BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 1368
Page 1
Date of Hearing: June 23, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Bonnie Lowenthal, Chair
SB 1368 (Wolk) - As Amended: June 16, 2014
SENATE VOTE : 35-0
SUBJECT : State highways: relinquishment
SUMMARY : Adds a joint powers authorities and transit districts
to the list of public agencies to which the California
Transportation Commission (CTC) may relinquish park-and-ride
lots.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Authorizes the California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) to construct, maintain, and operate fringe and
transportation corridor parking facilities along the state
highway system (including park-and-ride lots) when those
facilities reduce motor vehicle traffic congestion and improve
highway safety.
2)Requires Caltrans to require all right-of-way necessary for
park-and-ride lots (and other corridor facilities) in
accordance with all of the laws and procedures applicable to
other state highway projects.
3)Authorizes Caltrans to enter into agreements with other public
agencies for the joint financing of fringe and transportation
corridor parking facilities.
4)Provides that the CTC may relinquish a park-and-ride lot to a
county transportation commission or regional transportation
planning agency. On the terms and conditions that the CTC
finds to be within the best interest of the state.
5)Requires the regional transportation commission or regional
transportation planning agency requesting the relinquishment
to, at a minimum, maintain the number of parking spaces
provided in the park-and-ride lot at the time of the
relinquishment.
6)Requires that the relinquishment of a park-and-ride lot become
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effective on the date following the county recorder's
recordation of the relinquishment resolution containing the
CTC's approval of the terms and conditions of the
relinquishment.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, this bill would have potential one-time costs of over
$150,000 to Caltrans to relinquish each park-and-ride lot,
depending on the terms of the relinquishment agreement as well
as ongoing savings to Caltrans from reduced maintenance and
rehabilitation costs for the relinquished facilities.
COMMENTS : According to the author, the Solano County Transit
(SolTrans) Joint Powers Authority is seeking ownership of a
park-and-ride facility known as the Curtola Park-and-Ride Hub in
Solano County, through relinquishment from Caltrans. The
relinquishment would allow SolTrans to increase parking supply,
improve transit operations, facilitate carpools, modernize
on-site amenities, and serve as a transit hub to nearby
facilities including the Vallejo Transit Center and the Vallejo
Ferry Terminal.
Current law only allows CTC to relinquish park-and-ride lots to
county transportation commissions and regional transportation
planning agencies and does not specifically name other
transportation entities such as joint powers authorities or
special transit districts. To allow for the relinquishment of
the Curtola Parkway, the author has introduced this bill which
would allow CTC to relinquish a park-and-ride lot directly a
joint powers authority. The author included joint powers
authorities generally, rather than SolTrans specifically, so
that other similar entities seeking park-and-ride lot
relinquishments in the future would be able to do so without
seeking specific legislative authority. Similarly, the bill
also includes special transit districts in anticipation of
relinquishment requests from these entities in the future.
The relinquishment process is well established and involves
negotiation between the local jurisdiction and Caltrans with
regard to the condition of roadway upon relinquishment. In
certain cases Caltrans may agree to bring the roadway to "a
state of good repair" prior to relinquishment or provide funding
necessary to do so. In other cases, local jurisdictions may
simply acquire the roadway in an "as is" condition. Once the
terms of the relinquishment have been established and there is
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legislative approval to do so, the CTC must vote to approve the
relinquishment. Once CTC approval is obtained, the relinquished
facility becomes the property of the local jurisdiction and the
state route designation is deleted.
The relinquishment of certain state highway segments is seen as
a "win-win" for both local entities and the state. Local
entities who gain control of certain state highway facilities
are able make improvements based on local needs. Similarly, for
Caltrans, cost savings can be had by turning over future
maintenance requirements to local jurisdictions, resulting in
cost savings to the state.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Solano County Transit Joint Powers Authority (sponsor)
Solano Transportation Authority (sponsor)
California Transit Association
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Victoria Alvarez / TRANS. / (916) 319-
2093