Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority.

Existing law creates the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority, governed by a board of 5 voting members and 3 nonvoting members, appointed as specified, for purposes relating to the development of a light rail project extending from the City of Los Angeles to the Cities of Pasadena and Claremont, and authorizes the authority to accept grants, fees, and allocations from the state, local agencies, and private entities. This bill would provide for the extension of the project to the City of Montclair, instead of the City of Claremont. The bill would authorize the authority to also accept grants, fees, and allocations from federal agencies, and to accept transfers of funds from federal, state, and local agencies. Existing law creates the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) and specifies that the LACMTA shall assume responsibility for operating the project upon dissolution of the authority. Existing law creates the San Bernardino County Transportation Commission and requires the San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) to function in that capacity. This bill would require the LACMTA to assume responsibility for operating all completed phases of the project. The bill would require the authority to enter into a construction agreement with SANBAG prior to commencing construction of the portion of the project in the County of San Bernardino. The bill would grant LACMTA authority to operate the portion of the project located in the County of San Bernardino, subject to approval by SANBAG through approval of an operations and maintenance agreement, as specified, with respect to the portion of the project on the right-of-way owned by SANBAG. The bill would expand the board of the authority by one nonvoting member to be appointed by the president of the board of directors of SANBAG. Existing law authorizes the governing board of the authority to appoint an executive director to carry out the duties of the authority, including awarding and approving contracts. This bill would require that contracts awarded by the executive director comply with laws generally applicable to local agency procurements, as specified. Because this bill would require a local authority to assume additional responsibilities, it would create a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.