BILL NUMBER: AB 378	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Mullin

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2015

   An act relating to highways.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 378, as introduced, Mullin. State Highway 101 corridor.
   Existing law provides that the Department of Transportation has
full possession and control of the state highway system. Existing law
imposes various requirements for the development and implementation
of transportation projects.
   This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation that will enable responsible local, regional, and state
agencies to substantially improve mobility in the State Highway 101
corridor. The bill would make findings and declarations in that
regard.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) The State Highway 101 corridor, the 48 miles between San
Francisco and San Jose, is the most economically productive and
important highway corridor in California, with rapidly growing
employment and tax receipts that greatly benefit workers, small
business owners, local government budgets, and the state.
   (b) Transportation capacity in the corridor is grossly
insufficient to serve the growing number of commuters, leading to
heavy and growing traffic congestion on State Highway 101 and serious
overcrowding on Caltrain. Highway congestion is costly and
inconvenient for commuters, local residents, goods movers, buses, and
emergency responders.
   (c) In order to sustain the economic engine of the State Highway
101 corridor and the quality of life for local residents, swift and
decisive action by transportation agencies is needed to relieve
commuter congestion. It is common for transportation improvement
projects to take 10 to 15 years to study, fund, design, and
construct; however, if commuting conditions are not improved on a
much shorter timeline, economic prospects for the corridor will be
jeopardized.
   (d) A coordinated response from county, regional, and state
transportation agencies can improve State Highway 101 corridor
operations more effectively than is possible by these agencies acting
individually. A coordinated agency response that integrates carpool
or express lane development and operations, adaptive ramp metering
technology and operations, and ridesharing can deliver meaningful
commuter relief within a five year period and can serve as a model
that other highway corridors in the state can emulate.
  SEC. 2.  It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation
that will provide such powers, responsibilities, funding and
financing mechanisms, innovative project delivery authority, and
governance structures as may be necessary, convenient, and beneficial
to enable responsible local, regional, and state agencies to
substantially improve mobility as soon as possible, but no later than
within five years, in the State Highway 101 corridor in the City and
County of San Francisco, the County of San Mateo, and the County of
Santa Clara.