Full Text
Agenda Item No. 5(C) RESOLUTION 2012-XX RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EL CERRITO OPPOSING THE PASSAGE OF ASSEMBLY BILL 2200 WHEREAS, Assembly Bill 2200 proposes to suspend the hours of operation for the Interstate 80 high-occupancy vehicle lanes within the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in the "reverse commute direction," namely between 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the eastbound direction and between 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the westbound direction; and WHEREAS, the City of El Cerrito is concerned about the proposed legislation for the following reasons: Significant adverse impacts on transit operations and costs. Buses that travel along the corridor currently avail of the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOY) lanes, which provide a speed advantage over the multi-purpose lanes. Loss of this advantage would make transit a less attractive option, reduce ridership, increase transit operations costs, and increase greenhouse gases. Maintaining and increasing transit ridership along this severely congested corridor has remained a top priority for the jurisdictions. As well, in cooperation with the region, we have invested significant time and resources toward the implementation of Senate Bill 375, which is aimed at reducing green house gasses (GHGs). Potentially adverse impacts on I-80 Integrated Corridor Mobility (ICM) operations. The jurisdictions along I -80 in Alameda and Contra Costa recently agreed to implement the $90- million, State Proposition 1 B-funded ICM project, which involves innovative traffic management strategies along the corridor, including adaptive ramp metering, variable advisory speed signs, freeway lane management, transit signal priority, and traffic operations improvements to the local streets. We anticipate significant improvements in both congestion relief and safety enhancements along the corridor as a result of this project. The proposed suspension of HOV hours of operation would significantly increase congestion along the freeway as more people are encouraged to drive, effectively counteracting the benefits that we expect to gain from the project; and WHEREAS, while the City ofEl Cerrito supports the optimal use of our freeway systems so as to reduce or eliminate undue delay, it is believed that the decision to amend the HOY hours of operation for this very important corridor should be made in consultation between Caltrans, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the local agencies where the impacts of such changes would be most felt. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City ofEl Cerrito does hereby oppose the passage of Assembly Bill 2200. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of El Cerrito does hereby direct the City Clerk to forward a certified copy of this Resolution to Skinner, Buchanan and Bonilla and Senators DeSaulnier and Hancock. ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. S(C) I CERTIFY that at a regular meeting on May 15, 20 12 the City Council of the City of El Cerrito passed this Resolution by the following vote: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: IN WITNESS of this action, I sign this document and affix the corporate seal of the City ofEl Cerrito on , 2012. Cheryl Morse, City Clerk APPROVED: William C. Jones III, Mayor ---PAGE BREAK--- El Cerrito Hercules Pinole Richmond San Pablo Contra Costa County AC Transit BART WestCAT IIIICCFIIC W'e.st Contra C~.sta Transportation Advisory Co•-r.,nittee April 20, 2012 The Honorable Fiona Ma California State Assembly State Capitol Sacramento CA 94249-0012 RE: AB 2200 (Ma) Vehicles: High-Occupancy Vehicle Lanes, As Amended 4/18/2012 NOTICE OF LOCAL CONCERNS Dear Assembly Member Ma: The cities and unincorporated areas of west Contra Costa County and the transit agencies that represent them have significant concerns regarding the adverse impacts of AB 2200, which proposes to suspend the hours of operation for the Interstate 80 high-occupancy vehicle lanes within the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in the "reverse commute direction", namely between 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the eastbound direction and between 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the westbound direction. The cities of west Contra Costa include El Cerrito, Hercules, Pinole, Richmond, and San Pablo, and the unincorporated areas include Crockett, East Richmond Heights, El Sobrante, Kensington, Montalvin, North Richmond Rodeo, Rollingwood, and Tara Hills. The transit agencies that serve the area are AC Transit, BART, and WestCAT. Under the auspices of the West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee (WCCT AC), a joint exercise of powers among the foregoing agencies, we are concerned about the proposed legislation for the following reasons: Significant adverse impacts on transit operations and costs. Buses that travel along the corridor currently avail of the HOV lanes, which provide a speed advantage over the multi-purpose lanes. Loss of this advantage would make transit a less attractive option, reduce ridership, increase transit operations costs, and increase greenhouse gases. Maintaining and increasing transit ridership along this severely congested corridor has remained a top priority for the jurisdictions. As well, in cooperation with the region, we have invested significant time and resources toward the implementation of SB 375, which is aimed at reducing GHGs. Potentially adverse impacts on 1-80 Integrated Corridor Mobility (ICM) operations. The jurisdictions along 1-80 in Alameda and Contra Costa recently agreed to implement the $90- million, State Proposition 1B-funded ICM project, which involves innovative traffic management strategies along the corridor, including adaptive ramp metering, variable advisory speed signs, freeway lane management, transit signal priority, and traffic operations improvements to the local streets. We anticipate significant improvements in both congestion relief and safety enhancements along the corridor as a result of this project. The proposed suspension of HOV hours of operation would significantly increase congestion along the freeway as more people are encouraged to drive, effectively counteracting the benefits that we expect to gain from the project. 13831 San Pablo Avenue, San Pablo, CA 94806 Ph: [PHONE REDACTED] ~ Fx: [PHONE REDACTED] ~ www.wcctac.org ---PAGE BREAK--- Hon. Fiona Ma Apri120, 2012 Page 2 While we support the optimal use of our freeway systems so as to reduce or eliminate undue delay, we believe that the decision to amend the HOY hours of operation for this very important corridor should be made in consultation between Caltrans, MTC, and the local agencies where the impacts of such changes would be most felt. Thank you in advance for your thoughtful consideration of our concerns. Sincerely, Honorable Janet Abelson WCCT AC Chair & El Cerrito City Council cc: Assembly Member Bonnie Lowenthal, Assembly Transportation Committee Chair Assembly Member Kevin Jeffries, Assembly Transportation Committee Vice-Chair Assembly Member Katcho Achadijan, Assembly Transportation Committee Member Assembly Member Bob Blumenfield, Assembly Transportation Committee Member Assembly Member Susan Bonilla, Assembly Transportation Committee Member Assembly Member Joan Buchanan, Assembly Transportation Committee Member Assembly Member Mike Eng, Assembly Transportation Committee Member Assembly Member Warrant T. Furutani, Assembly Transportation Committee Member Assembly Member Cathleen Gagliani, Assembly Transportation Committee Member Assembly Member Dan Logue, Assembly Transportation Committee Member Assembly Member Jeff Miller, Assembly Transportation Committee Member Assembly Member Chris Norby, Assembly Transportation Committee Member Assembly Member Anthony J. Portantino, Assembly Transportation Committee Member Assembly Member Jose Solorio, Assembly Transportation Committee Member Assembly Member Nancy Skinner ---PAGE BREAK--- AB 2200 Assembly Bill" Status CURRENT BILL STATUS MEASURE : · A.B. No. 2200 AUTHOR(S) . Ma. TOPIC Vehicles: high-occupancy vehicle lanes. HOUSE LOCATION ASM +LAST AMENDED DATE 05/01/2012 TYPE OF BILL Active Non-Urgency Non-Appropriations Majority Vote Required State-Mandated Local Program Fiscal Non-Tax Levy LAST HIST. ACT. DATE: 05/02/2012 LAST HIST. ACTION Re-referred to Com. on APPR. COMM. LOCATION ASM APPROPRIATIONS TITLE An act to add and repeal Section 21655.10 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles. Page 1 of 1 Agenda Item No. 5(C) Attachment 2 http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/ll-12/bill/asm/ab_2151-2200/ab_2200_bill_20120502_statu... 5/8/2012 ---PAGE BREAK--- AB 2200 Assembly Bill- History COMPLETE BILL HISTORY BILL NUMBER : A.B. No. 2200 AUTHOR Ma TOPIC : Vehicles: high-occupancy vehicle lanes. TYPE OF BILL : BILL HISTORY 2012 Active Non-Urgency Non-Appropriations Majority Vote Required State-Mandated Local Program Fiscal Non-Tax Levy May 2 Re-referred to Com. on APPR. May 1 Read second time and amended. Apr. 30 From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes (April 23). Apr. 19 Re-referred to Com. on TRANS. Page 1 of 1 Apr. 18 From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, andre-refer to Com. on TRANS. Read second time and amended. Apr. 9 Re-referred to Com. on TRANS. Mar. 29 Referred to Com. on TRANS. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, andre-refer to Com. on TRANS. Read second time and amended. Feb. 24 From printer. May be heard in committee March 25. Feb. 23 Read first time. To print. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/ll-12/bill/asm/ab_2151-2200/ab_2200_bill~20120502_histo 5/8/2012 ---PAGE BREAK--- AB 2200 Assembly Bill - AMENDED BILL NUMBER: AB 2200 BILL TEXT AMENDED AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 1, 2012 APRIL 18, 2012 MARCH 29, 2012 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Ma FEBRUARY 23, 2012 An act to add and repeal Section 21655.10 -ee of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2200, as amended, Ma. Vehicles: high-occupancy vehicle lanes. Existing law authorizes the Department of Transportation and local agencies, with respect to highways under their respective jurisdictions, to designate certain lanes for preferential or exclusive use by high-occupancy vehicles. This bill would, until January 1, 2020, cons.istent with the state implementation plan for the San Francisco Bay area adopted pursuant to the federal Clean Air Act and other federal requirements, suspend the hours of operatibn for highway lanes designated for high-occupancy vehicles, in the Interstate 80 corridor within the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's jurisdiction, in the reverse commute direction. Because the commission would be required to post signage of the above requirements along the Interstate 80 c9rridor, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Interstate 80 corridor in the San Francisco Bay area. 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. 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. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 21655.10 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read: 21655.10. To the extent consistent with the state implementation plan for the San Francisco Bay area adopted pursuant to the federal Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 7401 et seq.) and other requirements pursuant to federal law, the hours of operation for highway lanes designated for high-occupancy vehicles, pursuant to Section 21655.55 or 21655.8, in the Interstate 80 corridor within the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's jurisdiction, shall be suspended during the reverse commute direction. Page 1 of2 http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/ll-12/bill/asm/ab_2151-2200/ab_2200_bill_2012050l_ame... 5/8/2012 ---PAGE BREAK--- AB 2200 Assembly Bill - AMENDED For purposes of this section, "reverse commute directionu means eastbound on Interstate 80'between the hours of 5 a.m. to 10 a.m., inclusive, and westbound ~n Interstate 80 between the hours of 3 p.m. to ·7 p.m., inclusive. This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2020, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2020, deletes or extends that date. · SEC. 2. The Legislature finds and declares that a special law is necessary and that a general law cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the unique nature of the Interstate 80 corridor in the San Francisco Bay area. SEC. 3, If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code. Page 2 of2 http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_2151-2200/ab_2200_bill_2012050l_ame... 5/8/2012