Caltrans / CHP - La Canada - Flintridge Hwy 2 – 90 day ban – draft legislative language

We were contacted by a member regarding an import project which has been a continuous on and off haul for the past year from Littlerock area using Angeles Forest Hwy. Recently signage was installed on Angeles Forest Hwy “No Trucks” means “No Trucks”.

He was informed by local CHP they would be cited even traveling on Angeles Forest Hwy, before getting to Hwy 2. After talking with CHP and Caltrans, the misunderstanding was resolved and would only apply if they were traveling specifically on Hwy 2.

The restriction was a direct result of the recent La Canada-Flintridge tragedy that resulted in a two fatality accident on April 1st. The 90-day truck ban was announced while they investigated the accident and determined the necessary changes that should be taken.

The Legislature is acting on this matter with AB 1361 as amended in the Assembly April 14, 2009, available at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_1351-1400/ab_1361_bill_20090428_status.html . These changes will change California Vehicle Code (CVC) 35655.6 & 35780 (d) (available at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html ) If AB 1361 is adopted, it will be effective immediately and will include Hwy 2 from La Canada (210 frwy) to N4 (Big Pines Hwy) or at the Mountain High Ski Resort near Wrightwood. Big Pines Hwy is an LA County Road which allows access to the Palmdale/Lancaster areas. The new language will restrict any thru traffic on Hwy 2, but will allow egress and ingress to any construction projects in the area and enhance safety in the La Canada – Flintridge area.

Gerald Desmond Bridge – Travel has been suspended indefinitely for most heavy loads.

We were informed that LA County was not going to issue permits over the Gerald Desmond Bridge. The Gerald Desmond Bridge is an arch bridge that carries four lanes of Interstate 710 across the Cerritos Channel between Terminal Island and Long Beach. This is a major route to and from Terminal Island and with its restriction will be a substantial increase in cost and increased time delays.

The Vincent Thomas Bridge (Hwy 47) to 110 North and Commodore Schuyler F. Heim Bridge (Hwy 47) to other areas in the harbor are the only other routes for extremely large and heavy loads, which isn’t a problem until your load is a variance and requires additional Caltrans review, which will take a month or more in some cases and then in most cases require CHP escorts. That is why it is going to be a major impact in load delays, additional port and transportation charges.

The Desmond Bridge was constructed in 1968 and is scheduled for replacement approximately 2014 at a cost of $800 million plus.

County of Glenn – Reduced staffing is affecting all operation, please allow 72 HOURS to process permits

We were recently contacted by a member that received a notice from Glenn County Planning & Public Works Agency regarding transportation permits. The memo was very clear and stated “Please allow 72 HOURS to process permits.” This will become a larger problem on both the state and local level if the propositions on the May 19th ballot fail. We spoke with Glenn County who explained that work furloughs are being initiated through California and this reduces staffing. Local agencies are seeing layoffs and their availability is no longer something we can take for granted. We explained that our industry doesn’t always have 72 hours notice or any notice for that matter. We discussed the new CARB regulations and how they are going to impact equipment transportation. There won’t be surplus equipment that contractors once had on their jobsite to cover equipment breakdowns and/or loads that are delayed for such things as permits. What we will start seeing is a demand for equipment being moved more frequently and with even less notice.

City of San Diego – Industry needs to submit a most recent Caltrans single trip permit when applying for a 9-axle annual with the city.

Recently a memo was sent out to members of the industry explaining the new requirements for applying for an annual permit. If you are applying for an annual 9-axle permit, you are going to need to submit a letter your most recent Caltrans single trip permit issued for that vehicle combination.

City of Tustin – How does one know where the 261 Toll Road begins and ends?

We have recently been working with a member who received a misdemeanor citation for not having a transportation permit for the City of Tustin while traveling on the 261 Toll Road and/or Jamboree Road. The driver had his Caltrans Annual and City of Irvine Annual and thought he was good to go. He could have used the 405 frwy or even the 5 frwy, but he chose to use Jamboree n/b from Barranca Parkway. He knew he had his Irvine Annual, what he didn’t know was that the City of Tustin’s Commercial Officer was on the lookout. The driver traveling, just after lunch on a Friday, didn’t expect to look back and seeing red lights to pull over. The Commercial Officer did a Level 2 inspection, which the member passed without a problem and then was escorted to public scales to be weighed; again no problem, legal weight by 15,000 lbs. The only issue that was discovered was he had no City of Tustin Permit. The driver wasn’t aware he was in Tustin. He was within his 12’ wide Caltrans and Tustin Annual permit, except he was 5” over legal width and now would require a permit. The vehicle was released and allowed to proceed, for the exact reason he was pulled over, without a Tustin Transportation Permit.

The company received a citation in the mail. The Orange County District Attorney’s office filed it as a misdemeanor complaint. We spoke to the Assistant DA trying to resolve the case and reduce it from a misdemeanor to an infraction but he was not willing to work with us and then demanded a $1,000 fine be paid. The member hired an attorney, an additional cost. We believe that 99% of the vehicles being cited on the through traffic portion of 261 Toll Road and Jamboree Rd have no idea that they are on a local road.

The 261 Toll Road and/or Jamboree Road start and end from the I-5 Freeway to Jamboree & Barranca Parkway, but with no signage, how does one know? We reviewed three different mapping sources and they are all different. The 261 Toll Road actually ends and begins at the Metrolink tracks. When traveling north on Jamboree from Barranca Parkway, the city limits start just north of Warner Ave and is only 3,000 feet to where Moffett would cross if it could. When traveling south on Jamboree Road the City of Tustin starts at the Metrolink tracks to Barranca Parkway, which is 1.15 miles in the City of Tustin jurisdiction.

We were told that industry should review the route in the Thomas Bros. Map Book or any other mapping system and know ahead of time where they’re going. In this case, I would have to respectfully disagree after reviewing three different mapping programs, I had three different places where the 261 started and ended. That is what we think is referred to as “reasonable doubt.” If you’re going to be traveling anywhere in the area, make sure your drivers are aware of this issue or take the time and obtain a Tustin Annual permit for $90.

Reaffirming Our Purpose:

If you have any problems with a local agency (city/county/state) and you find yourself asking ‘why are we having to do things this way’ and the agency tells you, ‘this is the way we have always done it’, let us know. We are here to make California transportation operations as smooth, efficient and safe as possible.

Respectfully submitted,

Gregory D. Dineen
Industry Transportation Consultant

cc:

John Hakel, AGC Aimee Shook, DCA

Richard Lambros, BIA Jim Burton, ECA

Michael Vlaming, COA Lee Steinberg, MCOG

Eric Sauer CTA William E. Davis, SCCA

Jeff Hunter, CTTA Doug Ball, SC&RA

Lee Brown, CDTOA