[SDCBC] Governor signs AB1581 - new or replaced traffic signals to de

[Jim Baross]

FYI

>To: cbc at topica.com, caboforum at topica.com
>Cc: Bob Shanteau <rmshant at gmail.com>
>From: Bob Sutterfield <bob at sutterfields.us>
>Subject: [CABO] Fwd: [SVBC] Governor signs AB1581 - new or replaced 
>traffic signals to de
>Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2007 14:36:46 -0700
>Now is your chance to get in a word about loop shape, marking, etc.
>
>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>From: Bob Shanteau <rmshant at gmail.com>
>Date: Oct 9, 2007 2:12 PM
>Subject: [SVBC] Governor signs AB1581 - new or replaced traffic
>signals to detect bicycle or motorcycle traffic
>To: svbc <bikes at svbcbikes.org>
>
>
>Bicyclists and transportation professionals:
>
>Yesterday the governor signed AB 1581, which will require all new and
>replaced traffic signals to detect bicycle or motorcycle traffic. This
>bill will take effect when Caltrans adopts uniform standards,
>specifications, and guidelines for the detection of bicycle and
>motorcycle traffic.
>
>To this end, I will be giving a presentation in Sacramento next Tuesday
>on the detection of bicycle traffic using inductive loops (attached). If
>you have any input that you would like me to add, please let me know.
>
>Bob Shanteau
>President, Monterey County Bicycle Advocacy Group
>
>Robert M Shanteau, PhD, PE
>Consulting Traffic Engineer
>13 Primrose Cir
>Seaside, CA 93955-4133
>Voice:  (831) 394-9420
>FAX:   (831) 394-6045
>**************************************
>PRESS RELEASE
>10/08/2007   GAAS:783:07   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
>Legislative Update
>
>Governor Schwarzenegger has signed the following 45 bills:
>...
>AB 1581 by Assemblymember Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield) - Traffic-actuated
>signals: bicycles: motorcycles.
>...
>***************************************
>BILL NUMBER: AB 1581    ENROLLED
>      BILL TEXT
>
>      PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 27, 2007
>      PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 30, 2007
>      AMENDED IN SENATE  JULY 12, 2007
>
>INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Fuller
>
>                          FEBRUARY 23, 2007
>
>     An act to add and repeal Section 21450.5 of the Vehicle Code,
>relating to vehicles.
>
>      LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
>
>     AB 1581, Fuller. Traffic-actuated signals: bicycles: motorcycles.
>     (1) Existing law provides for official traffic control devices.
>     This bill would include as an official traffic control device a
>traffic-actuated signal that displays one or more of its indications in
>response to the presence of traffic detected by mechanical,visual,
>electrical, or other means. Upon the first placement of a
>traffic-actuated signal or replacement of the loop detector of a
>traffic-actuated signal, the signal would have to 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 would not be required to
>comply with those requirements until the Department of Transportation
>has established uniform standards, specifications, and guidelines for
>the detection of bicycles and motorcycles by traffic-actuated signals
>and related signal timing. The Commission on State Mandates would be
>required to consult with the Department of Transportation regarding
>mandate claims relating to these provisions. This bill would provide
>that its provisions would remain in effect until January 1, 2018, and
>would be repealed on that date. By imposing new duties on local
>government, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program upon
>local governments.
>     (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.
>     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.
>
>
>THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
>
>    SECTION 1.  (a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares the
>following:
>     (1) Bicyclists and motorcyclists are legitimate users of roadways in
>California.
>     (2) Traffic-actuated signals that do not detect bicycle or motorcycle
>traffic pose a danger to law-abiding bicyclists and motorcyclists.
>     (b) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this act to
>better protect law-abiding bicyclists and motorcyclists.
>    SEC. 2.  Section 21450.5 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:
>     21450.5.  (a) A traffic-actuated signal is an official traffic
>control signal, as specified in Section 445, that displays one or more
>of its indications in response to the presence of traffic detected by
>mechanical, visual, electrical, or other means.
>     (b) Upon the first placement of a traffic-actuated signal or
>replacement of the loop detector of a traffic-actuated signal, the
>traffic-actuated signal shall, to the extent feasible and in conformance
>with professional traffic engineering practice, be installed and
>maintained so as to detect lawful bicycle or motorcycle traffic on the
>roadway.
>     (c) Cities, counties, and cities and counties shall not be required
>to comply with the provisions contained in subdivision (b)
>until the Department of Transportation, in consultation with these
>entities, has established uniform standards, specifications, and
>guidelines for the detection of bicycles and motorcycles by
>traffic-actuated signals and related signal timing.
>     (d)  This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2018,
>and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is
>enacted before January 1, 2018, deletes or extends that date.
>    SEC. 3.  The Commission on State Mandates shall consult with the
>Department of Transportation when it develops parameters and guidelines
>for any mandate claim arising from the enactment of these provisions to
>ensure that eligible reimbursement is limited solely to the incremental
>costs of installing sensor wiring that can detect bicycle or motorcycle
>traffic.
>    SEC. 4.  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.