(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the San Diego Association of Governments, on behalf of the state, 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 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 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 and operation of an automated toll collection system, if that system is installed by the association, and operation of the bridge, including, but not limited to, reimbursement for any operating and retrofitting 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, an expenditure plan specifying the projects and programs that are to be funded with toll revenues.

(g) If the San Diego Association of Governments, on behalf of the state, 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 costs.

(h) The San Diego Association of Governments shall prepare an annual audit of expenditures that are funded with toll revenues. The audit shall 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.

(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 729, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2000.)