Senate Committee Approves $8 Billion Fix for Highway Trust Fund

On July 10, 2008, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the fiscal 2009 budget for the Department of Transportation, including $8 billion for the Highway Trust Fund to prevent a projected shortfall in revenues promised to states. The Appropriations Committee agreed to $66.8 billion for transportation in '09, a $2.1 billion increase over 2008 and $3 billion more than President Bush requested. The bill also fully funds the 2009 stipulations of the SAFETEA-LU act for federal highway and transit programs at about $51.5 billion combined.

Sources:
http://www.asce.org/pressroom/news/grwk/event_release.cfm?uid=5351
http://appropriations.senate.gov/transportation.cfm

Traffic Fines to Double on Busy Streets in S.F.

Motorists who break traffic laws on two dangerous corridors in San Francisco will face double fines for such violations as speeding, drunken driving and running a red light, under a bill Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law on July 10, 2008. The new fines will take effect Jan. 1, 2009.

The routes are part of the state highway system that runs on surface streets in San Francisco: 19th Avenue and Park Presidio in the Sunset and Richmond districts and Van Ness Avenue and Lombard Street from Civic Center to the Presidio. The base fine for speeding up to 15 mph above the 30 mph speed limit, for instance, will rise to $137.50.

Source:http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/11/BATP11ND5D.DTL&tsp=1

Introduction

My name is Lin Zhang, an Associate with Cambridge Systematics, Inc., in Oakland, California. I have been assigned the responsibility of keeping you aware of national, state and local legislation that is especially related to transportation in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Thanks to the former Legislative Chair, Vijay Kovvali, for his significant contributions. I will try my best to continue this task on keeping you updated on legislative news. Meanwhile, if you know any information about legislation that could be of interest to the broader transportation community, please let me know. My e-mail address is lzhang@camsys.com.

Prima Facie Speed Limit Near Schools - 15 mph

The previous law established a 25 miles per hour (mph) prima facie limit when approaching or passing a school building or the grounds thereof, contiguous to a highway and posted with a standard "SCHOOL" warning sign, while children are going to or leaving the school either during school hours or during the noon recess period.

A new bill, which was approved by Governor Schwarzenegger on October 10, 2007, increases motor vehicle speed restrictions on roadways near schools. Specifically, this bill:

• Increases, from 500 feet to 1,000 feet, the distance from a school within which the speed limit is 25 mph.
• Reduces, from 25 mph to 15 mph, the speed limit for motor vehicles operated within 500 feet of, and on a roadway adjacent to, a school.
• Clarifies that these speed limits apply to vehicles in all lanes of the adjacent roadway and when children are "present" instead of while they are "going to or leaving the school either during school hours or during the noon recess."

Sources: http://www.totalcapitol.com/?bill_id=5931
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_0301-0350/ab_321_cfa_20070417_145933_asm_comm.html

New/Replaced Traffic Signals in CA Required to Detect Bicycles/Motorcycles

On October 8, 2007, Governor Schwazenegger signed a bill, AB 1581, which will require all new and replaced traffic signals to detect bicycle and motorcycle traffic. This bill will take effect when Caltrans adopts uniform standards, specifications, and guidelines for the detection of bicycle and motorcycle traffic.

This bill specifies that traffic signals should be installed and maintained, to the extent feasible and in conformance with professional engineering practices, so as to detect lawful bicycle or motorcycle traffic on the roadway. Cities and counties are not required to comply with those requirements until Caltrans has established uniform standards, specifications, and guidelines for the detection of bicycles and motorcycles by traffic-actuated signals and related signal timing. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state.

Sources: http://www.ebbc.org/?q=node/156 http://www.calbike.org/legislation07.htm http://lists.svbc.dreamhost.com/pipermail/bikes-svbc.dreamhost.com/2007-October/009323.html http://www.bikesandiego.org/pipermail/sdcbc/2007-October/001651.html