(a) Congestion management programs shall be submitted to the regional agency. The regional agency shall evaluate the consistency between the program and the regional transportation plans required pursuant to Section 65080. In the case of a multicounty regional transportation planning agency, that agency shall evaluate the consistency and compatibility of the programs within the region.
(b) The regional agency, upon finding that the program is consistent, shall incorporate the program into the regional transportation improvement program as provided for in Section 65082. If the regional agency finds the program is inconsistent, it may exclude any project in the congestion management program from inclusion in the regional transportation improvement program.
(c) (1) The regional agency shall not program any surface transportation program funds and congestion mitigation and air quality funds pursuant to Sections 182.6 and 182.7 of the Streets and Highways Code in a county unless a congestion management program has been adopted by December 31, 1992, as required pursuant to Section 65089. No surface transportation program funds or congestion mitigation and air quality funds shall be programmed for a project in a local jurisdiction that has been found to be in nonconformance with a congestion management program pursuant to Section 65089.5 unless the agency finds that the project is of regional significance.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, upon the designation of an urbanized area, pursuant to the 1990 federal census or a subsequent federal census, within a county which previously did not include an urbanized area, a congestion management program as required pursuant to Section 65089 shall be adopted within a period of 18 months after designation by the Governor.
(d) (1) It is the intent of the Legislature that the regional agency, when its boundaries include areas in more than one county, should resolve inconsistencies and mediate disputes that arise between agencies related to congestion management programs adopted for those areas.
(2) It is the further intent of the Legislature that disputes that may arise between regional agencies, or agencies that are not within the boundaries of a multicounty regional transportation planning agency, should be mediated and resolved by the Secretary of Transportation, or an employee of the Transportation Agency designated by the secretary, in consultation with the air pollution control district or air quality management district within whose boundaries the regional agency or agencies are located.
(e) At the request of the agency, a local jurisdiction that owns, or is responsible for operation of, a trip-generating facility in another county shall participate in the congestion management program of the county where the facility is located. If a dispute arises involving a local jurisdiction, the agency may request the regional agency to mediate the dispute through procedures pursuant to subdivision (d). Failure to resolve the dispute does not invalidate the congestion management program.
(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 345, Sec. 2. (AB 2752) Effective January 1, 2015.)