ARTICLE 2. California Transportation Commission [70. - 86.]

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC 2.
in effect

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 70. Section 70.

(a) The California Highway Commission is hereby abolished, and the California Transportation Commission succeeds to, and is vested with, all the duties, powers, purposes, responsibilities, and jurisdiction of the California Highway Commission. (b) Any reference in any law or regulation to the California Highway Commission shall be deemed to refer to the California Transportation Commission. (c) The California Transportation Commission shall have the possession and control of all licenses, permits, leases, agreements, contracts, orders, claims, judgments, records, papers, equipment, supplies, bonds, moneys, funds, appropriations, buildings, land and other property, real or personal, held for the benefit, use, or obligation of the California Highway Commission.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 70.2. Section 70.2.

It is hereby declared to be the policy of the Legislature to provide for advance planning and continuity of fiscal policy in the construction and improvement of the state highway system and in the administration of the expenditures from the State Highway Account. The commission shall follow such policy in so far as possible.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 71. Section 71.

The commission may alter or change the location of any State highway if in the opinion of the commission such alteration or change is for the best interest of the State.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 72. Section 72.

(a) The department shall do all of the following with respect to Route 480 in the City and County of San Francisco, commonly known as the Embarcadero Freeway, if approval for the use of federal emergency relief funds for that purpose is received from the appropriate federal agency: (1) Remove the earthquake-damaged structure as quickly as possible. (2) Retain that portion of the right-of-way that is necessary for new ramps and transfer to the City and County of San Francisco the remaining portions of the Route 480 right-of-way. (3) Jointly agree with the City and County of San Francisco on a system of ramps and city streets that would essentially provide motorists with accessibility comparable to that provided by Route 480. (b) The City and County of San Francisco shall do both of the following: (1) Construct the system of ramps and city streets and utilize the Route 480 right-of-way or the proceeds from sales of that right-of-way for the sole purpose of constructing an alternate system of local streets pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (a). (2) Upon the transfer of that right-of-way pursuant to this section, accept all obligations and liabilities associated with that right-of-way. (c) The total amount of state and federal funds to be expended by the state for the purposes of this section shall not exceed the amount of state and federal funds which would have been expended to repair and reopen the segment to traffic as a state highway. (d) Nothing in this section or Section 253.8 shall be construed to prohibit the selection, development, and operation of a project pursuant to Section 143.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 72.1. Section 72.1.

(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings: (1) “Central Freeway Replacement Project” is the department and city designated alternative transportation system to the damaged Central Freeway. (2) “City” is the City and County of San Francisco. (3) “Freeway Project” includes demolition of the existing commonly known Central Freeway, construction of a new freeway between Mission Street and Market Street, and construction of ramps to, and from, the new freeway. (4) “Octavia Street Project” is the improvement of Octavia Street from Market Street north as a ground level boulevard. (b) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (1) That portion of Route 101 located in the city and commonly known as the Central Freeway was severely damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. This damage to the Central Freeway caused and continues to cause significant traffic congestion. (2) Following the Loma Prieta earthquake, the department and the city, with substantial public involvement, selected the Central Freeway Replacement Project as an alternative transportation system to the damaged Central Freeway. The Central Freeway Replacement Project includes the Freeway Project consisting of the demolition of the existing Central Freeway, construction of a new freeway between Mission Street and Market Street, and the construction of ramps to, and from, the new freeway, and the Octavia Street Project, consisting of improvement of Octavia Street from Market Street north as a ground level boulevard. The Central Freeway Replacement Project will remediate traffic congestion problems and allow the city to reclaim unnecessary rights-of-way for beneficial public uses. (3) The implementation of an alternative transportation system is in the best interests of the people of the State of California. (4) No portions of Route 101 north of Fell Street and south of Turk Street are needed for the Central Freeway Replacement Project or for the proposed alternative project to be placed before the voters as Proposition J in the general municipal election of November 1999. (c) (1) The Legislature recognizes that the Central Freeway Replacement Project adopted by the city’s voters, as local measure Proposition E in November 1998 qualifies for the statutory exemption under Section 180.2. (2) The Legislature further recognizes that the proposed alternative project included in Proposition J also qualifies for the statutory exemption under Section 180.2. (3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), any development of property transferred to the city pursuant to this section may, to the extent required by applicable law, require subsequent environmental analysis by the city at the time at which the specific proposals for the use of that property are developed. (d) That portion of Route 101 between Market Street and Turk Street is not a state highway, except that if the proposed alternative to the Octavia Street Project is approved by the voters in the general municipal election of November 1999, only that portion of Route 101 between Fell Street and Turk Street is not a state highway. (e) The department shall retain jurisdiction over the portion of Route 101 that is between Mission Street and either Market Street or Fell Street, depending on which project is approved by the voters in the general municipal election of November 1999, and shall promptly transfer to the city any portion of Route 101 that is not a state highway under subdivision (d). (f) The following shall apply if the voters do not approve the alternative project in the general municipal election of November 1999: (1) The city shall utilize any proceeds from the disposition or use of excess rights-of-way for the purpose of designing, constructing, developing, and maintaining the Octavia Street Project until the city’s share of the costs of that project are paid in full or funded from other sources. Upon the full funding of the city’s share of the Octavia Street Project, the city shall utilize any remaining proceeds from the sale of excess rights-of-way solely for the transportation and related purposes authorized under Article XIX of the California Constitution. (2) Upon notification to the department by the San Francisco County Transportation Authority that the city is prepared to implement an interim traffic management plan, the department shall proceed expeditiously with demolition of the portion of Route 101 between Fell and Mission Streets. The department shall design and construct the Freeway Project, and the city shall design and construct the Octavia Street Project, and each project shall be consistent with the Central Freeway Replacement Project.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 73. Section 73.

The commission shall relinquish to any county or city any portion of any state highway within the county or city that has been deleted from the state highway system by legislative enactment, and the relinquishment shall become effective upon the first day of the next calendar or fiscal year, whichever first occurs after the effective date of the legislative enactment. It may likewise relinquish any portion of any state highway that has been superseded by relocation. Whenever the department and the county or city concerned have entered into an agreement providing therefor, or the legislative body of the county or city has adopted a resolution consenting thereto, the commission may relinquish, to that county or city, any frontage or service road or outer highway, within the territorial limits of the county or city, which has a right-of-way of at least 40 feet in width and which has been constructed as a part of a state highway project, but does not constitute a part of the main traveled roadway thereof. The commission may also relinquish, to a county or city within whose territorial limits it is located, any nonmotorized transportation facility, as defined in Section 887, constructed as part of a state highway project if the county or city, as the case may be, has entered into an agreement providing therefor or its legislative body has adopted a resolution consenting thereto. Relinquishment shall be by resolution. A certified copy of the resolution shall be filed with the board of supervisors or the city clerk, as the case may be. A certified copy of the resolution shall also be recorded in the office of the recorder of the county where the land is located and, upon its recordation, all right, title, and interest of the state in and to that portion of any state highway shall vest in the county or city, as the case may be, and that highway or portion thereof shall thereupon constitute a county road or city street, as the case may be. The vesting of all right, title, and interest of the state in and to portions of any state highways heretofore relinquished by the commission, in the county or city to which it was relinquished, is hereby confirmed. Prior to relinquishing any portion of a state highway to a county or a city, except where required by legislative enactment, the department shall give 90 days’ notice in writing of intention to relinquish to the board of supervisors, or the city council, as the case may be. Where the resolution of relinquishment contains a recital as to the giving of the notice, adoption of the resolution of relinquishment shall be conclusive evidence that the notice has been given. The commission shall not relinquish to any county or city any portion of any state highway that has been superseded by relocation until the department has placed the highway, as defined in Section 23, in a state of good repair. This requirement shall not obligate the department for widening, new construction, or major reconstruction, except as the commission may direct. A state of good repair requires maintenance, as defined in Section 27, including litter removal, weed control, and tree and shrub trimming to the time of relinquishment. Within the 90-day period, the board of supervisors or the city council may protest in writing to the commission stating the reasons therefor, including, but not limited to, objections that the highway is not in a state of good repair, or is not needed for public use and should be vacated by the commission. In the event that the commission does not comply with the requests of the protesting body, it may proceed with the relinquishment only after a public hearing given to the protesting body on 10 days’ written notice.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 73.1. Section 73.1.

The commission may relinquish State Route 275, the Tower Bridge, to one or more cities in which it is located, upon agreement of the city or cities to accept it and pursuant to those terms the commission finds to be in the best interest of the state. A relinquishment under this section shall become effective upon the first day of the next calendar or fiscal year, whichever occurs first, after the effective date of the commission’s approval of the terms.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 73.01. Section 73.01.

(a) The commission may relinquish to a county transportation commission created pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 130000) of Division 12 of the Public Utilities Code, a joint powers authority formed for purposes of providing transportation services, a transit district, or a regional transportation planning agency, a park-and-ride lot within their respective jurisdictions, on terms and conditions that the commission finds to be within the best interests of the state, if the department enters into an agreement with the county transportation commission, joint powers authority, the transit district, or regional transportation planning agency providing for that relinquishment. (b) The county transportation commission, joint powers authority, the transit district, or regional transportation planning agency requesting the relinquishment shall agree to maintain, at a minimum, the number of parking spaces provided by the department in the lot at the time of relinquishment. The relinquishment shall become effective on the date following the county recorder’s recordation of the relinquishment resolution containing the commission’s approval of the terms and conditions of the relinquishment.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 73.3. Section 73.3.

Upon determination by the commission that it is in the best interest of the state to do so, the commission may, upon terms and conditions approved by it, relinquish State Route 224 from post mile 0.0 to post mile 1.7 to a city in which that segment of the highway is located, if the city has agreed to accept the relinquishment. The relinquishment shall be effective on the day immediately following the date of the approval of the terms and conditions by the commission.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 73.4. Section 73.4.

(a) For purposes of this section, “infrastructural barrier” means a state highway for which high speeds, grade separation, or other design factors displaced residences or create an obstacle to connectivity, including any of the following: (1) Obstacles to walking, biking, or mobility. (2) Diminished access to destinations across the infrastructural barrier. (3) Barriers to the economic development of the surrounding neighborhood. (b) In addition to relinquishments pursuant to Section 73, the commission may also, for relinquishments initiated under this section on or after January 1, 2023, relinquish a portion of a state highway that constitutes an infrastructural barrier to a county or city if the department and the applicable county or city have entered into an agreement providing for the relinquishment of the portion of the state highway. (c) A relinquishment pursuant to subdivision (b) may only occur if all of the following conditions are met: (1) The portion of the state highway is located within the territorial limits of the city or county entering into the agreement. (2) The commission determines the relinquishment is in the best interest of the state. (3) The commission holds a public hearing on the proposed relinquishment to solicit input from the public. (4) The purposes of the relinquishment are for restorative economic and social justice, including, but not limited to, transit-oriented development, affordable housing for low- and moderate- income people, green space, or active transportation infrastructure. (5) The infrastructural barrier shall be removed or retrofit in a manner that enhances community connectivity and that is sensitive to the context of the surrounding community. The retrofit of the infrastructural barrier may include, but is not limited to, placing a freeway cap on the infrastructural barrier or replacing the infrastructural barrier with an at-grade arterial roadway. (6) Any land made available by the removal or retrofit of the infrastructural barrier shall be redeveloped for the purposes specified in paragraph (4) with a focus on implementing improvements that will benefit the populations impacted by or previously displaced by the infrastructural barrier. (7) A part of the relinquished portion of the state highway shall be used for transportation purposes to ensure the continuity of traffic flow. (8) The relinquishment is consistent with federal law and regulations and does not require reimbursement to the federal government of any federal funding. (9) The relinquishment is consistent with Article XIX of the California Constitution. (10) The city or county determines that the construction of the infrastructural barrier had a significant impact on a disadvantaged community. An impact is significant if all of the following criteria are met: (A) There was a disproportionate impact on the disadvantaged community, including, but not limited to, creating obstacles to mobility or economic development or exposing the disadvantaged community to high levels of particulate matter, noise pollution, or other public health and safety risks. (B) A causal connection exists between the construction of the infrastructural barrier and the disproportionate impact. (C) The construction lacks a substantial legitimate justification for the disproportionate impact and a reasonable nondiscriminatory alternative could not be identified. (d) A relinquishment under this section shall become effective on the date following the county recorder’s recordation of the relinquishment resolution containing the commission’s approval of the terms and conditions of the relinquishment. (e) On and after the effective date of the relinquishment pursuant to this section, all of the following shall occur: (1) The relinquished portion of state highway shall cease to be a state highway. (2) The relinquished portion of state highway shall be ineligible for future adoption under Section 81. (f) This section does not determine project elements, housing density, or setback limits, or place land use restrictions on portions of land not being relinquished pursuant to this section.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 73.5. Section 73.5.

Whenever any area has been or may hereafter be constituted a National park or be added to any existing National park and jurisdiction thereover has been ceded by the Legislature to the United States, any lands within such area acquired for highway purposes may be conveyed by the department to the United States on such terms as the commission shall approve.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 74. Section 74.

Any city or county aggrieved by any decision of the department, under the provisions of Division 3 (commencing with Section 2004.5) or under the provisions of Sections 186.3 and 186.5, may, within 30 days after such decision, petition the commission for a hearing. If a petition is filed, the commission shall hear the petition as soon as conveniently possible and after reasonable notice to such city or county. The commission shall make its order allowing or disallowing the petition, in whole or in part, and the commission’s order shall be final and conclusive.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 74.5. Section 74.5.

The planning commission and legislative body of a city or county shall, prior to recommending the adoption of a state highway route by the Legislature or the selection of a state highway location by the commission, conduct a public hearing on the subject.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 75. Section 75.

Except as otherwise provided by law, the commission at any time and from time to time may: (a) Select, adopt, and determine the location for State highways on routes authorized by law. (b) Allocate, from the funds available therefor, moneys for the construction, improvement or maintenance of the various highways or portions thereof under the jurisdiction of the department. The commission may determine in each case the maximum sum of money that shall be made available therefor. (c) Authorize preliminary surveys to determine the advisability of including in or excluding from the State highway system any highway or portion thereof.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 75.9. Section 75.9.

Upon the selection, adoption, and determination of the location for a state highway or freeway, the commission shall notify all planning agencies and legislative bodies having responsibility pursuant to Section 65300 of the Government Code for the adoption of the general plan or plans in the area affected by such commission action. Within 90 days after receipt of such notice, all such planning agencies and legislative bodies shall revise the circulation element of their general plans to reflect such commission action.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 76. Section 76.

There is hereby delegated to the commission by the Legislature of the State of California full power and authority to request or accept on behalf of the State of California any grant or grants or modifications of grants made by any executive agency of the United States whereby rights-of-way for the extension, maintenance or operation of state roads or bridges across property of the United States of America are desired or have been granted to the State of California or to any political subdivision thereof.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 77. Section 77.

The commission may accept, by appropriate resolution, a grant or modification of a grant of right-of-way for any of the roads mentioned in Section 76 across property of the United States of America.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 77.5. Section 77.5.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Governor of the State of California is authorized to accept any retrocession of legislative jurisdiction offered by the United States of America over real property upon which an easement for a right-of-way or any other interest for highway purposes has been granted by the federal government to the State of California. The execution and delivery of acceptance of retrocession of legislative jurisdiction by the Governor of California shall be recorded in the office of the county recorder where the land is located and in the office of the State Lands Commission. The State Lands Commission shall maintain a permanent public record of such acceptances as part of the index relating to jurisdiction of the United States of lands in the State of California required by Section 127 of the Government Code.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 78. Section 78.

Any of the said grants received by the State of California and accepted by the commission, or relocations of such rights of way so received in any military reservation, shall by the acceptance thereof become a part of the system of public highways of the State.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 79. Section 79.

This delegation of power to the commission shall not be deemed exclusive, but any of the powers herein enumerated may continue to be exercised by the Legislature itself while in session.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 81. Section 81.

Except as is provided in Section 2109, whenever there exists between the termini of, and approximately on, any route included in the state highway system a traversable highway, the commission shall adopt the same as the state highway between such termini. The commission may adopt a portion of any such road if it determines that such portion is constructed to adequate standards and if such portion is contiguous to a portion of the state highway system presently being maintained by the department. If more than one such traversable highway exists, the commission shall determine and designate which of such highways shall constitute the state highway. The traversable highways thus selected and adopted shall be state highways in all respects the same as if originally constructed or acquired by the state, subject to all laws applicable to state highways. All acts and actions of the commission and the department with respect to the taking over and maintenance of such highways heretofore taken are hereby approved and ratified.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 82. Section 82.

Whenever a traversable highway is adopted as a state highway as provided in Section 81, written notice of such action shall be given to the board of supervisors of each county and to the city council of each city within which such highway or any portion thereof is located. The filing of a certified copy of the resolution or order of the commission with the local authority shall be a sufficient notice of the action of the commission.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 83. Section 83.

Any public street or highway or portion thereof which is within the boundaries of a state highway, including a traversable highway adopted or designated as a state highway, shall constitute a part of the right of way of such state highway without compensation being paid therefor, and the department shall have jurisdiction thereover and responsibility for the maintenance thereof.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 84. Section 84.

Before the department commences the construction of any state highway or of any bridge, viaduct, conduit, pipe, trestle, or other obstruction in connection therewith across any cove, bay, or inlet of the ocean in this state, the department shall submit the plans of the proposed project, insofar as they might affect the use of such cove, bay, or inlet as a small boat harbor, to the Department of Boating and Waterways and shall consider any suggestions made with respect to the integration of the proposed highway project with any proposed plan for the development of a small boat harbor.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 84.5. Section 84.5.

During the design hearing process relating to state highway projects that include the construction by the department of a new bridge across a navigable river, there shall be included full consideration of, and a report on, the feasibility of providing a means of public access to the navigable river for public recreational purposes.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 85. Section 85.

In order to provide the commission with an independent evaluation of routing proposals as the commission may desire from time to time, the commission may contract with specialists, including, but not limited to, persons trained and experienced in engineering, economics, landscape and design architecture, fish and wildlife management, park and recreation management, history and sociology, agriculture, and urban and regional planning. The commission is authorized to expend any funds in the State Highway Account to carry out the provisions of this section.

Cal. Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 86. Section 86.

The commission may delegate to the department any ministerial or administrative power, duty, responsibility, or function of the commission. The delegations authorized herein shall be upon such conditions and terms as the commission deems appropriate.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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