ARTICLE 3. Local Transportation Funds [99230. - 99251.]

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC 3.
in effect

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99230. Section 99230.

The designated transportation planning agency shall, from an analysis and evaluation of the total amount anticipated to be available in the local transportation fund and the relative needs of each claimant for the purposes for which the fund is intended, and consistent with the provisions of this chapter, annually determine the amount to be allocated to each claimant.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99231. Section 99231.

(a) All operators and city or county governments with responsibility for providing municipal services to a given area collectively may file claims for only those moneys that represent that area’s apportionment. (b) The term “apportionment” has reference to that proportion of the total annual revenue anticipated to be received in the fund that the population of the area bears to the total population of the county. (c) The term “area” means: (1) With reference to a transit district, the entire area stated in its enabling legislation or franchise, excluding cities therein which have retained the right to join the district at a later time. (2) With reference to a transit development board, the entire area stated in its enabling legislation, including the municipalities therein which operated bus systems prior to the creation of the board and subsequently conveyed those systems to the board. (3) With reference to a county government, the unincorporated area of the county. (4) With reference to a city government, the corporate area of the city. (5) With reference to the City and County of San Francisco and the Counties of Alameda and Contra Costa, the unincorporated area thereof (and with reference to a city in those counties, the corporate area of the city) which is outside the area of the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District and which is not receiving adequate local public transportation services, as determined by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 99207. (6) (A) Where a transit district, a transit development board, or a county or city, provides public transportation services beyond its boundaries, its area, for purposes of this section, shall also include: (i) All of that area within one-half mile of any route which extends beyond its boundaries. (ii) All of the corporate area of a city to which it provides those services pursuant to contract or prior express authority of the secretary. (B) The transportation planning agency may rely, in its determination of populations, on estimates which are used by the Controller for distributing money to cities under Section 2107 of the Streets and Highways Code and to counties under Section 11005 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, and may contract with the Department of Finance or other appropriate state agency for an annual determination of those population estimates as may be necessary. (7) With reference to the County of Riverside, the area within the jurisdiction of the transit operator established by the joint exercise of powers of one or more cities and the County of Riverside. The area within the jurisdiction of the transit operator shall be as it existed on January 1, 1981, as determined by the Riverside County Transportation Commission. (8) With reference to the County of San Bernardino, the area within the jurisdiction of the transit operator established by the joint exercise of powers of one or more cities, including the most populous city, and the County of San Bernardino. The area within the jurisdiction of the transit operator shall be as it existed on January 1, 1985, as determined by the San Bernardino County Transportation Commission. (9) With reference to the County of Monterey, the area including the Correctional Training Facility, even if annexed by the City of Soledad. (10) With reference to the County of Del Norte, the area including the Pelican Bay State Prison, even if annexed by the City of Crescent City. (11) With reference to the County of Imperial, the area including the Calipatria State Prison, even if annexed by the City of Calipatria. (12) With reference to the County of Riverside, the area including the Chuckawalla Valley State Prison, even if annexed by the City of Blythe. (13) With reference to the County of Imperial, the area including the California State Prison, Centinela, even if annexed by either the City of El Centro or the City of Imperial. (14) With reference to the County of Madera, the area including the Central California Women’s Facility and the Valley State Prison, even if annexed by the City of Chowchilla.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99231.2. Section 99231.2.

Except in the County of Los Angeles, the transportation planning agency, notwithstanding Section 99231, may approve the claim filed for an unincorporated area by an operator which is serving that area pursuant to a contract with the county, even though the amount of the claim exceeds the apportionment for the area, if the amount is approved by the county.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99232. Section 99232.

For counties with a population of 500,000 or more, as determined by the 1970 federal decennial census, but excluding counties with more than 4,500 miles of maintained county roads as of 1970, the amount representing the apportionments of the areas of all operators shall be available solely for claims for Section 99234 purposes and for Article 4 (commencing with Section 99260) and Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 99275) purposes, and any of those moneys not allocated in any year shall be available for those claims in subsequent years.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99232.1. Section 99232.1.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 99232, for each county with a population of less than 500,000 as of the 1970 federal decennial census, but with a population of 500,000 or more as of the 2000 federal decennial census, or a county whose population is 500,000 or more at a subsequent decennial census, the apportionment to the areas within the urbanized areas of the county, as defined for purposes of the 2000 federal decennial census and each census thereafter, shall be available solely for claims for Article 4 (commencing with Section 99260) and Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 99275) purposes. In a county subject to this section, the apportionment for areas outside of the urbanized area of the county may be used for claims for Article 4 (commencing with Section 99260), Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 99275), and Article 8 (commencing with Section 99400) purposes, providing that allocations under Article 8 (commencing with Section 99400) shall be subject to the unmet needs process as prescribed by Section 99401.5. (b) The apportionment attributable to the unincorporated area within an urbanized area shall be determined by the proportion that the urbanized area’s unincorporated area population bears to the total unincorporated population times the total apportionment attributable to the unincorporated area. (c) For a county that is subject to this section, this section shall not apply to that county until July 1, 2014.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99232.2. Section 99232.2.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 99232.1, a city with a population of 100,000 or fewer within an urbanized area in a county subject to Section 99232.1 is not required to expend all of its apportionment for Article 4 (commencing with Section 99260) and Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 99275) purposes. (b) The population of cities within an urbanized area shall be based on the city and county population estimates published annually by the Department of Finance. (c) Nothing in this section shall preclude a city with a population of 100,000 or fewer within an urbanized area in a county subject to Section 99232.1 from expending all of its apportionment for Article 4 (commencing with Section 99260) and Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 99275) purposes. (d) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2014.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99232.4. Section 99232.4.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 99231, and subject to subdivision (a) of Section 99232.5, the apportionment area for the Sacramento Regional Transit District includes all of the incorporated and unincorporated area of the County of Sacramento, excluding cities in the county that have retained the right to join the district at a later time. However, the apportionment restriction in Section 99232 only applies to the area of the Sacramento Regional Transit District described in subdivision (a) of Section 99231. (b) (1) The Sacramento Regional Transit District may file a claim under Article 8 (commencing with Section 99400), but not under Article 4 (commencing with Section 99260), for the apportionment not subject to Section 99232 and subdivision (a) of Section 99232.5. (2) The County of Sacramento may also file a claim under Article 8 (commencing with Section 99400) for the apportionment not subject to the restriction in Section 99232. However, a claim for the purposes of subdivision (a) of Section 99400 shall not be approved unless it is determined by the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, at a public hearing for which 15 days’ notice has been given pursuant to Section 6061 of the Government Code, that there are no unmet transit needs, as defined in Section 99401.5, within the area of the Sacramento Regional Transit District described under subdivision (a) of Section 99231. (c) This section shall become operative on July 1, 1994.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99232.5. Section 99232.5.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 99232, cities within the County of Sacramento which are outside the activated boundaries of the Sacramento Regional Transit District, but which provide transit service or which contract with the district for transit service, may also file claims under Article 8 (commencing with Section 99400) if it is determined by the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, at a public hearing for which 15 days’ notice has been given pursuant to Section 6061 of the Government Code, that the transit needs of these cities can be met with use of an amount less than the total apportionment of these cities. (b) With respect to such a city, not less than 25 percent of its apportionment shall be allocated for Article 4 (commencing with Section 99260) purposes.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99232.6. Section 99232.6.

Notwithstanding Section 99232, the County of San Diego may also file claims under Article 8 (commencing with Section 99400) for an unincorporated area not served by the San Diego Metropolitan Transit Development Board or the North San Diego County Transit Development Board if all of the following conditions are met: (a) The San Diego Association of Governments, at a public hearing for which 15 days’ notice has been given pursuant to Section 6061 of the Government Code, finds that the transit needs of that unincorporated area can be met by using an amount less than the apportionment for that unincorporated area. (b) The county board of supervisors concurs in that finding. (c) An equal amount from the apportionment for the unincorporated area served by the San Diego Metropolitan Transit Development Board has been claimed for transit capital projects that are mutually agreed upon by the county and San Diego Metropolitan Transit Development Board. A claim for a transit capital project pursuant to subdivision (c) may be made by the county or the San Diego Metropolitan Transit Development Board, or jointly, as specified by mutual agreement.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99232.7. Section 99232.7.

(a) Notwithstanding Sections 99232.1 and 99401.5, any local transportation fund apportionments available to the Ventura County Transportation Commission for the City of Thousand Oaks may be allocated for local streets and roads. (b) Notwithstanding Sections 99232.1 and 99401.5, any local transportation fund apportionments available to the Ventura County Transportation Commission for the City of Thousand Oaks may be allocated for claims under Article 8 (commencing with Section 99400).

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99233. Section 99233.

Except as provided in Section 99233.11, the fund shall be allocated by the designated transportation planning agency for the purposes specified in Sections 99233.1 to 99233.9, inclusive, in the sequence provided in those sections.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99233.2. Section 99233.2.

(a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c), there shall be allocated to the transportation planning agency, if it is statutorily created, such sums as it may approve, up to 3 percent of annual revenues, for the conduct of the transportation planning and programming process, unless a greater amount is approved by the director. (b) (1) In those areas that have a county transportation commission created pursuant to Section 130050, up to 1 percent of annual revenues shall be allocated to the commission in Los Angeles County, and up to 3 percent of the annual revenues shall be allocated to the commissions in Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties for the transportation planning and programming process. Of the funds allocated to the commission in Riverside County, one-half shall be allocated for planning studies within the Western Riverside County and the Coachella Valley areas, as determined by the commission. (2) In the area of the multicounty designated transportation planning agency, as defined in Section 130004, up to three-fourths of 1 percent of annual revenues shall be allocated by the appropriate entities, proportionately, on or before each July 1, to the multicounty designated transportation planning agency for the transportation planning and programming process. No operator shall grant any funds it receives under this chapter to the designated multicounty transportation planning agency for purposes of the agency carrying out its responsibilities under Division 12 (commencing with Section 130000). (c) In Ventura County, up to 2 percent of the annual revenues shall be allocated to the Ventura County Transportation Commission for the transportation planning and programming process. (d) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2011.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99233.3. Section 99233.3.

Two percent of the remaining money in the fund shall be made available to counties and cities for facilities provided for the exclusive use of pedestrians and bicycles unless the transportation planning agency finds that the money could be used to better advantage for the purposes stated in Article 4 (commencing with Section 99260) and Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 99275), or for local street and road purposes in those areas where the money may be expended for those purposes, in the development of a balanced transportation system. Of the amount made available to a city or county pursuant to this section, 5 percent thereof may be expended to supplement moneys from other sources to fund bicycle and pedestrian safety education programs, but shall not be used to fully fund the salary of any one person.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99233.5. Section 99233.5.

Up to 10 percent of the remaining money for the area under the jurisdiction of a transit development board created pursuant to Division 11 (commencing with Section 120000) shall be allocated to the transit development board and the transportation planning agency to carry out administrative and planning powers, duties, and functions and construction and acquisition programs in accordance with Article 4 (commencing with Section 132353) of Chapter 3 of Division 12.7. Thereafter, the remaining money for allocation in that area shall be allocated by the transportation planning agency to claimants.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99233.7. Section 99233.7.

Up to 5 percent of the remaining money in the fund shall be made available to cities, counties, and operators for claims filed pursuant to Article 4. 5 (commencing with Section 99275) in those areas where claims may not be filed for those purposes specified in Article 8 (commencing with Section 99400), and may be made available to consolidated transportation service agencies, unless the transportation planning agency, or a county transportation commission created pursuant to Division 12 (commencing with Section 130000), having jurisdiction finds, after considering the claims pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 99275.5, that the allocations of money could be used to better advantage for the purposes stated in Article 4 (commencing with Section 99260) in the development of a balanced transportation system. The money may be allocated without respect to Section 99231 and shall not be included in determining the apportionment to a city or county for purposes of Sections 99233.8 and 99233.9.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99233.8. Section 99233.8.

There shall be allocated to operators such money as is approved by the transportation planning agency for claims presented pursuant to Article 4 (commencing with Section 99260) of this chapter.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99233.9. Section 99233.9.

There shall be allocated to counties and cities such money as is approved by the transportation planning agency for claims presented pursuant to Article 8 (commencing with Section 99400) of this chapter.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99233.10. Section 99233.10.

Notwithstanding Section 99233.7, funds made available in the County of Santa Barbara for claims filed pursuant to Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 99275) may be included in determining the apportionment to a city, county, or operator for purposes of Sections 99233.8 and 99233.9.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99233.11. Section 99233.11.

Funds made available to the County of Stanislaus and the cities in that county shall be allocated in the following order: (a) To the Stanislaus Area Association of Governments, the County of Stanislaus, and the cities in that county, an amount deemed necessary for the administration of this chapter. (b) To the Stanislaus Area Association of Governments, an amount approved by that association, but not more than 3 percent of annual revenues, to conduct the transportation planning and programming process, unless a greater amount is approved by the director. (c) To pedestrian and bicycle facilities, not more than 2 percent of the funds remaining, in accordance with Section 99233.3. (d) To the Stanislaus Area Association of Governments, an amount deemed necessary for intracity, intercity, and interregional transit services and rail passenger services, when a claim is filed under Section 99234.9, Article 4 (commencing with Section 99260), or Article 8 (commencing with Section 99400), consistent with the cost-sharing criteria approved by the association. Apportionments and allocations from those funds made by the association to the county and the cities in the county also shall be in accordance with the cost-sharing criteria approved by the association.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99233.12. Section 99233.12.

Notwithstanding anything in Sections 99233 to 99233.9, inclusive, to the contrary, the Solano Transportation Authority may file a claim, and the transportation planning agency may allocate, for the area representing the cumulative areas of the authority’s member agencies, up to 2.7 percent of annual revenues for countywide transit planning and coordination purposes relative to Solano County. Funds allocated to the authority pursuant to this section shall be allocated after allocations are made pursuant to Sections 99233.1 and 99233.2 but prior to other allocations.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99234. Section 99234.

(a) Claims for facilities provided for the exclusive use of pedestrians and bicycles or for bicycle and pedestrian safety education programs shall be filed according to the rules and regulations adopted by the transportation planning agency. (b) The money shall be allocated for the construction, including related engineering expenses, of those facilities pursuant to procedures or criteria established by the transportation planning agency for the area within its jurisdiction, or for bicycle and pedestrian safety education programs. (c) The money may be allocated for the maintenance of bicycling trails that are closed to motorized traffic pursuant to procedures or criteria established by the transportation planning agency for the area within its jurisdiction. (d) The money may be allocated without respect to Section 99231 and shall not be included in determining the apportionments to a city or county for purposes of Sections 99233.7 to 99233.9, inclusive. (e) Facilities provided for the use of bicycles may include projects that serve the needs of commuting bicyclists, including, but not limited to, new trails serving major transportation corridors, secure bicycle parking at employment centers, park and ride lots, and transit terminals where other funds are unavailable. (f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a planning agency established in Title 7.1 (commencing with Section 66500) of the Government Code may allocate the money to the Association of Bay Area Governments for activities required by Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 5850) of Division 5 of the Public Resources Code. (g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the transportation planning agencies that allocate funds, pursuant to this section, to the cities and counties with jurisdiction or a sphere of influence within the delta, as defined in Section 5852 of the Public Resources Code, may allocate the money to the Delta Protection Commission for activities required by Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 5852) of Division 5 of the Public Resources Code. (h) Within 30 days after receiving a request for a review from any city or county, the transportation planning agency shall review its allocations made pursuant to Section 99233.3. (i) In addition to the purposes authorized in this section, a portion of the amount available to a city or county pursuant to Section 99233.3 may be allocated to develop a comprehensive bicycle and pedestrian facilities plan, with an emphasis on bicycle projects intended to accommodate bicycle commuters rather than recreational bicycle users. An allocation under this subdivision may not be made more than once every five years. (j) Up to 20 percent of the amount available each year to a city or county pursuant to Section 99233.3 may be allocated to restripe class II bicycle lanes.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99234.1. Section 99234.1.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this article or Article 4 (commencing with Section 99260), the Orange County Transportation Commission may allocate funds from either the Orange County Unified Transportation Trust, as defined in Section 99301.6, or from the principal upon which the interest is accruing to the Department of Transportation for construction of high-occupancy vehicle lanes within freeways in the county. In the event high-occupancy vehicle lanes constructed with the funds are subsequently converted to mixed flow use, the local transportation fund shall be reimbursed through the State Transportation Improvement Program process the amount of funds provided to the department for construction of the lanes pursuant to this section.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99234.5. Section 99234.5.

(a) The Counties of San Bernardino, Riverside, and Los Angeles may enter into a joint powers agreement pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 6500), Chapter 5, Division 7, Title 1 of the Government Code, and the joint powers entity created pursuant to such agreement shall in accordance with Section 403 of the Rail Passenger Service Act of 1970 (45 U.S.C. 563), request the National Railroad Passenger Corporation to institute up to two additional trains a day in each direction between Los Angeles and San Bernardino to supplement the present level of service. The joint powers entity may request institution of more than two additional trains a day in each direction between Los Angeles and San Bernardino. Contributions shall be made from the fund of each of the three counties, as agreed by them, to the joint powers entity, as may be required by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation to meet a reasonable portion of any losses associated with such service. The joint powers entity may request that the additional trains shall be operated, to the extent practicable, during periods of peak traffic. (b) If the funds available under this chapter are insufficient for purposes of subdivision (a), the board of supervisors of any one of the three counties may make contributions to the joint powers entity from any funds available to it.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99234.7. Section 99234.7.

(a) The Department of Transportation may negotiate and contract with the appropriate railroad corporation to provide passenger rail service between the City and County of San Francisco and the Counties of San Mateo and Santa Clara. In the process of negotiating the contract, the department shall take into consideration the funding available and the level of service as it has been recommended by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. Notwithstanding Section 14035 of the Government Code, the contract shall not extend beyond June 30, 1993. The California Transportation Commission shall allocate no funds pursuant to Section 14031.6 of the Government Code for this rail passenger service after the 1992–93 fiscal year. If the department enters into a contract, it shall, on or before July 1, 1992, assign the contract to the Peninsula Corridor Study Joint Powers Board or to another local or regional agency designated by the board which is authorized to operate or contract for the operation of rail passenger service, if the board or designated agency determines that the rail passenger service shall be continued. The department shall assign its operating subsidies for the 1992–93 fiscal year for that service to the board or that designated agency. Within the area of jurisdiction of the board, the board or that designated agency may acquire from the department all property owned or leased by the department for that rail passenger service, including, but not limited to, stations, facilities, equipment, and rights-of-way, and this transfer shall be consistent with the process defined in Section 160006. The California Transportation Commission shall not allocate state funds to purchase the San Francisco Peninsula commuter rail service right-of-way unless a local agency assumes operation and control of the commuter rail service on or before June 30, 1993. This section does not prohibit the commission from making a multiyear funding commitment to purchase the right-of-way subject to that assumption of operation and control occurring on or before that date. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a transit district or county may negotiate and contract with the appropriate railroad corporation to provide passenger rail service which is to be primarily operated within its jurisdiction. Adjacent transit districts or counties may jointly negotiate and contract with the appropriate railroad corporation to provide passenger rail service which is to be primarily operated within their jurisdictions.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99234.9. Section 99234.9.

Any county, city, county transportation commission, or operator may file claims with the transportation planning agency for rail passenger service operation expenditures and capital improvement expenditures, including construction and maintenance of intermodal transportation facilities. These funds may be used as the entity’s required contribution toward the cost of providing these services or capital improvements.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99235. Section 99235.

Upon having determined the allocation of each claimant on the fund, the transportation planning agency shall convey such information to each claimant and the county auditor, together with one allocation instruction for each claimant advising the auditor as to the time and the nature of payment. Such instruction may call for a single payment, for payment as moneys become available, or for payment by installments monthly, quarterly, or otherwise. The allocation and instruction may be rescinded and revised by the transportation planning agency only under one of the following circumstances: (a) An appeal has been filed. (b) The claimant is found to be spending, or unless enjoined to be about to spend, moneys otherwise than in accordance with the terms of the allocation. (c) An adjustment is proved to be necessary to reconcile the estimates on which the allocation was based with the actual figures when these are available. (d) The financial needs of the claimant differ from those at the time of the allocation due to changed circumstances.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99236. Section 99236.

No funds from the fund shall be budgeted, allocated, or expended for any project which calls for any change in passenger train stations or loading platforms used by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, unless the change has been submitted to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation for review and comment which may include a recommendation for a modification in the change. If the agency submitting the change elects not to accept the recommendation of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, it shall submit the matter to the director who shall determine whether the disputed recommendation for a modification in the change shall be followed by the agency.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99238. Section 99238.

Each transportation planning agency shall provide for the establishment of a social services transportation advisory council for each county, or counties operating under a joint powers agreement, which is not subject to the apportionment restriction established in Section 99232. (a) The social services transportation advisory council shall consist of the following members: (1) One representative of potential transit users who is 60 years of age or older. (2) One representative of potential transit users who is disabled. (3) Two representatives of the local social service providers for seniors, including one representative of a social service transportation provider, if one exists. (4) Two representatives of local social service providers for the disabled, including one representative of a social service transportation provider, if one exists. (5) One representative of a local social service provider for persons of limited means. (6) Two representatives from the local consolidated transportation service agency, designated pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 15975 of the Government Code, if one exists, including one representative from an operator, if one exists. (7) The transportation planning agency may appoint additional members in accordance with the procedure prescribed in subdivision (b). (b) Members of the social services transportation advisory council shall be appointed by the transportation planning agency which shall recruit candidates for appointment from a broad representation of social service and transit providers representing the elderly, the disabled, and persons of limited means. In appointing council members, the transportation planning agency shall strive to attain geographic and minority representation among council members. Of the initial appointments to the council, one-third of them shall be for a one-year term, one-third shall be for a two-year term, and one-third shall be for a three-year term. Subsequent to the initial appointment, the term of appointment shall be for three years, which may be renewed for an additional three-year term. The transportation planning agency may, at its discretion, delegate its responsibilities for appointment pursuant to this subdivision to the board of supervisors. (c) The social services transportation advisory council shall have the following responsibilities: (1) Annually participate in the identification of transit needs in the jurisdiction, including unmet transit needs that may exist within the jurisdiction of the council and that may be reasonable to meet by establishing or contracting for new public transportation or specialized transportation services or by expanding existing services. (2) Annually review and recommend action by the transportation planning agency for the area within the jurisdiction of the council which finds, by resolution, that (A) there are no unmet transit needs, (B) there are no unmet transit needs that are reasonable to meet, or (C) there are unmet transit needs, including needs that are reasonable to meet. (3) Advise the transportation planning agency on any other major transit issues, including the coordination and consolidation of specialized transportation services. (d) It is the intent of the Legislature that duplicative advisory councils shall not be established where transit advisory councils currently exist and that those existing advisory councils shall, instead, become part of the social services transportation advisory council and shall assume any new responsibilities pursuant to this section.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99238.5. Section 99238.5.

(a) The transportation planning agency shall ensure the establishment and implementation of a citizen participation process appropriate for each county, or counties if operating under a joint powers agreement, utilizing the social services transportation advisory council as a mechanism to solicit the input of transit dependent and transit disadvantaged persons, including the elderly, disabled, and persons of limited means. The process shall include provisions for at least one public hearing in the jurisdiction represented by the social services transportation advisory council. Hearings shall be scheduled to ensure broad community participation and, if possible, the location of the hearings shall be rotated among the various communities within the advisory council’s jurisdiction. Notice of the hearing, including the date, place, and specific purpose of the hearing shall be given at least 30 days in advance through publication in a newspaper of general circulation. The transportation planning agency shall also send written notification to those persons and organizations which have indicated, through its citizen participation or any other source of information, an interest in the subject of the hearing. (b) In addition to public hearings, the transportation planning agency shall consider other methods of obtaining public feedback on public transportation needs. Those methods may include, but are not limited to, teleconferencing, questionnaires, telecanvassing, and electronic mail.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99241. Section 99241.

(a) Except for allocations made for purposes of Section 99234 and subdivision (a) of Section 99400, which shall be subject to the rules and regulations adopted by the transportation planning agency, all matters necessary and convenient to the implementation of this chapter shall be subject to rules and regulations, consistent with statute, adopted by the department, with the advice and consent of the commission, and those rules and regulations may be revised from time to time. (b) The rules and regulations shall specify the procedures by which evaluation and review by the transportation planning agency of public transportation claims shall be accomplished, and shall require submission of corresponding budgets or financial plans, certified financial statements, and other information required in connection therewith. The rules and regulations shall provide for the orderly and periodic distribution of moneys in the fund so that the areas served by the operator will be provided public transportation services on a continuing basis and so that there will be an orderly improvement and maintenance of the system of the operator. The rules and regulations shall provide for the approval of sufficient moneys from the fund to accomplish the intent of the Legislature as expressed in the findings and declarations in Section 99220. (c) The rules and regulations may require that the transportation planning agency, in reviewing claims, give due consideration to the level of the operator’s passenger fares and charges, the efficiency of the operator’s operations and operating policies and practices, the extent to which the operator is meeting the transportation needs of the area served, and the extent to which the operator is making full use of other available revenues and funds, including federal transportation grants. (d) The Controller shall annually review the rules and regulations adopted by the department with respect to reporting and auditing procedures and shall make written recommendations for revisions to the department. After consultation with the Controller, the director shall undertake to amend the rules and regulations in accordance with the recommendations. (e) Rules and regulations adopted by the department with respect to reporting and auditing procedures shall apply to all expenditures of funds allocated pursuant to this chapter. This section shall become operative on July 1, 1987.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99241.5. Section 99241.5.

All rules and regulations adopted by the Secretary of the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency pursuant to Section 99241, as it read prior to its amendment by the act adding this section, and in effect on January 1, 1985, shall remain in effect and shall be fully enforceable unless and until amended or repealed by the department.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99242. Section 99242.

In the event that a claimant is not satisfied with his approved claim or other action taken by the transportation planning agency, a notification with supporting documentation may be filed with the secretary, who shall conduct an investigation and evaluation of the disagreement between the claimant and the transportation planning agency. The secretary shall notify the involved parties of his findings, which shall be a final settlement of the issue.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99243. Section 99243.

(a) The Controller, in cooperation with the department and the operators, shall design and adopt a uniform system of accounts and records, from which the operators shall prepare and submit annual reports of their operation to transportation planning agencies, county transportation commissions, or the San Diego Metropolitan Transit Development Board having jurisdiction over them and to the Controller within seven months after the end of the fiscal year. The report shall contain underlying data from audited financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, if this data is available. The report shall specify (1) the amount of revenue generated from each source and its application for the prior fiscal year, and (2) the data necessary to determine which section, with respect to Sections 99268.1, 99268.2, 99268.3, 99268.4, 99268.5, and 99268.9, the operator is required to be in compliance in order to be eligible for funds under this article. (b) (1) For the purposes of the State Transit Assistance Program, which is governed by Sections 99312 to 99314.9, inclusive, the Controller shall provide a mechanism for each transportation planning agency, county transportation commission, and the San Diego Metropolitan Transit Development Board to report to the Controller those operators within its jurisdiction that are STA-eligible operators, as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 99312.2. (2) The mechanism shall require each transportation planning agency, county transportation commission, and the San Diego Metropolitan Transit Development Board to report to the Controller those STA-eligible operators within its jurisdiction that are both: (A) Eligible to claim local transportation funds under either Article 4 (commencing with Section 99260) or Article 8 (commencing with Section 99400), or under both articles. (B) A public transportation operator, as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 99312.2. (3) The Controller shall rely upon that verification to determine whether or not an operator is an STA-eligible operator pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 99312.2. The transportation planning agency, county transportation commission, and the San Diego Metropolitan Transit Development Board shall provide this information to the Controller within seven months after the end of each fiscal year. (c) As a supplement to the annual report prepared pursuant to subdivision (a), each operator shall include an estimate of the amount of revenues to be generated from each source and its proposed application for the next fiscal year, and a report on the extent to which it has contracted with the California Correctional Training and Rehabilitation Authority, including the nature and dollar amounts of all contracts entered into during the reporting period and proposed for the next reporting period. (d) The Controller shall instruct the county auditor to withhold payments from the fund to an operator that has not submitted its annual report to the Controller within the time specified by subdivision (a). (e) In establishing the uniform system of accounts and records, the Controller shall include the data required by the United States Department of Transportation and the department. (f) Notwithstanding any other law or any regulation, including any California Code of Regulations provision, the City of El Segundo, the City of Huntington Beach, the City of Inglewood, the City of Long Beach, or the City of South Lake Tahoe may select, for purposes of this chapter, on a one-time basis, a fiscal year that does not end on June 30. After the city has sent a written notice to the Secretary of Transportation and the Controller that the city has selected a fiscal year other than one ending on June 30, the fiscal year selected by the city shall be its fiscal year for all reports required by the state under this chapter.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99243.5. Section 99243.5.

(a) On the basis of data in the annual reports submitted pursuant to Section 99243 and the information submitted pursuant to Section 99406 to the Controller, the Controller shall compile, publish, and make publicly available on the Controller’s internet website the submitted data and information on or before November 1 of each year. (b) The Controller shall take steps as the Controller deems necessary to ensure that the data and information submitted are adequate and accurate.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99244. Section 99244.

(a) (1) Each transportation planning agency shall annually identify, analyze, and recommend potential productivity improvements that could lower the operating costs of those operators who operate at least 50 percent of their vehicle service miles, as defined in subdivision (i) of Section 99247, within the area under its jurisdiction. However, where a transit development board created pursuant to Division 11 (commencing with Section 120000) or a county transportation commission exists, the board or commission, as the case may be, shall have the responsibility of the transportation planning agency with respect to potential productivity improvements. The recommendations for improvements and productivity shall include, but not be limited to, those recommendations related to productivity made in the performance audit conducted pursuant to Section 99246. (2) A committee for the purpose of providing advice on productivity improvements may be formed by the responsible entity. The membership of this committee shall consist of representatives from the management of the operators, organizations of employees of the operators, and users of the transportation services of the operators located within the area under the jurisdiction of the responsible entity. (3) (A) Before determining the allocation to an operator for the next fiscal year, the responsible entity shall review and evaluate the efforts made by the operator to implement the recommended improvements. (B) If the responsible entity determines that the operator has not made a reasonable effort to implement the recommended improvements, the responsible entity shall not approve the allocation to the operator for the support of its public transportation system for the next fiscal year that exceeds the allocation to the operator for those purposes for the current fiscal year. (b) For the 2020–21 to 2022–23, inclusive, fiscal years, each transportation planning agency, transportation development board, and county transportation commission, is exempt from the requirements described in subdivision (a).

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99245. Section 99245.

Each transportation planning agency, transit development board created pursuant to Division 11 (commencing with Section 120000), and county transportation commission shall be responsible to ensure that all claimants to whom it directs the allocation of funds pursuant to this chapter shall submit to it an annual certified fiscal audit conducted by an entity other than the claimant. A report on the audit shall be submitted to the transportation planning agency, transit development board, county transportation commission, and to the Controller within 180 days after the end of the fiscal year. However, the responsible entity may grant an extension of up to 90 days as it deems necessary. The report shall include a certification that the funds allocated to the claimant pursuant to this chapter were expended in conformance with applicable laws and rules and regulations. Except for the first report, the report shall also include the audited amounts for the fiscal year prior to the fiscal year audited.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99245.2. Section 99245.2.

(a) A transit district or other provider of public transportation services subject to an audit pursuant to Section 99245, that receives funds from other sources which also require a fiscal audit, may expand the scope of its audit performed pursuant to Section 99245 to include the conditions and purposes of those other funds. (b) A transportation planning agency, transit development board, county transportation commission, air quality management district, air pollution control district, or local transportation authority shall not require any additional fiscal audit of an entity if that entity has completed an expanded audit pursuant to subdivision (a) that encompasses the scope, time period, and funding condition of the agency providing funding.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99246. Section 99246.

(a) (1) The transportation planning agency shall designate entities other than itself, a county transportation commission, a transit development board, or an operator to make a performance audit of its activities and the activities of each operator to whom it allocates funds. The transportation planning agency shall consult with the entity to be audited prior to designating the entity to make the performance audit. (2) Where a transit development board created pursuant to Division 11 (commencing with Section 120000) or a county transportation commission exists, the board or commission, as the case may be, shall designate entities other than itself, a transportation planning agency, or an operator to make a performance audit of its activities and those of operators located in the area under its jurisdiction to whom it directs the allocation of funds. The board or commission shall consult with the entity to be audited prior to designating the entity to make the performance audit. (b) The performance audit shall evaluate the efficiency, effectiveness, and economy of the operation of the entity being audited and shall be conducted in accordance with the efficiency, economy, and program results portions of the Comptroller General’s “Standards for Audit of Governmental Organizations, Programs, Activities, and Functions.” Performance audits shall be conducted triennially pursuant to a schedule established by the transportation planning agency, transit development board, or county transportation commission having jurisdiction over the operator. (c) The performance audit of the transportation planning agency, county transportation commission, or transit development board shall be submitted to the director. The transportation planning agency, county transportation commission, or transit development board, as the case may be, shall certify in writing to the director that the performance audit of operators located in the area under its jurisdiction has been completed. (d) (1) With respect to an operator providing public transportation services, the performance audit shall include, but not be limited to, a verification of the operator’s operating cost per passenger, operating cost per vehicle service hour, passengers per vehicle service hour, passengers per vehicle service mile, and vehicle service hours per employee, as defined in Section 99247. The performance audit shall include, but not be limited to, consideration of the needs and types of the passengers being served and the employment of part-time drivers and the contracting with common carriers of persons operating under a franchise or license to provide services during peak hours, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 99260.2. (2) The performance audit may include performance evaluations both for the entire system and for the system excluding special, new, or expanded services instituted to test public transportation service growth potential. (e) The performance audit prepared pursuant to this section shall be made available to the public pursuant to the provisions of the California Public Records Act (Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of Title 1 of the Government Code).

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99247. Section 99247.

For purposes of Section 99246, and as used elsewhere in this article: (a) “Operating cost” means all costs in the operating expense object classes exclusive of the costs in the depreciation and amortization expense object class of the uniform system of accounts and records adopted by the Controller pursuant to Section 99243. “Operating cost” excludes all subsidies for commuter rail services operated on railroad lines under the jurisdiction of the Federal Railroad Administration, all direct costs for providing charter services, all vehicle lease costs, and principal and interest payments on capital projects funded with certificates of participation. (b) “Operating cost per passenger” means the operating cost divided by the total passengers. (c) “Operating cost per vehicle service hour” means the operating cost divided by the vehicle service hours. (d) “Passengers per vehicle service hour” means the total passengers divided by the vehicle service hours. (e) “Passengers per vehicle service mile” means the total passengers divided by the vehicle service miles. (f) “Total passengers” means the number of boarding passengers, whether revenue producing or not, carried by the public transportation system. (g) “Transit vehicle” means a vehicle, including, but not limited to, one operated on rails or tracks, which is used for public transportation services funded, in whole or in part, under this chapter. (h) “Vehicle service hours” means the total number of hours that each transit vehicle is in revenue service, including layover time. (i) “Vehicle service miles” means the total number of miles that each transit vehicle is in revenue service. (j) “Vehicle service hours per employee” means the vehicle service hours divided by the number of employees employed in connection with the public transportation system, based on the assumption that 2,000 person-hours of work in one year constitute one employee. The count of employees shall also include those individuals employed by the operator which provide services to the agency of the operator responsible for the operation of the public transportation system even though not employed in that agency.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99248. Section 99248.

No operator is eligible to receive an allocation under this chapter for any fiscal year until the transmittal of reports of its performance audit to the entity which determines the allocation to the operator and the transportation planning agency for the three-year period ending one year prior to the beginning of the fiscal year of the proposed allocation. The transportation planning agency, county transportation commission, or transit development board, as the case may be, shall make the reports available to interested parties. In conformance with Section 99246, and prior to September 1 of each fiscal year, the transportation planning agency, county transportation commission, or metropolitan transit development board, as the case may be, shall provide to the director and Controller a schedule of performance audits to be submitted during that fiscal year and a list of all operators or claimants who operated or commenced operations during the prior fiscal year.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99249. Section 99249.

The cost of making the performance audits may be deemed an administrative cost of the transportation planning agencies for purposes of Section 99233.1. However, the Legislature encourages the use of funds made available by the federal government to support such purposes.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99250. Section 99250.

(a) All charter bus services authorized to be performed by a public transportation system receiving funding under this chapter shall contribute financially to the reduction of deficits incurred in the operation of scheduled route service. In addition, the charter bus service shall not interfere with regularly scheduled service to the public or compete unfairly with private operators where the private operators are willing and able to provide charter bus service. (b) Except as provided in subdivision (d), charter bus service rates and minimums shall be established that are either of the following: (1) At least equal to the average of the three lowest current rates charged by private charter bus carriers actually operating charters originating in the same service area of the public transportation system during the prior year. (2) At least equal to the marginal cost of each charter operated. (c) All charter bus service rates shall be reviewed and adjusted not less than semiannually to reflect variations in actual and assumed costs, as well as private charter bus carrier rates. (d) If the operator of a public transportation system determines that there is a public need that cannot otherwise be met, the operator may provide charter bus services to charitable or public service organizations at direct cost, not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or a total of 40 charter buses per year, whichever occurs first. (e) (1) This section does not apply to charter bus services that are incidental to the holding of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the County of Los Angeles and the greater San Francisco Bay area during the period from June 1, 2026, to July 31, 2026, inclusive, if the public transportation system establishes charter bus rates for those services that are sufficient to pay all marginal costs related to those services, that are at least equal to the average of the lowest rates charged by the three largest private charter party carriers operating similar service within the County of Los Angeles or the greater San Francisco Bay area, as applicable, and that contribute financially to the reduction of deficits incurred by the system in the operation of scheduled route service. (2) For purposes of this subdivision, “greater San Francisco Bay area” means the region comprised of the City and County of San Francisco and the Counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, and Sonoma.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99250.5. Section 99250.5.

(a) (1) At any publicly noticed meeting of the governing body of an operator, a representative of a private transportation service provider may request the operator to perform a cost comparison analysis of public transit service provided by vehicles equipped with rubber tires before the governing body acts on a route restructuring or service addition under consideration. The operator may agree to perform a cost comparison analysis pursuant to this section or alternatively, may so agree on the condition that the private transportation service provider that requested the cost comparison analysis agrees to pay the operator’s actual cost of conducting the analysis. If the operator agrees to perform the cost comparison analysis, the private transportation service provider requesting the cost comparison analysis shall supply any information necessary and relevant to complete the analysis. (2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require operators to perform a cost comparison analysis. At its sole discretion, the operator’s governing body may elect not to perform a cost comparison analysis. However, if the governing body determines not to perform a cost comparison analysis, it shall specify the reasons for that determination in a resolution adopted at a publicly noticed meeting. (b) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings: (1) “Cost comparison analysis” means a study of the route restructuring or service addition under consideration by the operator, that compares the cost to the operator of directly providing those services compared to the cost to the operator of procuring those services from private entities. The study shall utilize a full cost allocation method that is consistent with generally accepted cost allocation principles. (2) “Route restructuring” means a permanent change in routing that decreases or increases the total number of daily transit revenue service miles or hours by 25 percent or more. (3) “Service addition” means an increase in the total number of daily transit revenue service miles or hours on an existing route by 50 percent or more. (c) If the governing body performs a cost comparison analysis pursuant to this section, the results of the analysis shall be fully disclosed at a publicly noticed meeting. (d) This section does not apply to an operator in a county with less than 300,000 population or who operates less than 10 buses. (e) The operator may adopt appropriate procedures to implement the purposes of this section.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99251. Section 99251.

No claim submitted by an operator pursuant to this chapter shall be approved unless it is accompanied by a certification completed within the last 13 months from the Department of the California Highway Patrol indicating that the operator is in compliance with Section 1808.1 of the Vehicle Code. The certification may be issued following a terminal inspection, or a terminal reinspection conducted within 60 days thereafter, by the Department of the California Highway Patrol.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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