30796.7.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the San Diego Association of Governments, on behalf of the state, Governments may impose a toll on vehicles crossing the San Diego-Coronado Bridge. The toll shall be established by the association after conducting at least one public hearing. (b) The authority of the commission relative to tolls on the bridge is hereby transferred to the San Diego Association of Governments. All tolls established by the commission shall remain in effect until June 30, 1995, unless changed by the San Diego Association of Governments. Thereafter, all tolls on the bridge shall be at the rates established by the San Diego Association of Governments, except that at no time shall the rate of toll for class Class 1 vehicles exceed one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) per vehicle.
(c) (1) The revenues from any tolls imposed on the bridge shall be used first for expenses related to the collection of tolls, including, but not limited to, the installation tolls and operation of an automated toll collection system, if that system is installed by the association, and operation of the the bridge, including, but not limited to, reimbursement for any operating and retrofitting maintenance costs and, second, for improvements to the bridge and its approaches. Tolls shall be established at an amount which will generate revenue sufficient to meet the requirements set forth in this paragraph, as determined by the department. Maintenance of the bridge shall be funded by the state under Section 188.4.
(2) The revenues from any tolls imposed on the bridge may also be used for costs incurred by the San Diego Association of Governments in administering this section and for any of the following:
(A) Transportation services that either increase the capacity of the bridge and its approaches or reduce the demand for travel in the transportation corridor that includes the bridge.
(B) Alternative forms of transportation, within the transportation corridor that includes the bridge, that reduce congestion and air pollution, including, but not limited to, ferry service and public transit.
(C) Capital improvements and related expenditures within the transportation corridor for construction and maintenance of bikeways.
(d) For the purposes of this section, “transportation corridor” means the San Diego-Coronado Bridge and its approaches which extend from Route 5 in the City of San Diego to the North Island Naval Air Station via Route 282, and to the Naval Amphibious Base via Route 75 in the City of Coronado.
(e) All money deposited in the San Diego-Coronado Toll Bridge Revenue Fund prior to March 26, 1992, and not expended, encumbered, or programmed before January 1, 1994, is appropriated to the Controller for allocation to the San Diego Association of Governments for the purposes of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c).
(f) The San Diego Association of Governments shall include in the regional transportation improvement program, and every update thereof, Not later than June 30, 1995, and not later than June 30 of every even-numbered year thereafter, the San Diego Association of Governments shall adopt an expenditure plan specifying the projects and programs that are to be funded with toll revenues. revenues, and shall submit copies of each plan to the Senate Committee on Transportation and the Assembly Committee on Transportation.
(g) If the San Diego Association of Governments, on behalf of the state, Governments imposes tolls pursuant to subdivision (a), it shall reimburse the department for costs incurred by the department in operating the bridge, collecting tolls, and performing other related services. The association and the department shall enter into an agreement which provides for the full reimbursement of the department for all operating and maintenance costs.
(h) The San Diego Association of Governments shall prepare an annual audit of expenditures that are funded with toll revenues. The audit shall Governments, not later than June 30, 1995, and not later than June 30 of each year thereafter, shall prepare an audit, to be funded solely with toll revenues and shall not include expenditures made by the department. The association shall review the annual financial report on state-owned toll bridges that is prepared by the department for revenues collected under this section. revenues, of all expenditures and revenue collected pursuant to this section. The first audit shall include all expenditures and revenue collected prior to January 1, 1995. A report of the audit shall be published and made available to the members of the San Diego Association of Governments, and to any member of the public who submits a written request therefor within 30 days upon receipt of the request.