160-162.5

STREETS AND HIGHWAYS CODE
SECTION 160-162.5




160.  The width of the right-of-way for all state highways shall be
at least 40 feet.
   The department may maintain any state highway having a lesser
width of right-of-way, but shall not expend any money thereon for
major construction or improvement until the width of the right-of-way
is at least 40 feet.


161.  On construction projects, the department shall install on the
surface of state highways upon which the operation of bicycles is
permitted only those types of grates which are not hazardous to
bicycle riders.


162.  (a) Unless the commission finds that it would be impractical,
any state highway exclusive and preferential lane for buses and other
high occupancy vehicles constructed on new alignment or new
structures shall be designed and constructed on horizontal and
vertical alignments, including the grade, curvature, and horizontal
and vertical clearances, so that the lane may readily be
reconstructed as an exclusive public mass transit guideway, using the
department's rail transit design criteria.
   (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), prior to designing a state
highway in conformance with this section, the department shall
consider all of the following:
   (1) Cost effectiveness.
   (2) Any added environmental impact.
   (3) The likelihood of a guideway project ever being developed.



162.5.  (a) The department shall develop revised seismic standards
for earthquake resistance to be utilized in the design and
construction of new state highways and bridges, and for the retrofit
of existing highways and bridges.
   (b) In the development of those standards, the department shall do
all of the following:
   (1) Thoroughly investigate and analyze the structural damage to
highways and bridges resulting from the October 17, 1989, Loma Prieta
earthquake, and utilize the experience of that earthquake in the
development of revised standards.
   (2) Incorporate in those standards, state of the art technology
for designing and constructing highways and bridges to withstand
extreme seismic activity, utilizing, where appropriate, the available
technology and methodology from all engineering and scientific
disciplines, including state of the art assessment tools and computer
modeling techniques. Where appropriate, the department shall study
and incorporate technologies utilized in other countries and proven
technologies and accomplishments from other fields, such as those
used in the design and construction of high-rise structures.
   (3) Maintain contact and communication, and exchange information
with, persons and organizations concerned with seismic engineering
issues.
   (c) The department shall continue to revise and update the
standards periodically, so that they reflect the department's latest
findings.
   (d) Upon completing the development of revised seismic standards,
and whenever those standards are updated, the department shall make
the standards, including the supporting data, available to all other
public agencies in this state which are engaged in the design,
construction, or inspection of streets, roads, highways, and bridges.