Department of Transportation: north coast corridor project: high-occupancy toll lanes.

Existing law provides that the Department of Transportation has full possession and control of the state highway system. Existing law imposes various requirements for the development and implementation of transportation projects. This bill would impose additional requirements on the department with respect to specified highway projects on State Highway Route 5 in southern California, known collectively as the north coast corridor project, that are located entirely or partially in the coastal zone, including requiring the department to collaborate with local agencies, the California Coastal Commission, and other affected local, state, and federal agencies to ensure that multimodal transportation options are evaluated and included in the public works plan and, where appropriate, in the project design for the projects. The bill would make these requirements applicable to the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) and would also require SANDAG, for these projects, to establish a safe routes to transit program that integrates the adopted regional bike plan with transit services and, pursuant to SANDAG's agreement, as specified, to commit to dedicate for regional habitat acquisition, management, and monitoring activities a portion of specified taxes approved by the voters in San Diego County. The bill would, for these projects, require the department to suspend a notice of determination relating to environmental impact, issued between January 1, 2011, and January 1, 2012, until it is determined that environmental documents for the projects satisfy the requirements of the bill. The bill would also make legislative findings and declarations. Existing law authorizes SANDAG to conduct, administer, and operate a value pricing high-occupancy toll (HOT) lane program on 2 corridors included in the high-occupancy vehicle lane system in San Diego County. This bill would also authorize SANDAG to conduct, administer, and operate a value pricing HOT lane on State Highway Route 5. The bill would require SANDAG to carry out the HOT lane program in cooperation with the department and would require revenues from the program to be used for the costs of the program, for improvement of transit services, and for high-occupancy vehicle facilities. By imposing additional requirements on SANDAG, this bill would impose 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.