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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02231999 - C61 Contra Costa TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS County FROM: TRANSPORTATION, WATER, AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE DATE: February 1, 1999 SUBJECT: Adopt Positions on Proposed State Legislation Relating to High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane Designation: AB 44 (McClintock), AB 71(Cuneen), and SB 14 (Rainey) SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECC)MMENDATIONS Adopt positions on the following pieces of legislation introduced for the 1999 State Legislative session related to the designation of High Occupancy Vehicle lanes on state highways: Assembly Bill 44 (McClintock) - OPPOSE; Assembly Bill 77 (Cuneen) - WATCH, and, Senate Bill 14 (Rainey) v WATCH. FISCA IJM.PACT Nave. BACKGRQ.0 D/REASONS F_JR RECOMMENDATIONS The manner in which Caltrans designates and constructs High Occupancy Vehicles (HOV) lanes on the state highway system have attracted the attention of several State Legislators, including State Senator Richard Rainey. These legislators have received numerous inquiries or complaints from their constituents about the apparent low level of use for recently opened HOV lanes on the state highway system. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: x YES SIGNATURE RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR X RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER i t SIGNATURE(S): Donna Gerberwair Mark De Saulnier ACTION OF BOARD ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED ,g OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE UNANIMOUS (ABSENT - m p ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE ABSENT: ABSTAIN: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN, Contact: Patrick Roche, CDD-TPD(5101335-1240 ATTESTED Ff b- r,4 23 1999 cc: CA State Leg. Delegation for CoCo Co. PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF D.J. Smith, Smith&Kempton THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR 1 B �. , DEPUTY TWIC/PR:h:prochAeglsletiorlhovleg99 Adopt positions on State Legislation related to HOV Lane Designations February E, 1999 Wage 2 B8Q,KGROUND/REASON-S FOE ISE N A 1 N (continued) This matter has prompted the introduction of three separate pieces of legislation each directly dealing with either Caltrans' procedures in designating HGV lanes or Caltrans' operating procedures for designated HOV lanes. Each item of legislation is listed below and it is followed by a position recommendation from the Transportation Water and Infrastructure Committee: AB 44 (McClintock): This bill would require Caltrans to redesignate all existing HOV lanes as mixed-flow lanes, and it establishes study and analysis procedures to designate and/or construct freeway lanes as HGVs. The study and analysis procedures include to preparation of a cost benefit analysis to document that an HOV lane is the most efficient transportation alternative. The required study for designating an HOV lane would then need to be certified by the University of California's Institute for Transportation Studies prior to the inclusion of the HOV lane project in the State Transportation Improvement program (STIP). TWI Committee recommendation. position. This legislation would take away the flexibility for a region, such as the Bay Area, to determine if HOV lanes are an approach transportation strategy because it would mandate redesignation of all existing HOV lanes in California for mixed-flow operation. In addition, AB 44 would set a nearly impossible standard of proof to demonstrate efficiency and effectiveness of HOV lanes in the decision-making process. AB 71 .(Cuneen)t This bill would extend the use of HGV lanes to inherently low-emission vehicles (IL.EVs), as defined in Federal regulations, that have a distinctive special license plate bearing in a manner that clearly distinguishes them from other vehicles. It would require Caltrans to design and make them available to qualified owners of inherently low- emission vehicles. TWI Committee recommendation; M position. The legislation is aimed at creating positive incentives toward ownership of 1LEVs, however, impact of ILEV on HOV system operation and procedures for creating a special license plate both need further evaluation. SB 14 (Rainevk This bill would prohibit Caltrans from designating or constructing new high occupancy vehicle (HGV) lanes until after a study has been completed, based on criteria measuring effectiveness of state highway lanes proposed to be designated or constructed as HOV lanes. It would require Caltrans, within 18 months after HGV lane operation, to determine whether it meets operating criteria. Caltrans would also be required to develop remedial strategy for HOV lanes not meeting criteria;and, if after one year, the remedial strategy has not resulted in achieving the criteria Caltrans would be required to immediately initiate process to convert HOV lanes to mixed-flow operation. This bill would also apply to HOV lanes that were in operation before 1/1/99. TWI Committee recommendation; .�I/,4 Z position. This legislation addresses some of the same concerns about the process for designation of HOV lanes inherent in AB 44, but it is,fundamentally different in that it does not mandate redesignation to mixed flow operation and it provides Caltrans (or a region) with more flexibility than AB 44 in procedures for designating lanes for HOV operation. CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE-1..994-W REGULAR SESSION ASSEMBLE' BILL No. 44 Introduced by Assembly Member McClintock December 7, 1998 An act to add Section 162.3 to the Streets and Highways Code, and to add Section 21655.9 to the Vehicle Code, relating to highways. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEUS DIGEST AB 44, as introduced, McClintock. Highways: exclusive-use or preferential-use lanes. (1) Existing law requires that, prior to establishing exclusive-use or preferential-use traffic lanes for high-occupancy vehicles (HOV lanes), the Department of Transportation and local authorities, with respect to highways under their respective jurisdictions, make competent engineering estimates of the effect of the lanes on safety, congestion, and highway capacity. This bill would require that the specified engineering estimates include a traffic model study comparing the alternatives of establishing an HOV lane, establishing a high-occupancy toll lane, as defined, establishing a mixed-flow lane, or not establishing additional lanes. The bill would require that the analysis results of the study and a description of the methodology used for the study be completed and documented, as specified. The bill would require that the analysis results and methodology description be submitted to the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Berkeley for archiving and 99 AB 44 —2- certification 2- certification of competency. That certification would be required for inclusion of the project in the state transportation improvement plan. The bill would require that a copy of the analysis results and methodology description be submitted to the Governer and the Legislature within 6 months of completion. The bill would require the department and local authorities, with respect to highways under their respective jurisdictions, to redesignate all existing HOV lanes as mixed-flow lames and would prohibit those entities from establishing any new HOV lanes unless (a) the department or local authority has conducted the required traffic model study and analysis and obtained the specified certification of the study and analysis, (b) the result of the analysis is that establishing an HGV lane is the most efficient alternative in accordance with cost-benefit estimates derived under the study, and (c) 6 months have elapsed from the date the analysis of the study was submitted to the Governor and the Legislature. To the extent that the provisions of the bill would apply to local authorities, the bill would create a state-mandated local program by imposing additional duties upon local governmental entities. (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement, including the creation of a State Mandates Claims Fund to pay the costs of mandates that do not exceed. $1,000,000 statewide and other procedures for claims whose statewide costs exceed $1,000,000. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes. 99 -3— AB 44 The people of the State of California do enact as follows: I SECTION, 1. Section 162.3 is added to the Streets and 2 Highways Code, to read: 3 162.3. The department and local authorities, with 4 respect to highways under their respective jurisdictions, 5 shall redesignate all existing exclusive-use or 6 preferential-use lanes for high-occupancy vehicles (HOV 7 lanes) as mixed-flow lanes and may not construct or 8 designate any new HOV lanes unless all of the following 9 requirements have been met: 10 (1) The department or local authority has conducted II the traffic model study and analysis required under 12 Section 21655.9 of the Vehicle Code. 13 (2) The department or local authority has obtained 14 the certification of the study and analysis required under 15 subdivision(f) of Section 21655.9 of the Vehicle Code. 16 (3) The result of the analysis conducted under 17 subdivision (c) of Section 21655.9 of the Vehicle Code is 18 that establishing an HOV lane is the most efficient 19 alternative in accordance with the cost-benefit estimates 20 derived under paragraph (9) of subdivision (b) of that 21 section. 22 (4) Six months have elapsed from the date the analysis 23 of the study was submitted to the Governor and the 24 Legislature as required under subdivision (g) of Section 25 21655.9 of the Vehicle Code. 26 SEC. 2. Section 21655.9 is added to the Vehicle Code, 27 to read: 28 21655.9. (a) The competent engineering estimates 29 required under subdivision (a) of Section 21655.5 shall 30 include a traffic model study of not less than six months' 31 duration that compares the alternatives of establishing an 32 exclusive-use or preferential-use lane for high-occupancy 33 vehicles (HOV lane alternative), establishing a 34 high-occupancy toll lane (HOT lane alternative), as 35 defined in subdivision (h), establishing a mixed-flow lane 36 (mixed-flow lane alternative), or not establishing 37 additional lanes (no-build alternative). 99 AB 44 —4- 1 (b) Except as authorized under paragraph (2) of 2 subdivision (f), the traffic model study required under 3 subdivision (a) shall cover an analysis segment consisting 4 of at least the entire affected freeway section, or the 5 corridor of which that freeway is a part, and shall include, 6 but need not be limited to, all of the following. 7 (1) A modal choice submodel showing the fraction of 8 travelers that will choose a high-occupancy vehicle mode, 9 such as car pools, vans, or buses, instead of driving alone, 10 dependent upon, but not limited to, the number of 11 passengers required to qualify a vehicle as a 12 high-occupancy vehicle and the HOV lane time savings. 13 (2) Distribution of the total freeway volume between 14 the HOV lane and the mixed-flow lanes, dependent upon 15 modal choice fraction. 16 (3) A congestion submodel showing travel speeds and 17 time, dependent on the vehicular volume in the various 18 lanes. 19 (4) Calibration to confirm that the model yields results 20 are consistent with observed prebuild traffic volumes, 21 speeds, and number of car pools. The observed total 22 prebuild person trips (over all modes) within the analysis 23 segment, which shall be referred to as the "person-trips 24 base," shall be held constant and used as the basis for 25 subsequent benefit calculations. 26 (5) Iterating the model as necessary to ensure that the 27 travel times found in paragraph (3) are consistent with 28 those used in estimating the fraction choosing 29 high-occupancy vehicle modes under paragraph (1). 30 (6) Total travel time, emissions, and fuel consumption 31 shall be computed by summing over the same 32 "person-trips base" for each build alternative, and 33 expressed as change relative to the no-build alternative. 34 (7) Emissions estimates shall include carbon 35 monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen 36 oxides. Emissions and fuel consumption shall be 37 computed using methods of the State Air Resources 38 Board and shall be dependent upon vehicle miles 39 traveled, vehicle trips, and average speeds in the various 40 lanes, 99 -5— AB 44 1 (8) Capital costs, annual operating costs, and 2 annualized capital and operating cost, shall be estimated 3 for each alternative, incremental to the no-build 4 alternative. Costs unusual to each alternative, including 5 any special lane width, buffer lanes, additional shoulders, 6 enforcement zones, merging regions, and enforcement 7 operation, shall be separately identified and estimated. 8 (9) Cost-benefit ratios shall be estimated for each 9 alternative and may be expressed as dollars of total 10 annualized cost per unit of benefit for each of the various 11 benefit measures specified in paragraphs (6) and (7). 12 (10) The study shall provide data sufficient to 13 determine whether the use of high-occupancy vehicle 14 lanes improves air quality to the extent included in the 15 state implementation plan filed under the federal Clean 16 Air Act(42 U.S.C. See. 7401, et sect.). 17 (11) The study shall compare the number of traffic 18 violations, accidents, injuries, and fatalities that occur on 19 portions of highways that have high-occupancy vehicle 20 lanes to portions of highways that do not have those lanes. 21 (c) The Department of Transportation or local 22 authorities shall analyze the results of the traffic model 23 study to determine the most efficient choice among the 24 HOV lane alternative, the HOT lane alternative, the 25 mixed-flow lane alternative, and the no-build alternative 26 in terms of total person-delay, emissions, and cost. 27 (d) The Department of Transportation or the local 28 authority shall require that the performance results and 29 comparative analysis conducted under subdivision (c) for 30 a high-occupancy vehicle lane project be distributed as 31 follows: 32 (1) As part of any oral presentations at hearings and 33 part of any visual presentations in handouts and 34 workshops for the project. 35 (2) In any literature or visual displays prepared for the 36 public or for public officials in relation to the project. 37 (3) In any environmental impact report prepared for 38 the project. 39 (e) The analysis results and a description of the 40 methodology shall be documented in sufficient detail to 99 i AB 44 —6- 1 6- 1 support stand-alone, critical review, and duplication of 2 the results. 3 (f) (1) The documentation required under 4 subdivision (e) shall be submitted to the Institute of 5 Transportation Studies (ITS) at the 'University of 6 California, Berkeley, for archiving and certification of 7 competence. That certification shall be required for 8 inclusion of the project in the state transportation 9 improvement program. 10 (2) ITS may not certify a study that does not use the 11 methodology described in subdivision (b) unless the 12 proponent of the alternative methodology proves that 13 the alternative methodology yields results that are as 14 comprehensive and accurate as the results obtainable 15 through the methodology described in subdivision (b). 16 (g) The Department of Transportation or the local 17 authority shall submit a copy of the documentation 18 required under subdivision (e) to the Governor and the 19 Legislature for review within six months of completion. 20 (h) For purposes of this section, a "high-occupancy toll 21 lane" or `°RIOT lane" is an HOV lane that, for a toll, may 22 be used by vehicles withh less than the number of 23 passengers otherwise required to lawfully use the lane. 24 SEC. 3. Notwithstanding Section 17610 of the 25 Government Code, if the Commission on State Mandates 26 determines that this act contains costs mandated by the 27 state, reimbursement to local agencies and school 28 districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 29 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 30 2 of time Government Code. If the statewide cost of the 31 claim for reimbursement does not exceed one million 32 dollars ($1,000,000), reimbursement shall be trade from. 33 the State Mandates Claims Fund. 34 Notwithstanding Section 17580 of the Government 35 Code, unless otherwise specified., the provisions of this act 36 shall become operative on the same date that the act 37 takes effect pursuant to the California Constitution. O 99 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 3, 1999 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE--1999-2000 REGULAR SESSION ASSEMBLY BILL No. 71 Introduced by Assembly Member Cunneen December 7, 1998 An act to add Sections 5007.5 and 21655.9 to the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEVS DIGEST AB 71, as amended, Cunneen. High-occupancy vehicle lanes: inherently low-emission.vehicles. Existing law authorizes the Department of Transportation, with respect to highways under its jurisdiction, to authorize or permit the exclusive or preferential use of highway lanes for high-occupancy vehicles. This bill would require the Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Department of the California Highway Patrol, whenever it authorizes or permits exclusive or preferential use of highway lanes or highway access ramps for high-occupancy vehicles to also extend the use of those lanes or ramps to inherently low-emission vehicles (ILEVs), as defined in 'federal regulations, as specified., regardless of vehicle occupancy or ownership, that display the special license plates described below. In addition, for the purpose of implementing these provisions, the bill would require the Department of Motor Vehicles to design and male available for issuance special license plates for ILEVs that clearly distinguishes them. from 98 AB 71 —2— other 2—other vehicles. The bill would rewire the department to include a summary of the provisions relating to the special license plates on each motor vehicle registration renewal notice or on a separate insert, as specified. Vote: majority. Appropriation; no. Fiscal committee. yes. State-mandated local program. no. The people of the State of California do enact as follows: 1 SECTION 1. The Legislature hereby ,finds and 2 declares all of the following: 3 (a) The federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 4 (Public Law 101-549) sought to accelerate the 5 deployment of inherently low emission vehicles (ILEVs) 6 through the use of nonmonetary incentives in areas that 7 do not mee(federal ambient air quality standards. 8 (b) Federal regulations to implement these federal 9 Clean Air Act Amendments were adopted by the United 10 States Environmental Protection Agency in 1993, and are 11 set forth in Part 88 (commencing with Section 88.101-94) 12 of Title 40 of the Code of .Federal Regulations. These 13 regulations direct states to exempt federally certified and 14 labeled ILEVs in fleets from high-occupancy vehicle 15 (HOV) restrictions for single-occupant vehicles (Sec. 16 88.313-93, Title 40, CER.). Five years later, California has 17 not yet conformed to those federal regulations. 18 (c) In addition to these federal requirements 19 pertaining to ILEUS in fleets the Transportation Equity 20 Act for the 21st Century (Public Law 105-178), commonly 21 known as TEA-21, encourages and permits states to 22 extend the HOV lane access exemption to nonfleet 23 owners of ILEVs. 24 (d) In most instances, existing HOV lanes in California 25 are uncongested and underutilized, resulting in less than 26 optimal traffic flow. Traffic flow efficiency and air quality 27 would, therefore, be improved by an exemption for 28 ILEVs from the HOV lane access restrictions in these 29 uncongested HOV lanes. 30 (e) The federal regulations provide a mechanism for 31 California and other states to remove congested HOV 98 I -3— AB 71 1 lanes, or portions thereof, from having access by 2 single-occupant ILEVs, thus guaranteeing that ILEVs 3 cannot be a cause of congestion in HOV lanes. 4 (f) The federal regulations affirm a state's authority to 5 establish ILEV identification requirements, in addition to 6 the EPA requirements, that are necessary and 7 appropriate to facilitate enforcement. 8 (g) California's urban air quality is the worst of any 9 state in the United :Mates, with over 80 percent of our 10 population living in areas that do not meet federal or state 11 ambient air quality standards, and approximately 75 12 percent of our urban smog coming from mobile sources, 13 primarily light-duty cars and trucks. 14 (h) The people of California want and need healthful 15 air quality, and are well served by incentive-based 16 approaches to encourage early deployment of cleaner 17 vehicles at little or no cost to the state. 18 SEC. 2. Section 5007.5 is added to the Vehicle Code, 19 to read: 20 5007.5. (a) For the purposes of implementing 21 Section 21655.9, the department, in consultation with the 22 Department of the California Highway Patrol, shall 23 design and make available for issuance, for a fee 24 determined by the department to be sufficient to 25 reimburse the department for actual costs incurred 26 pursuant to this section, distinctive special license plates 27 for inherently low-emission vehicles (ILEVs) in a 28 manner that clearly distinguishes them from other 29 vehicles. 30 SEG - 31 (b) The department shall include a summary of the 32 provisions of this section on each motor vehicle 33 registration renewal notice, or on a separate insert, if 34 space is available and the summary can be included 35 without incurring additional printing or postage costs. 36 SEC. 3. Section 21655.9 is added to the Vehicle Code, 37 to read: 38 21655.9. (a) Whenever the Department of 39 Transportation authorizes or permits exclusive or 40 preferential use of highway lanes or highway access 98 AB 71 —4- 1 4--•1 ramps for high-occupancy vehicles pursuant to Section 2 21655.5, the use of those lanes or ramps shall also be 3 extended to inherently low-emission vehicles (ILEVs), as 4 defined in Part 88 (commencing with Section 88.1.01-94) 5 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, regardless 6 of vehicle occupancy or ownership, which display 7 distinctive special license plates issued pursuant to 8 Section 5007.5. 9 (b) No person shall drive an ILEV upon a 10 high-occupancy vehicle lane pursuant to this section 11 unless the special license plates issued pursuant to Section 12 5007.5 are properly displayed on the vehicle. O 98 1 SENATE BILL No. 14 Introduced by Senator Rainey December 7, 1998 An act to add Section 162.2 to the Streets and Highways Code, relating to highways. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEUS DIGEST SB 14, as introduced, Rainey. Highways: exclusive-use or preferential-use lanes for high-occupancy vehicles. Existing law requires that, prior to establishing exclusive-use or preferential-use traffic lanes for high-occupancy vehicles (HOV lanes), the Department of Transportation and local authorities, with respect to highways under their respective jurisdictions, make competent engineering estimates of the effect of the lanes on safety, congestion, and highway capacity. This bill would require the department to complete a study to create a set of criteria for measuring the effectiveness of state highway lanes proposed to be designated or constructed as HOV lanes. The results of the study would include a projection for the estimated level of use of the HOV lanes during peak traffic hours. The bill would prohibit the department from designating or constructing any new HOV lanes until after the study has been completed. The bill would require the department, on or before 18 months have elapsed from the date that an HOV lane became operational, to review the use statistics and patterns for that lane to determine whether it is being used in a manner that is consistent with the criteria developed by the department 99 SB 14 —2— under -2— under the study. If the result of the review conducted is that the lane is not being utilized at or above the department's estimated level of use, the bill would require the department, in consultation with the local transportation authority, to propose a strategy to increase the level of use to meet that estimate. The bill would require the department to review the use statistics and patterns for the lane, on or before 12 months have elapsed from the date the proposed strategy was instituted. If the result of that review is that the lane is not being utilized at or above the estimated level of use, the bill would require the department to initiate immediately a process to convert the lane to mixed-flow use. The bill would require the department to review the usage patterns of HOV lanes that were made operational before January 1, 1999, to determine whether traffic congestion relief has been achieved as a direct result of the operation of those lanes. If the result of that review is that traffic congestion relief has not been achieved, the department would be required to propose strategies to achieve that relief, including a strategy to convert any HOV lane to a mixed-flow lane, if the department deems that strategy to be appropriate for that lane. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. The people of the State of California do enact as fellows: 1 SECTION 1. Section 162.2 is added to the Streets and 2 Highways Code, to read: 3 162.2. (a) The department shall complete a study to 4 create a set of criteria for measuring the effectiveness of 5 state highway lanes proposed to be designated or 6 constructed, as exclusive-use or preferential-use lanes for 7 high-occupancy vehicles (HOV lanes). The results of the 8 study shall include, but not be limited to, a projection for 9 the estimated level of use of the HOV lanes during peak 10 traffic hours. 11 (b) The department may not designate or construct 12 any new HOV lanes until after the study required under 13 subdivision(a) has been completed. 99 -3— SB 14 1 (c) The criteria developed under the study shall be 2 applied to any HOV lane that is designated or constructed 3 on or after the operative date of this section, as follows: 4 (1) Can or before 18 months have elapsed from the date 5 that the lane became operational, the department shall 6 review the use statistics and patterns to determine 7 whether the lane is being used in a manner that is 8 consistent with the criteria developed by the department 9 under subdivision (a). 10 (2) If the result of the review conducted under 11 paragraph '(1) is that the lane is not being utilized at or 12 above the estimated level of use developed under 13 subdivision (a), the department, in consultation with the 14 local transportation authority, shall propose a strategy to 15 increase the level of use to meet that estimate. 16 (3) On or before 12 months have elapsed from the date 17 the strategy proposed under paragraph (2) was 18 instituted, the department shall review the use statistics 19 and patterns for the lane, as described in paragraph(1). 20 (4) If the result of the review conducted under 21 paragraph (3) is that the lane is not being utilized at or 22 above the estimated level of use, the department 23 immediately shall initiate a process to convert the lane to 24 mixed-flow use. 25 (d) The department shall review the usage patterns of 26 HOV lanes that were made operational before January 1, 27 1999, to determine whether traffic congestion relief has 28 been achieved as a direct result of the operation of those 29 lanes. 30 (e) If the result of the review conducted under 31 subdivision (d) is that traffic congestion relief has not 32 been achieved, the department shall propose strategies to 33 achieve that relief. The strategies proposed by the 34 departmentmay include converting any HOV lane to a 35 mixed-flow lane, if the department deems that strategy 36 to be appropriate for that lane. O 99