Chapter 4. Applications For Grants of California Public Utilities Code >> Division 10. >> Part 11.5. >> Chapter 4.

(a) The commission shall adopt guidelines, as necessary, to require that grants for transit projects be expended for projects which are essential to the implementation of safe and reliable transit services. The guidelines shall include criteria for the awarding of grants for new or rehabilitated rail construction for passenger rail projects, specifying a maximum cost per mile for service for various regions of the state.
  (b) The purpose of this section is to facilitate implementation of improved cost-effective transit service to the maximum number of Californians and to prevent the funds provided for by this part from being spent on needlessly costly features.

The department, the Department of Parks and Recreation, or a local agency responsible for a project which is eligible for a grant pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 99620) may apply to the commission for a grant for that project. Each application shall identify the specific section of Chapter 3 which authorizes the grant applied for. If a project is proposed to be funded by grants authorized by more than one section, the application shall identify each of the applicable sections and shall specify the amount applied for under each of those sections.

Two or more applicant agencies may join in applying for a grant for a project in which each of the agencies will participate.

(a) In accordance with regulations and guidelines of the commission, each application shall be accompanied by a plan describing how the grant funds will be used, what other capital funds are available for the project, and how those funds will be used. The plan shall include a plan for operating any new service, including a financial plan for operation.
  (b) The plan shall also identify the sources of the remainder of the funds required for construction and operation of any new service.
  (c) The application shall demonstrate that a reasonable share of the cost of any new or rehabilitated passenger rail service, as determined by the commission, will be covered by farebox revenue.

(a) The commission, with the assistance of the department, shall commence its review of an application for a grant within 30 days of receipt of the application.
  (b) The application shall either be approved or denied by the commission within 180 days of its receipt, except that, if the commission requests additional information from the applicant, the time for approving or denying the application shall be calculated from the date that the commission receives the additional information requested.
  (c) If the commission denies an application, it shall state the specific reasons for that denial and may, in its discretion, permit the application to be amended to remove those grounds for denial. The commission shall have 180 days from the receipt of an amended application to either approve or deny the amended application.
  (d) The commission shall not deny any application which meets the requirements of this part and which conforms to the regulations and guidelines of the commission for the award of grants, nor shall the commission unreasonably delay the approval of an application which substantially conforms to those requirements if the applicant agrees to allow the commission to modify the application to meet its conditions for approval.

(a) To be eligible for a grant for a rail transit project pursuant to Section 99630, subdivision (b), (c), or (d) of Section 99631, subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 99632, Section 99633, 99634, 99635, 99637, subdivision (b) of Section 99638, Section 99639, subdivision (b) of Section 99640, Section 99641, 99642, 99643, 99644, or 99645, an applicant agency shall match on a dollar-for-dollar basis, the amount of the grant from other public or private sources and shall demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the commission, the availability of those other funds.
  (b) Local agencies shall not adopt new or increased development taxes, fees, or exactions or permit fees for the purpose of providing matching funds for any grant specified in subdivision (a) or to pay for operating costs of new service established by a grant made pursuant to this part.
  (c) Bridge toll revenues otherwise available to a local agency may be used as a source of matching funds.

The eligibility of an applicant agency for a grant pursuant to a section of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 99620) does not make it ineligible to apply for and receive a grant pursuant to any other provision of that chapter.

(a) An application for a grant for a commuter rail or rail transit project within the area of jurisdiction of a transportation planning agency, as defined in Sections 29532 and 29532.4 of the Government Code, shall be subject to the grant review authority of the transportation planning agency.

Each application for a grant to fund a segment of a commuter rail project shall demonstrate that the project is coordinated with all other planned and existing connecting commuter and intercity services, to maximize their efficiency and service to the people in the region.
  (b) If practicable, a joint maintenance facility shall be developed for commuter and other rail equipment at a central location in Southern California.
  (c) In order to maximize efficiency and avoid duplication of effort, a single joint powers agency may be established to implement and operate all commuter rail services in Southern California.

An application for rail transit extension shall include a plan for integrating bus service with the rail line and for avoiding duplicative and competing bus service. The commission shall submit the application to a peer review committee of at least three persons which shall evaluate the adequacy of the local agency's transit integration plan. The peer review committee shall be appointed by the commission from persons recommended by the department and shall include representatives of transit operators. The local agency shall either implement recommendations of the peer review committee or indicate why the recommendations are not being implemented. The commission shall review the adequacy of the transit integration plan before approving the rail transit extension.