Regional Transportation Improvement Program
Public Transit
Unmet Transit Needs
Relevant Documents and Studies
Assembly Bill 628 Monitoring & Reporting
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Assembly Bill 628 and Senate Bill 1345 Monitoring and Reporting (Adventure Trails of the Eastern Sierra)
All
County maintained streets and roads (paved or dirt) are considered
to be ‘highways’ under the California Vehicle Code. Currently, the
combined-use of County maintained roads by OHV is only allowed on
the seven approved combined-use routes described below. The project
proponents who proposed these combined-use routes refer to the
routes as "Adventure Trails."
Background: At a public hearing on January 22, 2015 the Board of Supervisors approved 7 combined-use routes. On July 14, 2015, the Independence No. 1 combined use route was opened for combined use by qualifying OHVs. On July 24, 2015, the Lone Pine No. 1 combined use route also opened for qualifying vehicles. Bishop Routes No. 5, 6, 7, 9 & 15 were opened for combined use between August 5, 2015 and September 5, 2017. Maps showing those routes can be viewed by following the corresponding links. Each map shows the conditions placed on each user of the combined-use routes.
Public Comments: The concerned public can comment via e-mail on any issues surrounding the designated combined-use routes at ab628@inyocounty.us. Section 14(f) of the Inyo County Implementing Procedures state that:
The Public Works Department shall maintain a website that is a central hub for collecting public and public agency comments and complaints on the combined-use routes which shall include all correspondence from the public and public agencies regarding all combined use segments.
This website serves this purpose and is a central hub for receiving comments.
Reporting: On December 8, 2015 the Inyo County Board of Supervisors provided initial feedback on a report to the Californa Legislature. The staff report includes a traffic count completed for two locations along each combined-use route. The Board approved submittal of the Legislative Report at a public hearing at December 15, 2015. There were minor changes made to the draft report in response to public comments at the meeting on December 8. The draft report to the Legislature can be viewed on pages 139-186 of the Board Agenda packet pdf document. The Final Report (4,765 KB) was forwarded to the California Legislature.
On December 11, 2018 the Inyo County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing and approved a Report to the Legislature, as required, on the status of the Adventure Trails Combined Use Program. The Final Status Report was submitted on December 20, 2018. The authorization of the program will sunset on January 1, 2020 unless the Legislature extends the program, or passes permanent legislation.
Comments received at the public hearing and e-mail comments can be viewed in the Final Report to the Legislature (see above).
Assembly Bill 628 and then Senate Bill 1345 made revisions to the California Vehicle Code establishing a pilot project allowing Inyo County to designate specific County highways (streets and roads) as combined-use routes. The future designation of combined use routes would allow the use of County streets and roads by Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV). On May 8, 2012, the Board of Supervisors adopted implementing procedures for the designation of combined-use routes. Follow the link to view a list of County maintained roads and the combined-use application.
Assembly Bill 628 and then Senate Bill 1345 authorizes the County of Inyo to establish a pilot project to designate combined-use highways on unincorporated county roads for no more than 10 miles. The combined-use highways can be used to link existing off-highway motor vehicle trails and trailheads on federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or United States Forest Service lands in order to provide a unified linkage of trail systems for off-highway motor vehicles. Other goals for the project are to preserve traffic safety, improve natural resource protection, reduce off-highway vehicle trespass on private land, and minimize impacts on county residents. The provisions of SB 1345 sunset January 1, 2020. The County is required to submit a report for SB 1345 to the Califoria Legislature before January 1, 2019 (see above "Final Status Report").
OHV users on all combined-use routes must:
- Drivers must have in possession a valid driver’s license of the appropriate class for the vehicle being operated.
- Ride during daylight hours only and not earlier that 7:00 am and no later than 8:00 pm.
- Have an operational stop light.
- Have insurance in accordance with the provisions of article 2 (commencing with Section 1160230) of Chapter 1 of Division 7 of the California Vehicle Code.
- Obey the posted speed limit for OHVs on combined-use roads and, in residential areas, drive no faster than 15 mph.
- Use a vehicle that has rubber tires.
- Pass at least three (3) feet away from bicyclists, horses, and pedestrians.
- Slow to 5 mph when passing horses or pedestrians.
- Ride only on existing trails.
- Not stop in flowing water.
- Drive in the middle of the vehicle lane.
- Not drive on the shoulder.
- Use existing trails when exiting a combined-use route.
- OHV operators must operate the OHV in accordance with the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation for use of the vehicle
Environmental Review: Inyo County released a Draft Environmental Impact Report for the consideration of a proposed system of combined-use roads known collectively as the Adventure Trails System of the Eastern Sierra. Scoping meetings were held in late October 2013 in Independence and Bishop. The public comment period ran from July 17, 2014 to September 2, 2014. The Notice of Availability for public review can be viewed by following the corresponding link.
A Final Environmental Impact Report was released on October 29, 2014. The Inyo County Planning Commission made a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors 1) to certify the FEIR, 2) to provide direction to staff on which combined-use routes to recommend to the Board, and 3) to revise the Implementing Procedures at a special November 5, 2014 meeting at 5:00 p.m. in Independence. The Board of Supervisors considered the project at a special 10:00 a.m. January 22, 2015 meeting in Independence. At the January 22nd meeting, the Board of Supervisors approved 7 routes and deferred consideration of other routes. The Board also amended the Implementing Procedures.
Existing OHV Facilities: Note that maps to existing OHV recreation in the Owens Valley area can be viewed at:
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Inyo National Forest Use Maps is the official Inyo National Forest publication showing all routes that are green sticker legal and can be picked up at ranger stations or online by following links to Inyo National Forest maps at http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/ohv/ohv_maps.shtml.
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BLM Surface Management Plan maps may be available at BLM district offices.
FY 2016-2017 State Parks Grant: The Inyo County Board of Supervisors approved submittal of a grant to the California State Parks Off Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division on February 21, 2017. The County requested funds for the completion of a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document evaluating potential environmental impacts resulting from jurisdictional agreement(s) between Inyo County and the Inyo National Forest for those County roads part of the Inyo County Maintained Mileage System that cross Inyo National Forest land and are proposed for combined use. The County was subsequently awarded the grant. The grant application can be viewed by clicking on the highlighted link or by visiting the State Parks website at http://ohv.parks.ca.gov. A background paper describing the grant application can be viewed by following the highlighted link. Public input is encouraged during the NEPA review. Please e-mail ab628@inyocounty.us if you have any comments or questions regarding this grant.
For any other questions regarding the combined-use routes in Inyo County, please e-mail Inyo County staff.