SB 760: State highways: permits: improvements.

Session Year: 2017-2018
House: Senate

Version:

Existing law authorizes the Department of Transportation to issue a permit to the owner or developer of property adjacent to or near a state highway, including the associated right-of-way, to construct, alter, repair, or improve any portion of the highway for the purpose of improving local traffic access, as provided. Existing law specifies that the permit may be issued only if the work within the highway right-of-way is to be performed in accordance with plans and specifications approved by the department.

If the improvement would not affect the operation of the state highway and the associated work would be performed in accordance with local agency plans and specifications, this bill would prohibit the department from denying an application for a permit solely because the associated work is not to be performed in accordance with plans and specifications approved by the department.

Existing law requires the Department of Transportation to establish minimum safety design criteria for the planning and construction of bikeways and uniform specifications and symbols for associated signs, markers, and traffic control devices. Existing law requires all city, county, regional, and other local agencies responsible for the development or operation of bikeways or roadways where bicycle travel is permitted to utilize all minimum safety design criteria and uniform specifications and symbols for signs, markers, and traffic control devices established under these provisions, except that alternative minimum safety design criteria may be used under certain conditions.This bill would authorize a city, county, regional, or other local agency, when using the alternative minimum safety design criteria, to consider additional design guides, including the Urban Street Design Guide of the National Association of City Transportation Officials. The bill would authorize a state entity that is responsible for the planning and construction of roadways to consider additional design guides, including the Urban Street Design Guide of the National Association of City Transportation Officials.

Discussed in Hearing