ARTICLE 5. Rapid Transit Facilities and Service [30630. - 30647.]

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC 5.

in effect

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 30630. Section 30630.

The district may provide a rapid transit system for the transportation of passengers and their incidental baggage.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 30630.5. Section 30630.5.

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), the district may operate charter bus service, subject to all of the following limitations: (1) Bus equipment that is designed solely for charter service shall not be purchased. A bus equipped with a toilet or underfloor baggage compartment shall be deemed to be bus equipment that is designed solely for charter service. (2) The board shall hold a public hearing before adopting a charter rate schedule or any amendment to the charter rate schedule. Notice of the hearing shall be mailed to each charter-party carrier operating within the district at least 30 days before the date of the hearing. The notice shall include the proposed charter rate schedule. At the close of the public hearing, the board may adopt charter rate schedules, which shall not be less than the average for the three largest private charter-party carriers operating similar service in the district. (3) Charter service operations by the district shall originate and terminate within the area served by the district, unless a private charter-party carrier requests the district to provide service beyond that area. (b) (1) The district may provide charter bus service for the 2026 FIFA World Cup during the period from June 1, 2026, to July 31, 2026, inclusive, in the County of Los Angeles if all of the following conditions are met: (A) The district establishes a schedule of rates for charter bus services that are incidental to the holding of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the County of Los Angeles subject to the following requirements: (i) The rates for charter-party bus services established under this paragraph are sufficient to pay all marginal costs related to those charter bus services and contribute financially to the reduction of deficits incurred by the district in the operation of scheduled route services. (ii) The rates are at least equal to the average of the lowest rates charged by the three largest private charter-party carriers operating similar service in the County of Los Angeles. (iii) The schedule of rates are effective from June 1, 2026, to July 31, 2026, inclusive. (B) The district provides charter bus service for the events to the extent that private charter-party carriers are not capable of providing that service. (C) The district provides charter bus service in compliance with paragraphs (1) and (3) of subdivision (a). (2) Other public transportation providers, operating under contract with the district, may provide charter bus service under this subdivision in the County of Los Angeles for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (3) This subdivision does not override any collective bargaining agreement between the district or a public transportation provider operating under contract with the district and a labor organization that represents employees of those entities, as applicable, and does not authorize the district or a public transportation provider operating under contract with the district to provide charter bus service via contracting with private entities. Any charter bus service provided pursuant to this subdivision shall be operated by the district, or a public transportation provider operating under contract with the district, with employees of the entity providing the charter service. (4) For purposes of this subdivision, “not capable of providing that service” includes, but is not limited to, the inability to meet requirements including, but not limited to, requirements with regard to unique equipment, fuel type, number of doors, frequency, public safety, accommodations for standing passengers, handicap accessibility, or the nature of the service. (5) This subdivision shall become inoperative on January 1, 2027.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 30631. Section 30631.

(a) The district may acquire, construct, develop, lease, jointly develop, own, operate, maintain, control, use, jointly use, or dispose of rights-of-way, rail lines, monorails, buslines, stations, platforms, switches, yards, terminals, parking lots, air rights, land rights, development rights, entrances and exits, and any and all other facilities for, incidental to, necessary for, or convenient for rapid transit service, including, but not limited to, facilities and structures physically or functionally related to rapid transit service, within or partly without the district, underground, upon, or above the ground and under, upon, or over public street, highways, bridges, or other public ways or waterways, together with all physical structures necessary for, incidental to, or convenient for the access of persons and vehicles thereto, and may acquire, lease, sell, or otherwise contract with respect to any interest in or rights to the use or joint use of any or all of the foregoing. However, installations in state freeways are subject to the approval of the Department of Transportation and installations in other state highways are subject to Article 2 (commencing with Section 670) of Chapter 3 of Division 1 of the Streets and Highways Code. (b) The use of the streets, highways, freeways, and other public places by the district for any of the purposes permitted herein is presumed to be no greater burden on adjoining properties than the uses existing as of August 22, 1964. If facilities, other than state highways or freeways referred to above, (including, but not limited to, streets, highways, pipelines, sewers, water mains, storm drains, poles, communications wires, and electric transmission wires) of another public agency, of the state, or of a private owner are necessarily required to be relocated, replaced, or altered in order for the district to construct or operate its system, or if the construction or operation by the district of its system makes necessary the relocation, replacement, or alteration of any of those facilities of another public agency, of the state, or of a private owner in order to maintain the functioning of the facilities at their previous level of service, the facilities shall be relocated, replaced, or altered with reasonable promptness by the respective public corporation, state, or private owner and the district shall, by prior agreement, reimburse the public corporation, state, or private owner for the actual cost necessarily incurred in the relocation, replacement, or alteration. (c) The district may enter into an agreement with any city or county having jurisdiction over the street or highway involved, and, as may be provided in the agreement, may close any city street or county highway at or near the point of its interception with any district facility or may make provision for carrying the city street or county highway over or under or to a connection with the district facility and may do any and all work on the city street or county highway as is necessary therefor. No city street or county highway shall be closed, either directly or indirectly, by the construction of district facilities except pursuant to such an agreement or while temporarily necessary during the construction of district facilities if the district has first obtained a temporary street or highway closing permit.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 30632. Section 30632.

The district may lease or contract for the use of its facilities, or any portion thereof, to any operator, and may provide for subleases by such operator upon such terms and conditions as it deems in the public interest. The word “operator” as used in this section means any city or public agency or any person, firm or private corporation engaged in the transportation of passengers for hire, properly holding a Public Utilities Commission approved and authorized certificate of public convenience and necessity for the transportation of passengers.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 30633. Section 30633.

The district may construct, acquire, develop, jointly develop, maintain, operate, lease, and dispose of works and facilities in, under, upon, over, across, or along any road, street, alley, avenue, or public highway or any stream, bay, watercourse, or other public ways or waterways, or over any of the lands which are the property of the state, including, but not limited to, facilities and structures physically or functionally related to rapid transit service, to the same extent that those rights and privileges relating to public ways or waterways are granted to municipalities within the state for those uses or any other use or uses, including, but not limited to, those uses specified in Article 3 (commencing with Section 10101) of Chapter 1 of Division 5.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 30634. Section 30634.

(a) The district may enter into agreements for the joint use or joint development of any property or rights by the district and any city, public agency, or public utility operating transit facilities or nontransit facilities, or both, or any other person, firm, corporation, association, organization, or other entity, public or private, either, in whole or in part, within or outside the district, for the joint use or development of any property of the district or of the city, public agency, public utility, person, firm, corporation, association, organization, or other entity, public or private, or the establishment of through routes, joint fares, station cost-sharing, connector fees, or land, air, or development rights sales or leasing, transfer of passengers, pooling arrangements, or for any other purpose necessary for, incidental to, or convenient for the full exercise of the powers granted in this part. As to any service which the district is authorized to perform pursuant to this part, the district may contract for the performance of the service by any city, county, or public utility operating transit facilities, the territory of which is, in whole or in part, within the district. (b) “Joint development” includes, but is not limited to, agreements with any person, firm, corporation, association, organization, or other entity, public or private, to develop or to engage in the planning, financing, or construction of district facilities or development projects adjacent, or physically or functionally related, to district facilities. (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, no joint development of nontransit facilities may be accomplished without the prior approval of the legislative body of the local jurisdiction within which the development is to take place. (d) “Transit facilities,” as used in this section, includes land, buildings, and equipment, or any interest therein, whether or not the operation thereof produces revenue, which have as their primary purpose the operation of a rail transit system or the providing of services to the passengers of a rail transit system. (e) “Nontransit facilities,” as used in this section, includes any land, buildings, or equipment, or interest therein, which is used primarily for the production of transit revenue not arising from the operation of a rail transit system.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 30635. Section 30635.

The district may operate such feeder bus lines and other feeder services as necessary.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 30636. Section 30636.

As soon as practicable after the effective date of this part, the board shall cause a preliminary report to be made as to a rapid transit service and system which shall include: (a) The estimated cost of the proposed acquisition, and construction and all incidental expenses connected therewith. (b) The probable sources of income from the system and the estimated amount thereof. (c) The estimated cost of maintenance and operation thereof. (d) The proposed method or methods of financing. (e) Any other information deemed pertinent, including, without limitation, a preliminary sketch or sketches, plan or plans or design of stations, platforms, terminals, structures and facilities constituting a method of rapid transit (all of the foregoing being hereafter referred to in this section by the word “facilities”), the proposed locations thereof and the proposed routes of the system. The district shall, in connection with the studies necessary to determine the possible routes and locations for the said facilities, confer with the appropriate local governing bodies and other agencies that may be affected thereby and with their technical and planning personnel, obtaining where available any master or general plan in the affected areas. The district shall give written notice of the preliminary report to each affected city or county that it may, within a period prescribed by the district (which period shall not be less than sixty (60) days), submit comments or evidence as to the effect that the design, location and routes of said facilities would have in their areas, including, without limitation, the effect upon property values, state and local facilities, and city street and county highway traffic. When sufficient information has been accumulated to permit intelligent discussion, the district shall publicize and hold such public meeting or meetings as may be reasonably necessary to acquaint interested individuals, officials and civic or other groups with the studies made and the information developed and to obtain their views with respect to the preliminary report. Using the information developed the district shall then prepare a final report containing the foregoing subdivisions (a) to (e) and such other matters deemed pertinent, including, without limitation, the information obtained at conferences and meetings, the relationship between all proposed routes and locations of such facilities and any master or general plans of the affected local agency or agencies and any information submitted by affected cities or counties pursuant to this section. The final report shall conclude with a recommendation as to the routes, location and design of such facilities. The district shall serve written notice of the final report to each affected city or county that it may, within a period to be prescribed by the district (which period shall be not less than sixty (60) days), request a public hearing. Such notification shall include a statement that the district will hold a public hearing, if requested to do so by the governing body, within thirty (30) days following receipt of such written notification by the governing body; provided, however, that if, prior to receipt of such notification from the district, the governing body or bodies shall have, by resolution, declared that no public hearing by the district is necessary, then the notification by the district shall advise such governing body only of the intention of the district to consider the matter. If any such governing body requests such hearing, the district shall hold a hearing, after public notice given in such manner as the district may determine, at which time and place all persons, and official bodies and other organizations interested in the matter, shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard. The district may also, on its own motion, call a public meeting or hold such hearings as it may deem appropriate. If no hearing is requested, the district may determine the routes, locations and design for the said facilities within the limits of the cities or counties to which the notice required by this section was given after the expiration of such period of thirty (30) days. If a hearing is requested, the district must determine the routes, location and design for said facilities within the limits of the cities or counties to which the notice required by this section was given within ninety (90) days after the first day on which such hearing is held. This section is not intended to require in any report or reports made under the section prior to a bond election for the acquisition and construction of a line or lines or system (or such part thereof as the board determines to call a bond election on, and whether such report or reports be designated preliminary or final) detailed plans and specifications such as would be necessary for the acquisition and construction of the facilities or any part thereof, nor is it the intent of this section to prevent the district from taking advantage in the final plans and specifications of any technological advances, if the same occur, or from making changes due to additional information based on the results of surveys, experiments or tests. Failure to comply in whole or part, or any defect in compliance with this section prior to a bond election, shall not affect the validity of the bond election or of the bonds, but as to any line to be acquired or constructed from the proceeds of the bonds this section must be substantially complied with prior to the expenditure of the proceeds of the bonds on such line, and no substantial change in any route theretofore determined following the procedure required by this section may be made without holding further hearings pursuant to notice given in such manner as the district may determine if the proposed change in the route is objected to by any city or county affected thereby.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 30636.2. Section 30636.2.

In planning the development of a rapid transit system or any part thereof within its territory and in carrying out the provisions of Section 30001, the district may extend its studies to include any city or unincorporated area not within the territory of the district. The district may invite the participation in such studies of government agencies having planning jurisdiction in such extended areas, and the studies shall be coordinated with regional comprehensive and transportation planning programs. The district may accept and use for the purpose of rapid transit planning in such extended areas any funds provided for such purpose.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 30636.5. Section 30636.5.

(a) Not later than January 10, 1974, the district shall submit to the Legislature its plan for the implementation of a rapid transit system, and the financing thereof, in the district. (b) Prior to adding any new, or extending any existing, scheduled or regularly scheduled bus service, the district shall prepare a cost-benefit study of the proposed added or extended bus service.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 30637. Section 30637.

The district shall not exercise control over any transit facilities now or hereafter owned and operated wholly or partly within, or without, the district by any city or public agency, unless by consent of such city or public agency and upon such terms as are mutually agreed upon between the board and such city or public agency. The district shall not establish, construct, complete, acquire, operate, extend, or reroute (all of the foregoing being hereinafter referred to by the word “establish” in all forms thereof), directly or indirectly, either itself or by lease or contract with any other person or otherwise, any rapid transit service or system in such manner or form as will or may, either then or at any time in the future, divert, lessen, or compete for the patronage or revenues of the existing system of a publicly or privately owned public utility without the consent of the public utility, if the existing system has been in operation since at least August 1, 1974. The maintenance and operation, but not the extension or rerouting, of any existing system acquired by the district from a publicly or privately owned public utility shall not be deemed to be the establishment of a rapid transit service or system within the meaning of this section. The construction by the district of any structures constituting a method of rapid transit, and the operation therein and thereon of any equipment except buses, shall not be deemed to be the establishment, construction, completion, acquisition, operation, or extension of rapid transit within the meaning of this section. No publicly owned public utility shall establish, construct, complete, acquire, or extend, directly or indirectly, either itself or by lease or contract with any other person or otherwise, any rapid transit service system in such manner or form as will then substantially divert or reduce the patronage or revenues of the system operated by the district. Any municipality may acquire and operate any existing transportation system within its existing transit service area without being in violation of this paragraph and may make route extensions to such system within its existing transit service area where such extensions do not compete with the established services of the district. Nothing in this part shall be construed as in any way preventing or restricting the City of Los Angeles or any other city from exercising any powers which it has under Section 9 of Article XI of the California Constitution, including, without limitation, the establishing and operation of any point to point lines or system of rapid transit to operate in connection with any other transportation services established and operated by such city.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 30638. Section 30638.

(a) The rates, fees, and charges for service or rights furnished, leased, or otherwise transferred pursuant to this part, including, but not limited to, station cost-sharing, connector fees, and land or air rights sales or leasing, shall be fixed by a vote of two-thirds of all of the members of the board and shall be reasonable. Insofar as practicable, the rates, fees, and charges shall be determined and fixed so as to result in revenue which will make the transit system self-supporting and shall be sufficient to accomplish all of the following: (1) Pay the operating expenses of the district. (2) Provide for repairs, maintenance, and depreciation of works owned or operated by the district. (3) Provide for the purchase, lease, or acquisition of equipment under Article 3 (commencing with Section 30940) of Chapter 7. (4) Provide for the payment of the interest and principal of the bonded debt, subject to the applicable provisions of this part authorizing the issuance and retirement of bonds. (5) Provide for the payment of contracts, agreements, leases, equipment, trust certificates, and other legal liabilities assumed under Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 31000). (b) After making any current allocations of funds required for the purposes prescribed by pargraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, of subdivision (a) and by the terms of any indebtedness incurred under Article 1 (commencing with Section 30900), Article 2 (commencing with Section 30930), and Article 5 (commencing with Section 30960) of Chapter 7, the board may provide funds for any purpose the board deems necessary and desirable to carry out the purposes of this part. (c) This section does not constitute a covenant to the holders of any bonds or other evidences of indebtedness of the district unless the ordinance, resolution, or indenture providing for the issuance of those instruments so provides.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 30638.2. Section 30638.2.

Notwithstanding Section 30638, all net income from fees, charges, rents, profits, or other net income arising from joint development of the property of the district which was acquired exclusively for the rail rapid transit system shall be used only for the following purposes: (a) Pay the capital and operating expenses of the rail rapid transit system. (b) Provide for the payment of interest and principal of the bonded debt for the rail rapid transit system, subject to the applicable provisions of this part authorizing the issuance and retirement of bonds. (c) Provide for the payment of contracts, agreements, leases, equipment, and other legal liabilities assumed under Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 31000). As used in this section, “operating expenses” includes the expenses of operation, maintenance, and repair of all personal or real property physically or functionally related to rail rapid transit services or facilities.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 30639. Section 30639.

The board of supervisors of a county, or the governing body of a city having territory located within the district may file a request for a hearing before the district board as to the reasonableness of any rates or charges fixed by the district and as to any proposal for fixing the location of facilities by the district. The request shall be in writing and shall state the subject matter on which a hearing is desired.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 30640. Section 30640.

Upon the filing of a request for hearing as provided in Section 30639, the district board shall fix the time and place for hearing. The time fixed shall not be less than 15 days nor more than 60 days from the date the request is filed. Notice of the hearing shall be given to the county or city requesting the hearing, shall be mailed to the governing body of each city and county located, in whole or in part, within the district, and shall be published once by the board.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 30641. Section 30641.

At the time fixed for any hearing before the board any board of supervisors or city governing body eligible to file a request for hearing, not a party to the original request for hearing, may intervene and shall be entitled to be heard and to introduce evidence.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 30642. Section 30642.

The district, petitioner or petitioners, and the intervenors shall have the right to call and examine witnesses; to introduce exhibits; to cross-examine opposing witnesses on any matter relevant to the issues even though that matter was not covered in direct examination; and to rebut evidence introduced by other parties.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 30643. Section 30643.

Oral evidence shall be taken only on oath or affirmation. The hearing need not be conducted according to technical rules relating to evidences and witnesses. Any relevant evidence shall be admitted if it is the sort of evidence on which responsible persons are accustomed to rely in the conduct of serious business affairs, regardless of the existence of any common law or statutory rule which might make improper the admission of such evidence over objection in a civil action. Hearsay evidence may be used for the purpose of supplementing or explaining any direct evidence but shall not be sufficient in itself to support a finding unless it would be admissible over objection in a civil action.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 30644. Section 30644.

A complete record of all proceedings and testimony before the board at such hearing shall be taken down by a reporter appointed by the board. In case an action is brought to review any decision of the board, a transcript of such testimony, together with all exhibits or copies thereof introduced, together with the written request for hearing and other proceedings in the cause shall constitute the record on review; provided, however, that the board and other parties may stipulate in writing that a specified portion of the evidence be certified to the court for judgment and in such case the portion of the evidence specified and the stipulation specifying such evidence shall be the record on review.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 30645. Section 30645.

Within 30 days after the conclusion of the hearing, the board shall render its decision, in writing, with written findings of fact. Copies of the findings and decision shall be sent immediately to the petitioners and intervenors by certified mail, postage prepaid.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 30646. Section 30646.

The district shall be subject to regulations of the Public Utilities Commission relating to safety appliances and procedures, and the commission shall inspect all work done pursuant to this part and may make such further additions or changes necessary for the purpose of safety to employees and the general public. The district shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Public Utilities Commission with respect to safety rules and other regulations governing the operation of street railways. The commission shall enforce the provisions of this section.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 30647. Section 30647.

The district shall be subject to the provisions of Division 14.8 (commencing with Section 34500) of the Vehicle Code with respect to the operation of buses and to the rules and regulations prescribed by the Department of the California Highway Patrol pursuant to that chapter regulating the safe operation of buses.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026