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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-06-09 - AGENDA REPORTS - ASSEMBLY BILL 1464 (2)CONSENT CALENDAR DATE: SUBJECT: DEPARTMENT: Agenda Item: 5 CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AGENDA REPORT City Manager Approval: Item to be presented by: June 9, 2009 Farah Awan STATE LEGISLATION: ASSEMBLY BILL 1464 City Manager's Office RECOMMENDED ACTION City Council accept the recommendation of the City Council Legislative Committee and direct staff to submit letters of support to appropriate Members of the California Legislature, Governor, and League of California Cities for AB 1464. BACKGROUND During the May 12, 2009, Santa Clarita Legislative Committee meeting, Mayor Frank Ferry and Councilmember Laurie Ender recommended that the City take a position in support of Assembly Bill 1464. Assemblymember Cameron Smyth introduced AB 1464 on February 27, 2009, the California Bicycle Routes of State or Regional Significance Act, which would authorize the Department of Transportation to establish a process for identifying and promoting bicycle routes of state or regional significance. If passed, this bill would authorize the Department of Transportation to form an advisory committee to help implement the process for identifying and promoting routes throughout California. As part of the advisory committee, this bill would establish a process for local input for the bicycle route designations. The City of Santa Clarita, bicycle organizations and private entities within our City can recommend or nominate local bicycle routes for inclusion in the system of bicycle routes of state or regional significance. This bill promotes many of California's bicycle paths for tourism and transportation purposes. ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS 1. City Council oppose AB 1464. GFPROVED 9 2. City Council to take no position. 3. Other action as determined by the City Council. FISCAL IMPACT All activities required to carry out the recommended action are contained within the City's approved 2008/09 budget. ATTACHMENTS Assembly Bill 1464 M AMENDED 1N ASSEMBLY MAY 4, 2009 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 16, 2009 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE -2009-10 REGULAR SESSION ASSEMBLY BILL No. 1464 Introduced by Assembly Member Smyth (Coauthor: Assembly Member Chesbro) February 27, 2009 An act to add Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 889) to Chapter 8 of Division 1 of the Streets and Highways Code, relating to transportation. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1464, as amended, Smyth. Transportation: California Bicycle Routes of State or Regional Significance Act. Existing law requires the Department of Transportation, in cooperation with county and city governments, to establish minimum safety design criteria for the planning and construction of bikeways and roadways where bicycle travel is permitted. This bill would enact the California Bicycle Routes of State or Regional Significance Act, which would authorize the department, through its statewide bicycle planning process, to establish a process for identifying and promoting bicycle routes of state or regional significance, as specified. The bill would authorize the department to form an advisory committee to help implement the process for identifying and promoting these bicycle routes. The bill would authorize the department to establish a process for local bicycle organizations, private entities, or local government entities to nominate a route for inclusion in the system of bicycle routes of state or regional significance. 97 AB 1464 The bill would authorize the department to install bicycle route signs identifying these bicycle routes, as specified. The bill would require applicants or nominating entities to pay the costfor bicycle route signs. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State -mandated local program: no. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) Bicycle -related transactions resulted in nearly $1 billion in sales in California last year, creating and sustaining jobs and generating tax revenues to support state and local economies. (b) Cycling not only results in economic benefits to the state but health benefits to cyclists as well, providing California residents with a low -impact alternative to other fitness and recreational pursuits. (c) Cycling can play an important part in helping California meet its carbon reduction goals. (d) Cycling tourism is a growing industry and California's mild weather and diversity of topography and landscape, including the wine country, the coast, the inland valleys, and the Sierra Nevada, provide California with unique attributes that can attract a large share of this tourism industry. (e) Many states have already invested considerable resources to attract cycling tourism and Californians have demonstrated their interest in cycling as an estimated 2 million spectators attended the Amgen Tour of California, placing it as the most attended spectator event in California on record and demonstrating the interest of Californians in increased cycling opportunities. (f) Given the state's current fiscal condition, the cycling community does not envision a substantial infusion of state resources into cycling. Therefore, the cycling community is looking to partner with the state to identify ways in which to spur economic activity through this growing trend in cycling. SEC. 2. Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 889) is added to Chapter 8 of Division 1 of the Streets and Highways Code, to read: 97 21 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 —3— AB 1464 Article 2.5. California Bicycle Routes of State or Regional Significance 889. This article shall be known and may be cited as the California Bicycle Routes of State or Regional Significance Act. 889.1. (a) The department may, through its statewide bicycle planning process, establish a process for identifying and promoting bicycle routes of state or regional significance that meet specified criteria. (b) In designating routes, the department may consider the following: (1) Historic routes. (2) Established training routes or race routes, including legs of the Amgen Tour of California. (3) Routes of unique scenic significance. (c) In identifying bicycle routes of state or regional significance, the department may work with the California Travel and Tourism Commission, the Department of Parks and Recreation, federal agencies that operate and maintain roadways for public use, statewide trade organizations, including the California Chamber of Commerce and the California Bicycle Coalition, local tourism entities, chambers of commerce, and local bicycle organizations. (d) The department may form an advisory committee to help implement the provisions of this section. The department may establish a process whereby local bicycle organizations, private entities, or local government entities may nominate a route for inclusion in the system of bicycle routes of state or regional significance. (e) The department may develop criteria for the design, placement, and installation of signs relative to bicycle routes of state or regional significance. (f) It is the intent of the Legislature that city or county participation in establishing local routes of significance under this article shall be voluntary, similar to the State Scenic Highway Program. 889.2. (a) The department may install bicycle route signs, identifying bicycle routes of state or regional significance, that are associated only with the state highway system, which includes state highways, United States highways, and interstate freeways, and state -financed public transportation systems. The physical 97 0 AB 1464 —4 1 placement of bicycle route signs on all other roads and transit 2 systems shall be left to the appropriate local jurisdiction. However, 3 when requested by a city or county and reimbursed, the department 4 shall place bicycle route signs on the state highway system and 5 state -financed public transportation systems that direct traffic to 6 bicycle routes on city or county roads. 7 (b) Bicycle route signs shall meet the standards and 8 specifications established pursuant to Section 21400 of the Vehicle 9 Code but shall not be classified as traffic control devices. 10 (c) The cost to purchase, erect, and maintain bicycle route signs 11 shall be paid by applicants or nominating entities. These costs 12 shall be reimbursed to the department at their actual cost, 13 including administrative expenses Ifa bicycle route sign becomes 14 damaged, vandalized, or is missing, the department shall not be 15 required to replace the sign without compensation from an 16 applicant or nominating entity. X 97