Bill Number: AB 93

BILL TEXT

Introduced by: Assembly Member Lempert
(Coauthors: Senator Sher Assemblyman Papan)

January 6, 1997

Assembly Joint Resolution No. 1--Relative to State Highway Route 1.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 93, as introduced, Lempert. Highways: tunnels.

(1) Existing law requires the Department of Transportation to plan, design, construct, operate and maintain those transportation systems that the Legislature has made, or may make, the responsibility of the department, except as specified.

This bill would require the department to immediately initiate design and all other project development work for the construction of a tunnel in San Mateo County on State Highway Route 1 behind Devil's Slide through San Pedro Mountain.

The bill would require the department to complete an estimate of project costs for the tunnel as soon as possible, but not later than a specified date, and report its findings to the County of San Mateo.

The bill would require the department to pursue all sources of federal funds available, including, but not limited to, those funds available for emergency relief and those secured by the Congress of the United States, so that the project may be commenced on or before a specified date.

(2) This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Vote: 2/3. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

BILL TEXT

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) State Highway Route 1 through northern San Mateo County has experienced continued disruption due to storms and weather-related emergencies.

(b) In 1983, United States Congressman Tom Lantos secured nearly fifty-two million dollars ($52,000,000) in federal funds to repair State Highway Route 1 behind Devil's Slide through San Pedro Mountain, and, to date, that money has remained unspent.

(c) In November 1996, the people of San Mateo County approved Ballot Measure T by a majority vote of nearly 74 percent, calling for the construction of a tunnel through San Pedro Mountain as an alternative to a highway bypass on this portion of State Highway Route 1.

(d) The Department of Transportation has publicly stated that it has within its disposal emergency funds to construct a bypass on this portion of State Highway Route 1. Therefore, there should be funds available to complete construction of the tunnel.

(e) It is, therefore, the intent of the Legislature that all parties and permitting agencies work together to expedite the environmental review and permitting process for the tunnel project without exempting the project from any review and comment.

SEC. 2. Section 154.5 is added to the Streets and Highways Code, to read:

154.5 (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the department shall immediately initiate design and all other project development work for the construction of a tunnel in San Mateo County on State Highway Route 1 behind Devil's Slide through San Pedro Mountain.

(b) The department shall complete an estimate of project costs as soon as possible, but not later that July 1, 1997, and report its findings to the County of San Mateo.

(c) The department shall pursue all sources of federal funds available, including, but not limited to, those funds available for emergency relief and those secured by the Congress of the United States, so that the project may be commenced on or before January 1, 1998.

SEC. 3. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:

In order for the Department of Transportation to immediately initiate project development work for the construction of a tunnel through San Pedro Mountain and provide an estimate of project costs not later that July 1, 1997, to San Mateo County, it is necessary that this take effect immediately.

Back to Measure T Home Page