(a) The VTA may acquire, construct, own, operate, control, or use rights-of-way, rail lines, buslines, stations, platforms, switches, yards, terminals, and any and all facilities necessary or convenient for transit service within or partly without the boundaries of the VTA, underground, upon, or above the ground and under, upon, or over public streets or other public ways or waterways, together with all physical structures, including parking lots and day care centers and related child care facilities, that are necessary or convenient for the access of persons or vehicles thereto. The VTA may acquire any interest in or rights to use or the joint use of any or all of those facilities.
(b) The VTA may acquire, construct, and provide for repair and maintenance of any and all facilities necessary or convenient for vehicular and pedestrian transportation, within or partly without the boundaries of the VTA, underground, upon, or above the ground, together with all physical structures, including parking lots and soundwalls, that are necessary or convenient therefor. In this connection, the VTA may exercise any power with respect to highways granted to counties under Article 1 (commencing with Section 760) of Chapter 4 of Division 1 of the Streets and Highways Code in connection with any project included in the countywide transportation plan and an adopted regional transportation plan, but shall not usurp or impinge upon the powers and responsibilities granted to the county with regard to county highways. Highway and other transportation expenditures shall be consistent with adopted regional transportation plans and programs.
(c) VTA installations in freeways shall be subject to the approval of the Department of Transportation. Installations in other state highways shall be subject to Article 2 (commencing with Section 670) of Chapter 3 of Division 1 of the Streets and Highways Code. Installations in county highways and city streets shall be subject to similar encroachment permits.
(d) The VTA shall not use any state transportation funds, including, but not limited to, moneys in the State Highway Account, or the Transportation Planning and Development Account, in the State Transportation Fund, and passenger rail and clean air bond act money to acquire, construct, or operate day care centers and related child care facilities.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 381, Sec. 56. (AB 2196) Effective January 1, 2017.)