CHAPTER 1. General Provisions [99600. - 99605.]

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC 1.
in effect

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99601. Section 99601.

The people of California find and declare all of the following: (a) Rail transportation results in cleaner air, less energy use, more transportation opportunities for those who cannot drive, and less crowding on already overcrowded streets and highways. (b) For these reasons, it is appropriate to use state general obligation bonds to finance rail infrastructure. (c) This part will result in implementation of part of an overall transportation plan which will provide cleaner air and better transportation options for all Californians.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99602. Section 99602.

For purposes of this part, the following terms have the following meanings, unless expressly stated otherwise: (a) “CalTrain” means the commuter rail service operated along the San Francisco Peninsula commute corridor. (b) “Commission” means the California Transportation Commission. (c) “Commuter rail service” and its derivative terms have the same meaning as the term “commuter service” and its derivative terms, as defined in paragraph (9) of subsection (a) of Section 502 of Title 45 of the United States Code. (d) “Department” means the Department of Transportation. (e) “Exclusive public mass transit guideway” means a transit capital improvement included in the definition of this term as applied and used in 70 Op. Atty. Gen. 119 or a transit capital improvement for which motor vehicle fuel tax funds from the State Highway Account in the State Transportation Fund were actually allocated by the commission on or before January 1, 1989. (f) “Fund” means the Clean Air and Transportation Improvement Fund created by Section 99610. (g) “Grade separations” means grade separations for either passenger or freight rail services. (h) “Intercity rail” and its derivative terms means passenger rail service between urban areas of the state. (i) “Local agency” means a county, city, city and county, county transportation commission, county transportation authority, transit development board, transit district, or any joint powers agency specified in this part. (j) “Rail project” means a commuter passenger rail service project, an intercity passenger rail project, or a rail transit project, and includes exclusive public mass transit guideway projects and the project described in Section 99624. (k) “Rail transit” means a rail mass transportation operation usually within an urban area, generally characterized by more frequent service over shorter distances than normally provided by commuter rail service or intercity rail service, and operating on a rail line without any or with very limited rail freight service. ( l ) “Right-of-way” means right-of-way for rail purposes, including separate right-of-way alignments adjacent to existing freight lines.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99603. Section 99603.

(a) The department shall establish an advisory committee to assist the department in developing specifications for standard state-of-the-art California commuter and intercity rail cars and locomotives. The committee shall consist of representatives from all affected local transportation agencies as well as the department’s Division of Mass Transportation and one consumer representative. (b) The purpose of the standard equipment is to facilitate joint procurement in economic quantities, to further interchangeability of equipment among corridors, and to reduce maintenance costs by minimizing the need for spare parts inventories. (c) To the extent possible, the committee shall rely on the department’s existing work in procuring new equipment for CalTrain. (d) The committee shall investigate the feasibility of a uniform design of a rail car shell which could be deployed in both intercity and commuter rail applications, with car interiors to be appropriately outfitted for either intercity or commuter service. (e) The committee shall consider two types of coach service, dining or cafe car service, or both, and economical sleeping car service for intercity applications. (f) The committee shall consider inclusion of sanitary holding tanks and reasonable passenger amenities including, but not limited to, accommodations for a reasonable number of bicycles carried on board by passengers, for both intercity and commuter applications. (g) Intercity equipment specifications shall not be adopted unless approved by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99604. Section 99604.

If bonds sufficient to fund the total aggregate of the amounts specified in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 99620) cannot be sold pursuant to Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 99690), the allocation for each project shall be reduced proportionately.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 99605. Section 99605.

Except as otherwise provided in this part, the Legislature may amend this part, by statute passed in each house of the Legislature by rollcall vote entered in the journal, four-fifths of the membership concurring, if the statute is consistent with, and furthers the purposes of, this part. No changes shall be made in the way in which funds are allocated pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 99620), except pursuant to Section 99684.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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