Bill Text: CA AB971 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Chaptered

California Assembly Bill 971

Bill Title: Vehicles: transit-only traffic lanes.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-10-10 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 672, Statutes of 2023. [AB971 Detail]

Download: California-2023-AB971-Chaptered.html

Assembly Bill No. 971

CHAPTER 672

An act to amend Section 21655.1 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.

[ Approved by Governor October 10, 2023. Filed with Secretary of State October 10, 2023. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 971, Lee. Vehicles: transit-only traffic lanes.

Existing law prohibits a person from operating a motor vehicle, or stopping, parking, or leaving a vehicle standing, on a portion of the highway designated for the exclusive use of public transit buses, subject to specified exceptions. Existing law also requires a public transit agency, with the agreement of the agency with jurisdiction over the highway, to place and maintain signs and traffic control devices indicating that a portion of a highway is designated for the exclusive use of public transit buses, as specified.

This bill would instead make these provisions applicable to transit-only traffic lanes. The bill would define transit-only traffic lanes as any designated transit-only lane on which use is restricted to mass transit vehicles, or other designated vehicles including taxis and vanpools, during posted times. The bill would instead require the agency with jurisdiction over the highway or a public transit agency to place and maintain signs and traffic control devices indicating that a portion of highway is designated as a transit-only traffic lane and require a public transit agency placing and maintaining these signs and traffic control devices to do so with the agreement of the agency with jurisdiction over the highway.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 21655.1 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

21655.1.

(a) A person shall not operate a motor vehicle on a portion of a highway that has been designated as a transit-only traffic lane except in compliance with the directions of a peace officer or official traffic control device.

(b) This section does not apply to a driver who is required to enter a lane designated as a transit-only traffic lane in order to make a right turn or a left turn in a location where there is no left-turn lane for motorists, or who is entering into or exiting from a highway, unless there are signs prohibiting turns across the lane or the lane is delineated by a physical separation, including, but not limited to, a curb, fence, landscaping, or other barrier.

(c) (1) The agency with jurisdiction over the highway or a public transit agency shall place and maintain, or cause to be placed and maintained, signs and other official traffic control devices, as necessary, indicating that a portion of a highway has been designated as a transit-only traffic lane for the exclusive use of public transit buses and other vehicles designated by a local authority or the Department of Transportation and to advise motorists of the hours of operation of the lane as a transit-only traffic lane.

(2) A public transit agency placing and maintaining signs and other official traffic control devices pursuant to paragraph (1) shall do so with the agreement of the agency with jurisdiction over the highway.

(d) For purposes of this section, “transit-only traffic lane” shall have the same meaning as that term is defined in Section 40240.