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AB-14 State freight plan.(2013-2014)

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AB14:v96#DOCUMENT

Assembly Bill No. 14
CHAPTER 223

An act to add Section 13978.8 to the Government Code, relating to transportation.

[ Approved by Governor  September 06, 2013. Filed with Secretary of State  September 06, 2013. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 14, Lowenthal. State freight plan.
Existing law creates the Transportation Agency in state government, consisting of various departments, including the Department of Transportation, which, among other things, is responsible for the state highway system. Existing law also requires the department to prepare a state rail plan, which contains a freight element. Existing law provides for the state and regional agencies to engage in various transportation planning activities, including goods movement planning activities. Existing federal law provides certain incentives to the states for developing a state freight plan consistent with federal guidelines.
This bill would require the Transportation Agency to prepare a state freight plan with specified elements to govern the immediate and long-range planning activities and capital investments of the state with respect to the movement of freight. The bill would require the agency to establish a freight advisory committee with various responsibilities in that regard. The initial state freight plan would be submitted to the Legislature, the Governor, and certain state agencies by December 31, 2014, and updated every 5 years thereafter.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 13978.8 is added to the Government Code, to read:

13978.8.
 (a) The Transportation Agency shall prepare a state freight plan. The state freight plan shall comply with the relevant provisions of the federal Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), Public Law 112-141. The agency shall develop a state freight plan that provides a comprehensive plan to govern the immediate and long-range planning activities and capital investments of the state with respect to the movement of freight.
(b) (1) The agency shall establish a freight advisory committee consisting of a representative cross section of public and private sector freight stakeholders, including representatives of ports, shippers, carriers, freight-related associations, the freight industry workforce, the California Transportation Commission, the Department of Transportation, the Public Utilities Commission, the State Lands Commission, the State Air Resources Board, regional and local governments, and environmental, safety, and community organizations.
(2) The freight advisory committee shall do all of the following:
(A) Advise the agency on freight-related priorities, issues, projects, and funding needs.
(B) Serve as a forum for discussion for state transportation decisions affecting freight mobility.
(C) Communicate and coordinate regional priorities with other organizations.
(D) Promote the sharing of information between the private and public sectors on freight issues.
(E) Participate in the development of the state freight plan.
(c) The state freight plan shall include, at a minimum, all of the following:
(1) An identification of significant freight system trends, needs, and issues.
(2) A description of the freight policies, strategies, and performance measures that will guide freight-related transportation investment decisions.
(3) A description of how the state freight plan will improve the ability of California to meet the national freight goals established under Section 167 of Title 23 of the United States Code.
(4) Evidence of consideration of innovative technologies and operational strategies, including intelligent transportation systems, that improve the safety and efficiency of freight movement.
(5) In the case of routes on which travel by heavy vehicles, including mining, agricultural, energy cargo or equipment, and timber vehicles, is projected to substantially deteriorate the condition of roadways, a description of improvements that may be required to reduce or impede the deterioration.
(6) An inventory of facilities with freight mobility issues, such as truck bottlenecks within California, and a description of the strategies California is employing to address those freight mobility issues.
(d) Notwithstanding Section 10231.5, the state freight plan shall be submitted to the Legislature, the Governor, the California Transportation Commission, the Public Utilities Commission, and the State Air Resources Board on or before December 31, 2014, and every five years thereafter. The state freight plan shall be submitted pursuant to Section 9795.
(e) The state freight plan required by this section may be developed separately from, or incorporated into, the statewide strategic long-range transportation plan required by Section 135 of Title 23 of the United States Code.
(f) The freight element of the state freight plan may be developed separately from, or incorporated into, the state rail plan prepared by the Department of Transportation pursuant to Section 14036.