Article 4. Rail Transit Facilities And Service of California Public Utilities Code >> Division 10. >> Part 16. >> Chapter 4. >> Article 4.

The district may provide a rail transit system for the transportation of passengers and their incidental baggage by rail.

(a) The district may acquire, construct, own, operate, control, or use rights-of-way, rail lines, stations, platforms, switches, yards, terminals, parking lots, and any and all other facilities necessary or convenient for rail transit within and without the district, together with all physical structures necessary or convenient for the access of persons and vehicles thereto, including ancillary bicycle and pedestrian pathways, and may acquire or contract for any interest in or rights to the use or joint use of any or all of the foregoing.
  (b) The district may contract with any public agency or person for the operation of shuttle services necessary or convenient for rail transit.
  (c) In Sonoma County, north of Healdsburg, the district shall locate commuter stations only within incorporated areas.
  (d) In Marin County north of San Rafael, the district shall locate commuter stations only within areas that are incorporated as of the operative date of this part.

The district may lease or contract for the use of its rail transit facilities, or any portion thereof, to any operator, and may provide for subleases by the operator upon any terms and conditions it deems in the public interest. As used in this section, "operator" means any public agency or any person.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 105143, the board may contract with any public agency or person to provide rail transit facilities and services for the district.

The district may construct and operate or acquire and operate rail transit works and facilities in, under, upon, over, across, or along any state or public highway or any stream, bay or watercourse, or over any of the lands that are the property of the state, to the same extent that these rights and privileges are granted to municipalities within the state.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 105087, the provisions of Article 5 (commencing with Section 53090) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code shall not be applicable to the district.

The district may enter into agreements for the joint use of any property and rights by the district and any city, public agency, or public utility operating transit facilities and may enter into agreements with any city, public agency, or public utility operating any transit facilities, wholly or partially within or without the district, for the joint use of any property of the district or of the city, public agency, or public utility, or for the establishment of through routes, joint fares, transfer of passengers, or pooling agreements.

The district may, without limitation by any other provisions of this part requiring approval of indebtedness, accept contributions of money, grants, loans, rights-of-way, labor, materials, and any other property from the state or the United States, or any department, instrumentality, or agency thereof, or from any public agency for the acquisition, construction, maintenance, and operation of rail transit facilities. The district may, without limitation by any other provisions of this part, enter into any contract and cooperate with and accept cooperation from the state or the United States, or any department, instrumentality, or agency thereof, or any public agency in the acquisition, construction, maintenance, and operation of, and in financing the acquisition, construction, maintenance, and operation of, any rail transit facilities. The district may do any and all things necessary in order to obtain the aid, assistance, and cooperation under any federal or state legislation now or hereafter enacted. Any evidence of indebtedness issued under this section shall constitute a negotiable instrument.

The rates and charges for rail transit service furnished pursuant to this part shall be fixed by the board and shall be reasonable.

The district shall work with the North Coast Railroad Authority, the Federal Railroad Administration, and any of its successor agencies, to achieve safe, efficient, and compatible operations of both passenger rail and freight service along the rail line in Sonoma and Marin Counties.

The district shall be responsible for any advance payment of any portion of the North Coast Railroad Authority's Q-Fund loan repayment obligation caused by the district's action. Any amount advanced by the district shall be reimbursed by the North Coast Railroad Authority at the time the North Coast Railroad Authority's obligation to repay that portion of the Q-Fund loan would otherwise become due.