Amended  IN  Senate  May 18, 2023
Amended  IN  Senate  March 20, 2023

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 710

Introduced by Senator Durazo

February 16, 2023

An act to add and repeal Section 118.8 to of the Streets and Highways Code, relating to surplus property.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 710, as amended, Durazo. Sale of excess state highway property: State Highway Route 710 Terminus.
Existing law provides that the Department of Transportation shall have full possession and control of the state highway system and associated real property. Existing law, if the department determines that real property, or an interest in the property, acquired for highway purposes is no longer necessary for those purposes, authorizes the department to sell or exchange the property or property interest in the manner and upon terms, standards, and conditions established by the California Transportation Commission, as provided. Existing law authorizes the California Transportation Commission to relinquish a portion of State Highway Route 710.
This bill would require the department to establish and administer a Terminus Regional Planning Committee, as provided, to meet quarterly and complete and submit a report to the Legislature on the issues of traffic and potential land use related to this portion of Route 710. the State Route 710 Terminus adjacent areas, as defined. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2027.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) The State Route 710 Terminus was purchased by the Department of Transportation for use in building a Route 710 connection to Route 210. This use of eminent domain displaced many in the El Sereno neighborhood in the City of Los Angeles, as hundreds of homes were purchased with the intent to eventually remove the structures and construct an extension to Route 710 to close a 4.5-mile unconstructed gap between the City of Alhambra and the City of Pasadena. The State Route 710 Terminus is also bordered by the California State University, Los Angeles.
(b) The Legislature added Section 622.3, authorizing the commission to relinquish this portion of Route 710, and Section 253.9 to exclude, as of January 1, 2024, the section of Route 710 between Route 10 and Route 210 from the California freeway and expressway system.
(c) Therefore, much of this land is no longer needed by the Department of Transportation and can be put to other uses.
(d) Additionally these changes raise the need to address traffic flow in the area. Currently, Route 710 north ends abruptly just north of Route 10, causing traffic and congestion and affecting the City of Los Angeles as well as the Cities of Alhambra, South Pasadena, and Pasadena.
(e) The City of Alhambra has identified funding for a project to transform the State Route 710 Terminus into an arterial, transitioning between Route 710 and Valley Boulevard, which is being developed in conjunction with the Department of Transportation as the Alhambra 710 Arterial Project. Other stakeholders may have an interest in studying additional projects in the State Route 710 Terminus adjacent areas that address land use, multijurisdictional planning, and transportation beyond the scope of the Alhambra 710 Arterial Project.

SECTION 1.SEC. 2.

 Section 118.8 is added to the Streets and Highways Code, to read:

118.8.
 (a) For purposes of this section, “State the following definitions apply:
(1) “State Route 710 Terminus” means the Route 710 Terminus in the City of Alhambra, north of Route 10. 10, built and currently operating as State Route 710.

(b)The Legislature finds and declares the following:

(1)The State Route 710 Terminus was purchased by the department for use in building a Route 710 connection to Route 210. This use of eminent domain displaced many in the El Sereno neighborhood in the City of Los Angeles, as hundreds of homes were purchased with the intent to eventually remove the structures and construct an extension to Route 710 to close a 4.5-mile unconstructed gap between the City of Alhambra and the City of Pasadena. The State Route 710 Terminus is also bordered by the California State University, Los Angeles.

(2)The Legislature added Section 622.3, authorizing the commission to relinquish this portion of Route 710, and Section 253.9 to exclude, as of January 1, 2024, the section of Route 710 between Route 10 and Route 210 from the California freeway and expressway system.

(3)Therefore, much of this land is no longer needed by the department and can be put to other uses.

(4)Additionally these changes raise the need to address traffic flow in the area. Currently, Route 710 north ends abruptly just north of Route 10, causing traffic and congestion and affecting the City of Los Angeles as well as the Cities of Alhambra, South Pasadena, and Pasadena.

(2) “The State Route 710 Terminus adjacent areas” means any department-owned areas or any areas impacted by past department planning for State Route 710, within the geographic area in any jurisdiction of the County of Los Angeles bounded by North Eastern Street to the west; Huntington Drive, west of the intersection of Huntington Drive and West Main Street, and West Main Street, east of that intersection, on the north; South Fremont Avenue on the east; and Route 10 on the south.

(c)

(b) (1) The department shall establish and administer a Terminus Regional Planning Committee, composed of representatives from the City of Alhambra; the City of Los Angeles; the County of Los Angeles; the LA-32 Neighborhood Council; the California State University, Los Angeles; the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority; and one community-based organization, with the requirement to incorporate robust community engagement, that shall meet quarterly and complete and submit a report to the Legislature in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code, by December 1, 2025, on projects and land use in the State Route 710 Terminus. Terminus adjacent areas, including a summary and status of the Alhambra 710 Arterial Project. The committee shall discuss, and the study shall address, but need not be limited to, the issues of traffic in connecting to Route 10 and potential land uses, including affordable housing, student housing, workforce development space, public university expansion, parks, open space, and alternative transportation.

(2)The requirement to submit a report imposed pursuant to paragraph (1) is inoperative on December 1, 2029, pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code.

(2) In selecting members of the committee, the department shall ensure jurisdictional balance.
(3) Notwithstanding any other law, the report required to be submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not be considered a land use study.
(4) Upon completing its duties required under paragraph (1), the committee shall dissolve.
(5) Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the committee to impede a local jurisdiction’s ability to implement additional projects at the State Route 710 Terminus or in State Route 710 Terminus adjacent areas.
(c) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2027, and as of that date is repealed.