Article 3. Property of California Public Utilities Code >> Division 10. >> Part 12. >> Chapter 5. >> Article 3.

The district may take by grant, purchase, devise, or lease, or condemn in proceedings under eminent domain, or otherwise acquire, and hold and enjoy, real and personal property of every kind within or without the district necessary to the full or convenient exercise of its powers. The board may lease, mortgage, sell, or otherwise dispose of any real or personal property within or without the district necessary to the full or convenient exercise of its powers.

(a) The district may take by gift, or take or convey by grant, purchase, devise, or lease, and hold and enjoy, real and personal property of every kind within or without the district necessary for, incidental to, or convenient for, transit-oriented joint development projects that meet the definition and requirement set forth in subdivision (b).
  (b) (1) For purposes of this section, a transit-oriented joint development project is a commercial, residential, or mixed-use development that is undertaken in connection with existing, planned, or proposed transit facilities and is located 1/4 mile or less from the external boundaries of that facility.
  (2) Any transit-oriented joint development project created under this section shall comply with the land use and zoning regulations of the city, county, or city and county in which the project is located.
  (c) Notwithstanding Sections 53090 and 53091 of the Government Code or any other provision of law, the authority granted under this section is subject to the land use and zoning regulations of the city, county, or city and county jurisdiction in which the transit-oriented joint development is located, in accordance with the Planning and Zoning Law (Title 7 (commencing with Section 65000) of the Government Code), relating to zoning.

The district may exercise the right of eminent domain to take any property necessary or convenient to the exercise of the powers granted in this part. The district, in exercising such power, shall in addition to the damages for the taking, injury, or destruction of property, also pay the cost, exclusive of betterment and with credit for salvage value, of removal, reconstruction, or relocation of any structure, railways, mains, pipes, conduits, wires, cables, or poles of any public utility which is required to be moved to a new location. No taking or acquisition by the district which would involve the abandonment, removal, relocation, or use of the property of a railroad corporation, as defined in Section 230, shall be permitted, unless the Public Utilities Commission, after a hearing, shall find and determine that the public interest and necessity require the abandonment, removal, relocation, or use of such property and that such taking or acquisition will not unreasonably impair the ability of the railroad corporation involved to provide safe, adequate, economical, and efficient service.

The Public Utilities Commission of the state shall have and exercise power and jurisdiction to fix just compensation to be paid for the taking of any property of a public utility in eminent domain proceedings brought by the district. The district may commence and maintain such eminent domain proceedings in the Public Utilities Commission or the superior court at its option.

The district is entitled to the benefit of any reservation or grant, in all cases, where any right has been reserved or granted to any public agency to construct or maintain roads, highway or other crossings over any public or private lands.