(a)
Prior to imposing the tax, the commission shall adopt a regional transportation expenditure plan for the revenues derived from the tax. The regional transportation expenditure plan shall describe specific proposed transportation projects and the estimated cost of each project.
(b)
The regional transportation expenditure plan shall also meet the following minimum objectives and criteria:
(1)
Project expenditures shall reflect an equitable distribution of revenues throughout the region with not less than 95 percent of revenues from each county, based on population, being invested over the 20-year life of the tax in projects attributable to that county. In addition, during every five-year period, no less than 80 percent of the revenues from each county, based on population, invested during that period shall be invested in projects attributable to that county. The commission shall allocate any accrued interest according to the same formula. At the time of the development of the expenditure plan, the commission shall use population data from the most recent United States census, and shall take into account estimated increases in population over the 20-year period projected by the Association of Bay Area Governments.
(2)
Projects included in the expenditure plan shall be consistent with the commission’s regional transportation plan, a congestion management program, or a countywide transportation plan. The commission shall, in prioritizing projects in the expenditure plan, give additional consideration to projects where local land use policies reduce dependence on single-occupant motor vehicle travel. The expenditure plan development process shall include consultation with cities, counties, transit operators, congestion management agencies, and other interested groups.
(3)
Cost estimates for each project shall be prepared by the commission, in consultation with project sponsors, and verified by an independent cost-estimating firm retained by the commission for that purpose. Estimates of other funding required to complete any project shall be based on an estimate of funds reasonably expected to be available during the 20-year period commencing with the year that the tax is initially imposed.
(4)
To be eligible for inclusion in the expenditure plan, a project shall meet at least one of the following regional transportation needs:
(A)
Fund maintenance and rehabilitation of local streets and roads, sidewalks, or bicycle routes, or close a gap in the local street and road system.
(B)
Fund capital or operating expenses of public transit systems.
(C)
Fund transit expansion projects in the commission’s Resolution 3434, Regional Transit Expansion Program as contained in the commission’s regional transportation plan.
(D)
Provide an alternative to single occupancy automobile travel.
(E)
Improve safety on specific roadway segments where accident or fatality rates exceed the expected rate for those segments over a multiyear timeframe, including, but not limited to, expansion or realignment of the roadway.
(F)
Improve the operational efficiency of the existing roadway system without a physical expansion of the system. However, expansion projects to reconfigure existing interchanges are eligible for inclusion in the plan.
(G)
Fund implementation of the requirements of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-336), or those requirements as revised, on public transit systems and other transportation-related facilities.
(H)
Fund seismic retrofitting of transportation facilities.
(I)
Fund intermodal freight or passenger facilities.
(J)
Fund transportation enhancement activities, including projects consistent with the commission’s Transportation for Livable Communities (TLC) Program and the Housing Incentive Program (HIP).
(K)
Defray interest costs and other expenses associated with the issuance of revenue bonds or revenue anticipation notes.
(5)
If not otherwise available, sufficient funding shall be included in the cost estimates and expenditure plan presented to the voters to operate and maintain each included project for the duration of the tax.