Article 1. Corporate Power of California Public Utilities Code >> Division 10. >> Part 12. >> Chapter 5. >> Article 1.

The district has perpetual succession and may adopt a seal and alter it at its pleasure.

The district may sue and be sued, except as otherwise provided by law, in all actions and proceedings, in all courts and tribunals of competent jurisdiction.

All claims for money or damages against the district are governed by Division 3.6 (commencing with Section 810) of Title 1 of the Government Code except as provided therein, or by other statutes or regulations expressly applicable thereto.

The district shall not levy any tax unless a majority of the electors voting on the measure vote to authorize the levy of the tax at a special election called for that purpose by the board of supervisors. Whenever a bond election is held to authorize incurring bonded indebtedness pursuant to Section 100400, the ordinance calling the election shall include a statement of the tax or taxes to be levied or continued to be levied and used, to the extent such taxes are required to pay principal of and interest on the bonds as the same become due, to provide any sinking fund payments required therefor, or to create or maintain any reserve fund required therefor. A vote in favor of the issuance of the bonds shall authorize the board to levy and collect such taxes. The ordinance levying such taxes shall not be repealed until all bonds payable from the revenues derived from such taxes have been fully paid or provision has been made for their payment in full.

Except as otherwise provided in this part, district elections shall be called, held, and conducted as provided by the Uniform District Election Law.

The district may exercise any and all powers granted by any other law that, by its terms, is applicable to transit districts generally, to public agencies generally, or to any classification of districts or public agencies that includes a district of the type provided for in this part, but the district shall not exercise any power contrary to an express provision of this part.

(a) The authority may administer and implement any adopted countywide transportation expenditure plan funded in an amount greater than 50 percent from revenues derived from a retail transaction and use tax, if so designated in the plan or if the authority and the entity that imposes the tax have entered into an agreement that so provides. The authority may exercise those powers necessary to carry out this purpose.
  (b) The authority may do any and all things necessary to ensure the completion of any projects established in a plan as set forth in subdivision (a). These projects may include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
  (1) The construction and improvement of state highways.
  (2) The construction, maintenance, and improvement of local roads, streets, and county highways.
  (3) The construction, improvement, and operation of public transit systems, including paratransit services.
  (4) The construction and improvement of bicycle and transportation facilities.
  (c) The authority shall consult with and coordinate any actions for administering and implementing a plan as set forth in subdivision (a) with the cities in the county, the board of supervisors, and the Department of Transportation.
  (d) Nothing in this section shall vary the terms of the cooperative agreement dated July 1, 1999, between the authority and the County of Santa Clara for the construction of transportation projects utilizing local transaction and use tax revenues derived from Santa Clara County general tax Measure B approved by the voters in November 1996. If any of the provisions of this section conflict with the provisions of that cooperative agreement, the provisions of the cooperative agreement shall take precedence.