Chapter 11. Federal Aid For Rural Highway Public Transportation of California Streets And Highways Code >> Division 3. >> Chapter 11.

This chapter may be cited as the Rural Highway Public Transportation Act.

Federal law has authorized appropriations for expenditure for public mass transportation on highways in rural areas in order to enhance access of rural area populations to employment, health care, retail centers, education, and public services. The purpose of this chapter is to implement that program in this state. The boards of supervisors, city councils, and the department are authorized to do all things necessary and proper in their respective jurisdictions to secure the federal funds for use on rural highway public mass transportation projects in accordance with the intent of federal law and of this chapter.

As used in this chapter, "rural areas" means areas as defined in Section 101 of Title 23 of the United States Code.

The department shall establish operating procedures and take such other appropriate actions to comply with the provisions of this chapter and with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

All applications for federal funds for rural public mass transportation projects under Section 147 of the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1973 (Public Law 93-87) shall be made through the department.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the department may authorize the Controller to make payments to claimants for work performed on a rural public mass transportation project prior to the execution of a formal grant agreement subject to all of the following conditions:
  (a) The work is expressly included in a program of projects approved by the department and submitted to the United States Department of Transportation for funding.
  (b) A grant agreement for the work is subsequently executed between the department and the claimant.
  (c) Funds are specifically appropriated and available for the work.