Bay Area Toll Authority.

Existing law designates the Metropolitan Transportation Commission as the regional transportation planning agency for the San Francisco Bay Area. Existing law creates the Bay Area Toll Authority, governed by the same board as the commission, with specified powers and duties relative to the administration of certain toll revenues from state-owned toll bridges within the geographic jurisdiction of the commission. Existing law authorizes the authority to do all acts necessary or convenient for the exercise of its powers and the financing of projects, including the authorization to acquire, construct, manage, maintain, lease, or operate any public facility or improvements and to invest any money not required for immediate necessities as the authority deems advisable. This bill would prohibit the authority from purchasing or otherwise acquiring office space and office facilities in addition to the office space and office facilities located at 390 Main Street in San Francisco. Existing law authorizes the authority to make contributions to the commission in furtherance of the exercise of the authority's powers, as specified. Existing law also authorizes the authority to make contributions to the commission on a reimbursement-for-cost basis, but reimbursement is not required to the extent the authority determines that the contributions are in furtherance of the exercise of the authority's powers. This bill would limit direct contributions by the authority to the commission to 1% of gross annual toll bridge revenues, and would include a contribution for overhead expenses as an authorized contribution. The bill would authorize contributions by the authority to the commission on a reimbursement-for-cost basis to be provided in the form of a loan, and would require those loans to be repaid at a specified interest rate. The bill would limit the amount of these loans to 1% of gross annual toll bridge revenues.