Section 99624 Of Chapter 3. Grants From California Public Utilities Code >> Division 10. >> Part 11.5. >> Chapter 3.
99624
. (a) Eighty million dollars ($80,000,000) to the department
for grade separations along the Alameda-San Pedro branch rail line
connecting the Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors with downtown Los
Angeles and paralleling Alameda Street, to alleviate vehicle traffic
congestion, conserve energy, reduce air pollution in the area, and
facilitate the more efficient and expeditious shipment of freight to
and from the Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors. The current owner of
the Alameda-San Pedro branch line may, at its option, continue to
own and operate the line and related right-of-way.
(b) The allocation and granting of funds pursuant to this Section
shall be exempt from Sections 99653 and 99663. The allocation and
granting of funds pursuant to this section shall also be exempt from
subdivision (c) of Section 1202, and Sections 1202.5 and 99317.8 of
the Public Utilities Code, and Sections 2450 to 2461, inclusive, of
the Streets and Highways Code if the affected railroad corporation
contributes ten (10) percent of the costs of constructing the grade
separations funded pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding any
provision of this code or the Streets and Highways Code, no city on
the Alameda-San Pedro branch line shall be assessed costs for the
grade separations. The department is the sole state agency
responsible for designing, determining priorities, and implementing
the construction of those grade separations. The department shall
coordinate its planning with any joint powers agency established to
represent affected cities, local agencies, or commissions. The
department shall further coordinate and cooperate with any such joint
powers agency so that the expenditure of any federal, local, and
private funds including those for tracks, switching, and
interconnection improvements, and the possible construction of a
proposed Alameda Street truck corridor is accomplished in an
efficient and well-planned manner.
(c) For the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act
(Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources
Code), grade separations funded pursuant to this section and all
related track and switching improvements and rail interconnections
shall be considered to be one project.