BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1358
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CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 1358 (Leno)
As Amended August 20, 2008
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |48-30|(June 5, 2007) |SENATE: |24-15|(August 27, |
| | | | | |2008) |
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Original Committee Reference: L. GOV.
SUMMARY : Enacts the Complete Streets Act of 2007.
The Senate amendments :
1)Require, commencing January 1, 2011, that the legislative body
of a city or county, upon any revision of the circulation
element of the general plan, modify the circulation element to
plan for a balanced, multimodal transportation network that
meets the needs of all for safe and convenient travel in a
manner that is suitable to the rural, suburban, or urban
context of the general plan.
2)Defines "users of streets, roads, and highways" as bicyclists,
children, persons with disabilities, motorists, movers of
commercial goods, pedestrians, and users of public
transportation.
3)Require the Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR),
commencing on January 1 2009, but no later than January 1,
2014, in its next scheduled revision of its guidelines for the
preparation of and content of mandatory elements of city and
county general plans, to prepare or amend guidelines for a
legislative body to accommodate the safe and convenient travel
of users of streets, roads, and highways in a manner that is
suitable to the rural, suburban, or urban context of the
general plan.
4)Add standard "local fee disclaimer" language indicating that
any state mandate created by this bill is not reimbursable by
the state due to a local government's authority to charge a
fee to cover its costs.
EXISTING LAW requires:
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1)The legislative body of each county and city to adopt a
comprehensive, long-term general plan for the physical
development of the county or city with specified mandatory
elements, including a circulation element consisting of the
general location and extent of existing and proposed major
thoroughfares, transportation routes, terminals, any military
airports and ports, and other local public utilities and
facilities, all correlated with the land use element of the
plan.
2)OPR to develop and adopt guidelines for the preparation of and
content of mandatory elements of city and county general
plans.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill:
1)Made findings and declarations concerning the need for
transportation planners to find ways to reduce vehicle miles
traveled and shift people from the automobile to other modes
of transportation for short trips in order to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, use urban land and transportation
infrastructure efficiently, and promote public health.
2)Directed OPR to amend guidelines for the development of
general plan circulation elements to include "routine
accommodation of all users of the highway and public
transportation."
3)Required the legislative body of a city or county, upon
revision of the circulation element
of its general plan, to modify the circulation element to
identify how the jurisdiction will provide for the routine
accommodation of all users of the highway and public
transportation.
4)Defined "routine accommodation" as full consideration and
accommodation of all users
of the highway and public transportation as needed to provide
for reasonably safe and convenient travel in the planning,
design, construction, reconstruction, or operation of highways
and other transportation infrastructure.
5)Defined "all users of the highway and public transportation"
as motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, children, individuals
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with disabilities, seniors, and users of public
transportation.
6)Took effect on January 1, 2009.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, minor costs for the OPR guideline update
(approximately $70,000 in 2012-13).
COMMENTS : According to the author and supporters of this bill,
there is a growing "Complete Streets" coalition of advocates for
motorists, bicyclists, children, seniors, and the disabled who
understand that accommodating various modes of travel will ease
transportation congestion. They believe that, by encouraging
good planning for all modes of travel, this bill will make roads
safer and more convenient places for Californians who choose to
walk, ride a bike, or take transit. Safer roads enable more
people to gain the health benefits of choosing an active form of
transportation, and benefit everyone by reducing traffic
congestion, auto-related air pollution, and the production of
climate-changing greenhouse gases.
Analysis Prepared by : J. Stacey Sullivan / L. GOV. / (916)
319-3958
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