Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority.

Existing law creates the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority for purposes relating to the development of a light rail project extending from the City of Los Angeles to the Cities of Pasadena and Montclair. This bill would provide for the extension of the project to the City of Ontario, instead of the City of Montclair. Existing law creates the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) and requires LACMTA to assume responsibility for operating all completed phases of the light rail project. Existing law grants LACMTA the authority to operate the portion of the light rail project that extends approximately one-half mile from the Los Angeles and San Bernardino County line to the Montclair Transit Center, subject to approval by the San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) of an operations and maintenance agreement, as specified, with respect to the portion of the project on the right-of-way owned by SANBAG. This bill would instead grant LACMTA authority to operate the portion of the light rail project that extends from the Los Angeles and San Bernardino County line to the LA/Ontario International Airport, subject to the approval of SANBAG described above. 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.