Existing law generally provides that the Department of Transportation and local authorities have authority over the highways under their respective jurisdictions.

Existing law establishes a prima facie speed limit of 25 miles per hour during specified periods of time on a highway near a school building or school grounds if the highway is posted with standard SCHOOL warning signs.

This bill would designate a specified portion of State Highway Route 184 in the County of Kern as a school zone and require the zone to be identified with standard SCHOOL warning signs. The bill would provide that the above-referenced provisions governing prima facie speed limits in school zones apply in that zone.

Existing law generally provides that the Department of Transportation and local authorities have authority over the highways under their respective jurisdictions.

Existing law establishes a prima facie speed limit of 25 miles per hour during specified periods of time on a highway near a school building or school grounds if the highway is posted with standard SCHOOL warning signs.

This bill would designate a specified portion of State Highway Route 184 in the County of Kern as a school zone and require the zone to be identified with standard SCHOOL warning signs. The bill would provide that the above-referenced provisions governing prima facie speed limits in school zones apply in that zone.

Existing law generally provides that the Department of Transportation and local authorities have authority over the highways under their respective jurisdictions. Existing law requires the department and local authorities to establish and promulgate warrants to be used as guidelines for the placement of traffic control devices near schools for the purpose of protecting students going to and from school. Existing law authorizes the governing board of any school district to request the applicable state or local authority to install traffic control devices in accordance with those warrants, and thereafter requires the state or local authority to undertake an engineering and traffic survey to determine whether the requested crossing protection meets the established warrants. Existing law provides that the school district may be required to pay for not more than 50% of the engineering and traffic survey, but requires the applicable state or local authority to install the requested crossing protection at its expense if the traffic survey determines that the protection is warranted.

Existing law establishes a prima facie speed limit of 25 miles per hour during specified periods of time on a highway near a school building or school grounds if the highway is posted with standard school SCHOOL warning signs. Existing law also authorizes local authorities, by ordinance, to implement lower speed limits under specified circumstances, but requires approval of the ordinance by the Department of Transportation if the lower speed limit is to apply to a state highway and also requires the local authority to reimburse the department in certain cases for all costs incurred in this regard.

Existing law provides various sources of funding for transportation projects. Existing law authorizes the California Transportation Commission to approve advance expenditures by local agencies of local funds relative to certain transportation projects that have been designated to receive future funds from the state when those funds become available.

This bill would make a nonsubstantive change to these provisions.

 CONSENT  

Bill No: AB 1115

Author:

:

Vote:

SENATE TRANS. & HOUSING COMMITTEE: 11-0, 6/14/16

AYES: Beall, Cannella, Allen, Bates, Gaines, Galgiani, Leyva, McGuire, Mendoza, Roth, Wieckowski

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 78-0, 1/27/16 (Consent) - See last page for vote

SUBJECT:

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST: This bill designates a portion of State Highway Route (SR) 184 in Kern County as a school zone.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Provides that the state Department of Transportation (Caltrans) owns and operates all state highways in California.
2. Designates SR 184, from Route 223 near Weed Patch to Route 178 in Bakersfield, as a state highway.
3. Establishes a speed limit of 25 mph when approaching or passing a school building or school grounds, where the highway is posted with a standard “SCHOOL” warning sign at any distance up to 500 feet away from school grounds.
4. Authorizes a local authority to establish a prima facie speed limit of less than 25 mph in a residence district, on a highway with a posted speed limit of 30 mph or slower, or under specified circumstances including within 500 feet of, or passing, a school building or grounds where the building or grounds are contiguous to a highway. Requires the local authority to base the new speed limit on an engineering and travel survey.

This bill:

1. Designates the portion of SR 184 at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and adjacent to Sunset Middle School, in Kern County, as a school zone.
2. Requires Caltrans to identify this school zone with standard “SCHOOL” warning signs and to establish prima facie speed limits within the zone, pursuant to existing law.

Comments

1. Purpose. The author states that in the past few years, several tragic fatalities have occurred at the intersection of SR 184 and Sunset Boulevard, the main access point to Sunset Middle School, due to lack of adequate safety measures. Two stop signs control traffic traveling east and west on Sunset Boulevard, but there are no measures to slow traffic traveling north and south on SR 184, which is a state highway and thus controlled by Caltrans. The author states that this bill will help make the intersection safe for parents and students entering and exiting the school grounds.
2. Why do we need a bill to designate a school zone? In general, Caltrans has authority over state highways. Local authorities, however, may establish a school zone on a highway, but only if the school building or grounds are contiguous to the highway. In the case of Sunset Middle School, the school is adjacent to, but not contiguous with, SR 184, and therefore state law does not allow that portion of the highway to be designated as a school zone. This bill creates an exception to existing law by designating the intersection as a school zone.
3. Can the problem be solved without a bill? Caltrans committed to installing advisory signs, an advisory speed limit, and flashing lights on SR 184 approaching Sunset Middle School by the beginning of the new school year (August 1), as well as eventually installing a roundabout at the intersection. The Senate Transportation and Housing Committee understand that thus far, interim stop signs with LED lights around the edges have been installed; in addition, a 25 mph advisory speed plate is being added below the existing intersection (cross) sign on SR 184. Additional signs with yellow LED lights are being purchased to replace the intersection signs on SR 184, and eventually solar-powered flashing beacons will be added. Because another accident occurred at this intersection in July 2016, the author wishes to continue moving this bill to help ensure that all possible safety measures are fully executed.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Fiscal Com.: Local:

SUPPORT: (Verified 8/1/16)

Clinica Sierra Vista Behavioral Health Center

Vineland School District

OPPOSITION: (Verified 8/1/16)

None received

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 78-0, 1/27/16

AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Travis Allen, Baker, Bigelow, Bloom, Bonilla, Bonta, Brough, Brown, Burke, Calderon, Campos, Chang, Chau, Chávez, Chiu, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Dababneh, Dahle, Daly, Dodd, Eggman, Frazier, Beth Gaines, Gallagher, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gatto, Gipson, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gordon, Gray, Grove, Hadley, Harper, Roger Hernández, Holden, Irwin, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Kim, Lackey, Levine, Linder, Lopez, Low, Maienschein, Mayes, McCarty, Medina, Melendez, Mullin, Nazarian, Obernolte, O'Donnell, Olsen, Patterson, Quirk, Rendon, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez, Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Wagner, Waldron, Weber, Wilk, Williams, Wood, Atkins

NO VOTE RECORDED: Mathis

Prepared by:

8/3/16 18:40:21

**** END ****

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING

Senator Jim Beall, Chair

2015 - 2016 Regular

Bill No: Hearing Date: 6/14/2016

SUBJECT:

DIGEST: This bill designates a portion of State Highway Route (SR) 184 in Kern County as a school zone.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Provides that the state Department of Transportation (Caltrans) owns and operates all state highways in California.
2. Designates SR 184, from Route 223 near Weed Patch to Route 178 in Bakersfield, as a state highway.
3. Establishes a speed limit of 25 mph when approaching or passing a school building or school grounds, where the highway is posted with a standard “SCHOOL” warning sign at any distance up to 500 feet away from school grounds.
4. Authorizes a local authority to establish a prima facie speed limit of less than 25 mph in a residence district, on a highway with a posted speed limit of 30 mph or slower, or under specified circumstances including within 500 feet of, or passing, a school building or grounds where the building or grounds are contiguous to a highway. Requires the local authority to base the new speed limit on an engineering and travel survey.

This bill:

1. Designates the portion of SR 184 at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and adjacent to Sunset Middle School, in Kern County, as a school zone.
2. Requires Caltrans to identify this school zone with standard “SCHOOL” warning signs and to establish prima facie speed limits within the zone, pursuant to existing law.

COMMENTS:

1. Purpose. The author states that in the past few years, several tragic fatalities have occurred at the intersection of SR 184 and Sunset Boulevard, the main access point to Sunset Middle School, due to lack of adequate safety measures. Two stop signs control traffic traveling east and west on Sunset Boulevard, but there are no measures to slow traffic traveling north and south on SR 184, which is a state highway and thus controlled by Caltrans. The author states that this bill will help make the intersection safe for parents and students entering and exiting the school grounds.
2. Why do we need a bill to designate a school zone? In general, Caltrans has authority over state highways. Local authorities, however, may establish a school zone on a highway, but only if the school building or grounds are contiguous to the highway. In the case of Sunset Middle School, the school is adjacent to, but not contiguous with, SR 184, and therefore state law does not allow that portion of the highway to be designated as a school zone. This bill would create an exception to existing law by designating the intersection as a school zone.
3. Can the problem be solved without a bill? Caltrans has committed to installing advisory signs, an advisory speed limit, and flashing lights on SR 184 approaching Sunset Middle School and intends to have these measures installed by the beginning of the new school year. Caltrans also plans to eventually install a roundabout at the intersection. The author wishes to continue moving this bill to help ensure that these actions take place.

Related Legislation:

SB 632 (Cannella, 2015) — would have authorized a local authority to establish a 15 mph prima facie speed limit in a school zone. In lieu of hearing this bill, this committee asked the California Traffic Control Device Committee (CTCDC) to consider the content of the bill. The CTCDC established a School Zone Subcommittee, which is reviewing the issue.

Assembly Votes:

Floor: 78-1

Appr: 17-0

Trans: 16-0

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No

POSITIONS: (Communicated to the committee before noon on Wednesday, June 8, 2016.)

SUPPORT:

Clinica Sierra Vista Behavioral Health Center

Vineland School District

OPPOSITION:

None received

-- END --

Date of Hearing: January 21, 2016

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Jimmy Gomez, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1115

Author:(Salas) – As Amended Ver:January 13, 2016

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No

SUMMARY:

This bill designates a school zone on State Route (SR) 184 near Sunset Middle School in Kern County, thus requiring Caltrans to provide standard warning signs and establishing a prima facie speed limit of 25 miles per hour in this zone.

FISCAL EFFECT:

Minor one-time special fund costs (less than $10,000) for Caltrans to install signs and pavement markings for the school zone. Ongoing maintenance costs would be negligible. [State Highway Acccount]

COMMENTS:

1. Background. Since 2010, there have been over 20 collisions near the intersection of SR 184 and Sunset Boulevard in Kern County, including several resulting in fatalities. The intersection is the main access point to Sunset Middle School. Stop signs on Sunset Boulevard control traffic traveling east and west through this intersection, but there are no stops signs for north/south traffic on the state highway.

According to the author, the local school district and local residents have long sought traffic control devices, such as stop lights, flashing lights, rumble strips, and even an all-way stop at this intersection to improve safety. Caltrans recently evaluated the intersection and determined that an all-way stop was not warranted. However, the department has committed to installing a number of flashing beacons, warning signs, and lighted stop signs at this intersection.

1. Purpose. The author remains concerned that Caltrans' installations may take too long and that these measures may be insufficient in slowing traffic on SR 184 approaching the school. As a result, the author intends to amend AB 1115 in committee to designate a school zone on SR 184 near the school. The area is not eligible for such a designation under existing law because the school is not directly contiguous to SR 184. (The school property is about 200 feet from the intersection along Sunset Boulevard.) Designating this area as a school zone will facilitate slowing traffic speeds approaching this intersection.

Analysis Prepared by: Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: April 27, 2015

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Jim Frazier, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1115 (

Author:Salas) – As Amended Ver:January 4, 2016

AS PROPOSED TO BE AMENDED IN COMMITTEE

SUBJECT: School zones: traffic control devices: state highways

SUMMARY: As proposed to be amended, designates a school zone on State Route (SR) 184 near Sunset Middle School in Kern County.

EXISTING LAW: Generally establishes a prima facie speed limit of 25 miles per hour (MPH) in school zones.

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown

COMMENTS: Since 2010, there have been over 20 collisions near the intersection of SR 184 and Sunset Boulevard in Kern County, several of the collisions resulting in fatalities. The intersection is the main access point to Sunset Middle School. Stop signs control traffic traveling east and west on Sunset Boulevard but traffic traveling north and south on SR 184 does stop.

According to the author, the local school district and local residents have long sought traffic control devices, such as stop lights, flashing lights, rumble strips, and even an all-way stop at this intersection to improve safety. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) recently evaluated the intersection and determined that an all-way stop was not warranted. However, the department has committed to installing a number of flashing beacons, warning signs, and lighted stop signs at this intersection.

Nonetheless, the author remains concerned that the installations make take too long and that these measures may be insufficient in slowing traffic on SR 184 approaching the school. As a result, the author intends to amend AB 1115 in committee to designate a school zone on SR 184 near Sunset Middle School. The area is not eligible for such a designation under existing law because the school is not directly contiguous to SR 184; it is separated by a fence. Designating this area as a school zone will facilitate slowing traffic speeds approaching this intersection.

Limiting this bill to designation of a school zone at this particular location is a measured approach to this complicated, troubling, lingering safety problem.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

None on file

Opposition

None on file

Analysis Prepared by: Janet Dawson / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093

Date of Hearing: April 27, 2015

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Jim Frazier, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1115

Author:(Salas) – As Amended Ver:March 26, 2015

SUBJECT: State highways: litter cleanup and abatement

SUMMARY: Requires the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to use litter traps in drains and any other effective technology in carrying out its responsibilities related to litter cleanup and abatement on highways near waterways.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Designates Caltrans as the owner and operator of the state highway system.

2. Requires Caltrans to place a high priority on litter pickup on highways adjoining storm drains, streams, rivers, waterways, beaches, the ocean, and other environmentally sensitive areas.

3. Allows Caltrans to use litter traps in drains and any other effective technology in its litter cleanup and abatement efforts.

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown

COMMENTS: Caltrans installed in-drain litter traps in the southern California region as a result of litigation between Caltrans and the United States Environmental Protection Agency, among others. That litigation resulted in a requirement that Caltrans develop a Best Management Practice (BMP) Retrofit Pilot Program in Caltrans Districts 7 (Los Angeles) and 11 (San Diego). The objective of the program was to acquire experience in the installation and operation of a wide range of structural BMPs for treating stormwater runoff from existing Caltrans facilities and to evaluate the performance and costs of these devices.

A study team made up of representatives from the parties to the lawsuit, their attorneys, local vector control agencies, and outside technical experts provided oversight of the retrofit pilot program. This study was designed to allow the parties to gain experience with the actual design, installation, operation, and maintenance of structural BMPs in the setting of the freeway system in southern California. Many BMPs have been used in other parts of the country, but cost, performance, and operation data were not generally available for retrofit implementation, especially in a semi-arid highway environment.

The study included in-drain litter traps, as would be required to be used by this bill. Data collected during the study indicated that the in-drain litter traps cannot be operated unattended because of hydraulic limitations that resulted in flooding on a number of occasions and clogging that caused bypass of untreated runoff. Further, the study found, "Their pollutant removal was also minimal. The absolute number of maintenance hours was not large; however, the timing of maintenance was critical, right before and during storm events. Because of their frequent maintenance requirements and safety considerations (access along active freeways and highways), implementation on roadsides would not be appropriate. Installation at maintenance stations might be considered safer; however, timely maintenance is often infeasible due to other maintenance activities required during storm events. In addition, they were only marginally effective, with constituent removal generally less than 10%." As a result of the study, Caltrans found the in-drain litter traps were not effective and, consequently, it does not use them anywhere else in the state.

Provisions requiring Caltrans to prioritize litter pickup along highways near sensitive areas, such as waterways, were added by AB 260 (Jackson), Chapter 489, Statutes of 2003. AB 260 reportedly stemmed from an episode where heavy rain caused trash and blight along highways in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties to be swept into the ocean via storm drains and other natural waterways. Recognizing Caltrans' maintenance budget restrictions, the author included provisions in AB 260 to allow litter abatement by means of physical intervention, such as litter traps in drains and any other relevant and effective technology, with the idea that physical intervention of the litter could be a cost-effective alternative.

In 2013, Caltrans spent about $62 million statewide cleaning up litter and collecting more 155,000 cubic yards of trash enough to fill more than 1,000 swimming pools with 30,000 gallons of water in each. Clearly, litter continues to plague the state highway system and increasingly stringent stormwater runoff requirements will eventually prohibit any litter from getting into the stormwater runoff system.

Committee concerns: AB 1115 mandates, rather than allows, in-drain litter traps, a technology that has been found to be ineffective. The Legislature should not direct Caltrans to use a litter abatement technology that does not work, especially given that ever tighter stormwater regulations loom on the horizon.

Previous legislation: AB 260 (Jackson), Chapter 489, Statutes of 2003, required Caltrans to prioritize litter pickup along highways near sensitive areas, such as waterways.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

None on file

Opposition

None on file

Analysis Prepared by: Janet Dawson / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093