Bill Text: CA AB457 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: High-occupancy toll lanes.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2016-02-01 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB457 Detail]

Download: California-2015-AB457-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 457	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 26, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Melendez

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2015

   An act to amend Section  149   149.7  of
the Streets and Highways Code, relating to transportation.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 457, as amended, Melendez. High-occupancy  vehicle
  toll  lanes. 
   Existing law authorizes a regional transportation agency, as
defined, in cooperation with the Department of Transportation, to
apply to the California Transportation Commission to develop and
operate high-occupancy toll lanes, including administration and
operation of a value pricing program and exclusive or preferential
lane facilities for public transit, consistent with established
standards, requirements, and limitations. Existing law requires the
commission, in cooperation with the Legislative Analyst, to annually
prepare a report on the progress of the development and operation of
these facilities.  
   This bill would instead require the commission, in cooperation
with the Legislative Analyst, to prepare this report every two years.
 
   Existing law provides that the Department of Transportation has
full control of the state highway system. Existing law authorizes the
department to construct exclusive or preferential lanes for buses
only or for buses and other high-occupancy vehicles. 

   This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to these
provisions. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
  yes  . State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   SECTION 1.    Section 149.7 of the   Streets
and Highways Code   is amended to read: 
   149.7.  (a) A regional transportation agency, as defined in
Section 143, in cooperation with the department, may apply to the
commission to develop and operate high-occupancy toll lanes,
including the administration and operation of a value pricing program
and exclusive or preferential lane facilities for public transit,
consistent with the established standards, requirements, and
limitations that apply to those facilities in Sections 149, 149.1,
149.3, 149.4, 149.5, and 149.6.
   (b) The commission shall review each application for the
development and operation of the facilities described in subdivision
(a) according to eligibility criteria established by the commission.
For each eligible application, the commission shall conduct at least
one public hearing in northern California and one in southern
California.
   (c) The number of facilities approved under this section shall not
exceed four, two in northern California and two in southern
California.
   (d) A regional transportation agency that develops or operates a
facility, or facilities, described in subdivision (a) shall provide
any information or data requested by the commission or the
Legislative Analyst. The commission, in cooperation with the
Legislative Analyst, shall  annually  prepare a
report  every two years  on the progress of the development
and operation of a facility authorized under this section. The
commission may submit this report as a section in its annual report
to the Legislature required pursuant to Section 14535 of the
Government Code.
   (e) No applications may be approved under this section on or after
January 1, 2012. 
  SECTION 1.    Section 149 of the Streets and
Highways Code is amended to read:
   149.  The department may construct exclusive or preferential lanes
for buses only or for buses and other high-occupancy vehicles, and
may authorize or permit exclusive or preferential use of designated
lanes on existing highways that are part of the State Highway System.
Prior to constructing those lanes, the department shall conduct
competent engineering estimates of the effect of the lanes on safety,
congestion, and highway capacity.
   To the extent they are available, the department may apply for and
use federal aid funds appropriated for the design, construction, and
use of those exclusive or preferential lanes, but may also use other
State Highway Account funds, including other federal aid funds, for
those purposes where proper and desirable.
   This section shall be known and may be cited as the Carrell Act.