A city with a population of 300,000 may create a City Transportation Authority (Authority) for Monorail Transportation. Currently, the only city with sufficient population is Seattle. The Authority can be created by a city ordinance but must be approved by the voters within the Authority. The Authority can acquire monorail facilities, land, rights-of-way, and equipment; can set rates and charges for service; can contract for the planning, design, and construction of monorail facilities; may establish a local improvement district to finance monorail facilities; may support research into public monorail facilities and enact a comprehensive public monorail plan; and may exercise other powers necessary to carry out its responsibilities.
In order to finance its activities, the Authority is authorized to issue non-tax revenue and general obligations bonds. The Authority may also, subject to voter approval, establish an excise tax on motor vehicles owned by residents within the area of the Authority; impose a sales tax upon car rentals within the city; impose a fee on vehicle relicensing; impose a regular property tax levy; and/or impose excess levies if approved by a sufficient number of voters.
Before using any revenue collected from the excise tax to obtain a right-of-way or to construct a monorail transportation facility, the Authority must conduct public hearings on the proposed corridor and design, and to allow public input on plans that would have a substantial social, economic, or economic effect on the local community.
The Authority can cover an area that is less than the entire city, but cannot extend beyond the city that created it. The Authority may be dissolved by voters if the Authority is faced with significant financial problems. Upon dissolution, former officers, employees, directors, and agents are immune from personal liability from claims brought against them in connection with the Authority.
A city with a population of 500,000 or more may create an Authority for grade-separated transportation. Grade-separated transportation includes public transportation systems using monorail; light, heavy, and rapid rail; trolley; or another system or train cars running on a guideway. The Authority can be created by a city ordinance but must be approved by the voters within the Authority. The Authority can cover an area that is less than the entire city, but cannot extend beyond the city that created it. The governing body of the Authority is the legislative body of the city creating it.
The Authority has the power to:
The Authority must also create a plan to implement an equitable transit development strategy for diverse, vibrant, mixed-use, and mixed-income communities. Included in plan must be a requirement that any transfer or disposal of surplus property suitable for development as housing must offer a minimum of 80 percent of that property to a local government, a housing authority, or a non-profit developer that agrees to develop affordable housing on the property. The Authority must require that at least 80 percent of resulting housing be affordable, meaning available to those whose incomes are at or below 60 percent of the median county income. If the transferred property is sold, then the proceeds must be used to construct only affordable housing units within a half-mile of the original property.
In order to finance its activities, the Authority is authorized to issue non-tax revenue and general obligation bonds. The Authority may also, subject to voter approval, establish a 2.5 percent excise tax on motor vehicles owned by residents within the area of the Authority; impose a 1.944 percent sales tax upon car rentals within the city; impose up to a $100 fee on vehicle relicensing; impose a regular property tax levy up to $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value as a junior taxing district; and/or to impose excess property tax levies for operating funds, bond repayment, and certain other purposes if approved by sufficient numbers of voters.
Before using any revenue collected from the excise tax to obtain a right-of-way or to construct a grade-separated transportation facility, the Authority must conduct a public hearing and allow public comment. The Authority may establish a rebate program for vehicle excise taxes and relicensing fees paid by low-income residents. This program may rebate up to 40 percent of the amount of the tax to the individual paying it.
Within 30 days of completing construction on the last of the facilities authorized by the Authority, the Authority must reduce its day-to-day operations and only oversee the recollection of revenue, the payment of debt or other financing obligations, and the carrying out of any requirements related to the continued operation and maintenance of the public grade-separated transportation facilities. The Authority must reduce its staff, administration, and expenses in line with its new role. Taxes, fees, and charges must likewise be reduced as financing and debt service is completed.
The Authority must dissolve itself within 30 days of the cessation of: operations of the grade-separated rail facilities; debt and financing obligations; and construction of public grade-separated transportation facilities. Upon dissolution, former officers, employees, directors, and agents are immune from personal liability for actions or omissions in the performance of, or good faith belief that they were performing, their duties in connection with the Authority.