximately one-mile section of road that
looks and feels like a typical main street. The author argues
that relinquishment of the road will speed up the time it takes
for Tiburon to make changes to the roadway such as signage,
landscaping, decorations, bike lanes, or parking.
Assembly Votes:
Floor: 76-0
Appr: 17-0
Trans: 16-0
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the committee before noon on
Wednesday, May 29,
2013.)
SUPPORT: None received.
OPPOSED: None received.