DIVISION 23.7. PRESERVATION OF FUTURE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS [33910 - 33917]
( Division 23.7 added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 754, Sec. 2. )
As used in this division, “department” means the Department of Transportation.
(Added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 754, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1993.)
The department may receive donations of land and funds for the acquisition of land from local agencies, including special districts, and private entities. Land acquired by the department through donation, purchase, or by any other means, shall be maintained by the department for future transportation purposes. The acquisition of land by the department for that purpose is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000)) if the land, when received or acquired, is within a statewide or regional priority corridor designated pursuant to Section 65081.3 of the Government Code and the applicable regional transportation planning agency has complied with Section 33913 of the Government Code.
(Added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 754, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1993.)
(a) Of the funds appropriated to the Department of Transportation by Section 161030 of the Public Utilities Code, all money remaining on July 1, 1993, that is neither encumbered nor needed by the department to comply with the terms of any offer to purchase property that was made to the owner on or before July 1, 1993, shall be used, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes of this division.
(b) The proceeds of the sale of any property acquired pursuant to this division shall be used, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the purposes of this division.
(Added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 754, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1993.)
Land may be acquired by the department if the land is located in a designated corridor of statewide or regional priority as determined pursuant to Section 65081.3 of the Government Code. Proposals by other entities for the acquisition of land by the department shall be submitted to the regional transportation planning agency in whose jurisdiction the land is located for review and recommended action, and be approved by the department. No proposal shall be approved by the department pursuant to this section unless the regional transportation planning agency, after a public hearing, finds that the range of potential transportation facilities to be located on the land can be constructed in a manner which will avoid or mitigate significant environmental impacts or values identified in subdivisions (a), (b), and (c). The regional transportation planning agency is not required to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act in any manner, other than complying with the provisions of subdivision (a), in order to make this finding, if it has prepared an environmental review of the corridor of statewide or regional priority in which the land is located pursuant to Section 65081.3 of the Government Code. The regional transportation planning agency shall base its finding on a consideration of each of the following:
(a) The information contained in the environmental impact report prepared pursuant to Section 65081.3 of the Government Code and a document describing the proposed land acquisition which includes the content of an initial study described in subdivision (d) of Section 15063 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations (California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines). However, the study need not include greater specificity about the type or nature of the proposed transportation project than has been provided in action by the governing body of the project applicant agency.
(b) Review by the Department of Fish and Game. The Department of Fish and Game shall make the results of its review of the proposed land acquisition known to the regional transportation planning agency no later than 30 days after the acquisition is submitted to them by the regional transportation planning agency for review, or its comments shall not be considered in the finding.
(c) Other information submitted to the regional transportation planning agency in the public hearing or in writing regarding the proposed acquisition by the department.
(Added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 754, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1993.)
The determinations made pursuant to this division shall not constitute the basis for a determination of compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act for purposes of constructing the transportation project.
(Added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 754, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1993.)
The acquisition and holding of land under this division constitutes a public purpose, notwithstanding Section 1240.220 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(Added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 754, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1993.)
Nothing in this division limits the authority conferred on the department by Section 104.6 of the Streets and Highways Code.
(Added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 754, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1993.)
(a) A transportation planning agency, a county transportation commission, or a county transportation authority may create a transportation corridor preservation entity within the area of its jurisdiction and may create a corridor preservation account.
(b) Sections 33911, 33913, 33914, and 33915 apply to a transportation preservation entity created pursuant to subdivision (a).
(Added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 754, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1993.)