Vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

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Veto Letter

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends regulations related to transportation projects in California.

Highlights:

- Exempts specific transportation projects from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) until January 1, 2011 if the Department of Transportation takes specific actions with respect to the projects, including (Sec. 1):

- Identifying, reviewing, and considering the environmental effects of the project; - Evaluating feasible alternatives; - Mitigating potentially significant environmental effects; - Conducting outreach efforts in the area of the project to ensure public awareness of the proposed repair; - Complying with standard construction practices; - Complying with measures for control of particulate matter emissions; and - Using equipment powered by emulsified diesel fuel, electricity, natural gas, or ultra-low sulfur diesel wherever feasible.

- Specifies that the CEQA exemption opportunity applies to the following transportation projects (Sec. 1):

- U.S. Route 101 improvement project from Interstate 280 to Yerba Buena Road in Santa Clara County; - North Coast Corridor-Stage 1A project in San Diego County on Interstate 5 from San Dieguito River Bridge to San Elijo Lagoon Bridge, and on Interstate 805 from the Carroll Canyon Undercrossing to Interstate 5, to construct high-occupancy vehicle lanes and other operational improvements; - Los Molinas improvement project on State Route 99 from Orange Street to Tehama Vina Road in Tehama County; - Auxiliary lanes project on State Route 99 from Calvine Road to Mack Road in Sacramento County; - Island Park widening project on State Route 99 from Ashland Avenue to Avenue 7 in Fresno County; - Sacramento Intermodal track relocation project in San Joaquin County; - U.S. Route 101 rehabilitation project in San Luis Obispo County; and - U.S. Route 101 Doyle Drive project in the City and County of San Francisco.

- Increases the number of transportation projects for which the Department of Transportation and regional transportation agencies are allowed to enter into development lease agreements with public or private entities from two to five in both northern and southern California respectively (Sec. 2). - Amends the requirements for projects for which the Department of Transportation or regional transportation agencies enter into development lease agreements with public or private entities. Originally they were required to be designed to improve the movement of goods, including truck lanes and rail access, and now they are required to (Sec. 2):

- Improve mobility by improving travel time or reducing delay in the affected corridor; - Improve the operation or safety of the affected corridor; and - Provide "quantifiable" air quality benefits for the region.

- Extends the deadline by which the potential lease agreements enumerated above may be entered into from January 1, 2012 to January 1, 2014 (Sec. 2). - Authorizes the Department of Transportation or regional transportation agencies to award contracts for transportation projects based on the lowest bid or best value (Sec. 2). - Prohibits the Department of Transportation or regional transportation agencies from awarding a contract to an unsolicited bidder without receiving at least one other "responsible" bid (Sec. 2).

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