The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the following:
(a) There is an imperative need for comprehensive planning and implementation of regional transportation projects in the San Diego region. Diminution of congestion on the streets and highways in the San Diego region will facilitate passage of all Californians traveling through San Diego, and especially benefit persons who live or work in San Diego County who must commute to points within and outside the San Diego region on a daily basis.
(b) Several separate limited-purpose transportation agencies have been established in the San Diego region, however, the San Diego region would benefit from coordinated and comprehensive planning by these agencies.
(c) In view of the limited powers of the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), to provide the needed comprehensive transportation planning and implementation without consolidation of certain responsibilities of the transit boards, the Legislature finds that consolidation of the planning, programming, project development, and construction activities of various transportation agencies in the San Diego region will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of implementing needed transportation infrastructure and services and provide for a focus on meeting the mobility needs of the region.
(d) It is, therefore, the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to consolidate SANDAG and certain responsibilities of the transit boards to provide for sufficient power and authority to solve the transportation problems in the San Diego region and the needed comprehensive transportation system.
(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 743, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2003.)