Public transit.

Existing law provides for creation of one or more special benefit districts within a transit district or rapid transit district relative to the issuance of bonds to be repaid through special assessments levied on property within the special benefit district, or certain zones within the special benefit district, with the proceeds of the bonds to be used for specified transit improvements. Existing law enacts similar provisions applicable to a municipal transit system owned by a city or city and county. This bill would repeal all of these provisions. Existing law, with respect to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, authorizes the creation of one or more benefit districts by the authority for rail transit purposes. This bill, until January 1, 2021, would enact new general provisions similar to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority provisions that would authorize an operator, defined to mean a transit district, municipal operator, or other public agency operating or contracting for the operation of transit, commuter rail, or intercity rail services, to create one or more special benefit districts within the service area of the operator relative to the issuance of bonds to be repaid through special assessments levied on property within the special benefit district, or zones within the special benefit district. An operator other than a transit district or municipal operator would be authorized to implement these provisions only if the action is consistent with the general or specific plans of the city or county within which the special benefit district is to be created. The proceeds of the bonds would be required to be used for eligible transit projects, including transit stations and rail facilities, as defined. The eligible transit projects would be required to provide special benefits to parcels of land, and improvements on those parcels, within the vicinity of transit stations. The bill would require the area included in a benefit district established under these provisions to lie not more than12 mile from the center point of a transit station. The bill would require the special benefit assessments authorized by the bill to be levied and collected by the applicable county and would thereby 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.