AB 287: State Highway Route 710.

Existing law provides that the Department of Transportation has full possession and control of all state highways and associated property. Existing law designates and describes state highway routes, and also describes the state highway routes in the California freeway and expressway system, including all of Route 710 in the County of Los Angeles.

This bill would require encourage the Department of Transportation, in consultation coordination with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, to establish the State Route 710 North Advisory Committee, with a specified membership, to study the alternatives considered in the State Route 710 North Draft Environmental Impact Review and other transit options to improve travel in, and environmental impacts of, the State Route 710 North project area, along with alternatives not considered by the environmental review. The bill would require the advisory committee, by January 1, 2019, to make recommendations in a report to the Legislature, the Department of Transportation, and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority on the most appropriate and feasible alternative in the State Route 710 North project area to consult with local governments of cities and areas along the State Route 710 North corridor regarding development of the State Route 710 North project area, as specified, and would require the department to seek alternatives for the development of the State Route 710 North project area from those local governments that improve air quality and public health, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve traffic safety, modernize the freeway design, address projected traffic volumes, address projected growth in population and employment, population, and create jobs. The bill would require the department, if appropriate and feasible, to implement any development alternative agreed upon by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and those local governments, in a manner consistent with applicable law. The bill would require the department to report to the Legislature on the progress of the State Route 710 North project on or before January 1, 2020.

The bill would require the department to implement the alternative recommended by the advisory committee, if appropriate and feasible, but would prohibit the advisory committee from considering or recommending, and would prohibit the department from implementing, a freeway tunnel or a surface freeway alternative. The bill would also limit the portion of Route 710 included in the California freeway and expressway system to the portion between Route 1 and Route 10. The bill would make legislative findings and declarations.