The Legislature hereby finds and declares:
(a) Since the formation of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, unprecedented growth has occurred in the San Francisco Bay area and in Santa Clara County in particular. It has become apparent that additional measures are required in order to deal more effectively with the resultant serious traffic congestion and to foster the development of trade and the movement of people in and around the Santa Clara Valley and throughout the entire bay area.
(b) Transit and other modes of transportation are inextricably intertwined, and improvement and maintenance of the road and highway structure in conjunction and coordination with transit improvements are essential to optimize the ability of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority to deal more effectively with serious traffic congestion.
(c) The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, having been designated as the Congestion Management Agency for Santa Clara County, and already authorized to construct and improve state and local highways pursuant to Section 100115.5, is uniquely positioned to implement programs to achieve the goal of a balanced approach to solving transportation problems.
(d) This goal is best achieved in Santa Clara County by vesting in the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority the ability to plan, design, construct, maintain, and repair road and highway improvements, as well as bicycle, pedestrian, and other transportation facilities, under the conditions set forth in this part.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 381, Sec. 2. (AB 2196) Effective January 1, 2017.)