14450-14456
GOVERNMENT CODE
SECTION 14450-14456
14450. The department, in preparing its research and development program, shall consult with other parts of the transportation industry, including the private and public sectors, in order to obtain maximum input designed to develop a balanced multimodal research and development program. The department shall also consult with affected state agencies, including the Department of Motor Vehicles, the State Air Resources Board, the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, and the Department of the California Highway Patrol. 14452. (a) All funds made available pursuant to Section 99315.6 of the Public Utilities Code and Section 203 of the Streets and Highways Code shall be allocated to transportation research and development projects, including both the research and development of new technologies and the application of existing technologies to transportation purposes. All state funded research and development work conducted on intelligent vehicle highway systems shall be funded with funds made available pursuant to Section 99315.6 of the Public Utilities Code and Section 203 of the Streets and Highways Code or with available federal funds. (b) The department shall adopt a balanced, multimodal research and development program and shall ensure that adequate resources are devoted to research and development of nonhighway transportation modes, including, but not limited to, transit buses and other public transportation, and nonmotorized modes. The research and development program shall be evaluated to determine to what extent the program benefits highways or alternative modes. As an overall program goal, the department should strive to allocate a minimum of 50 percent of state funds made available pursuant to Section 99315.6 of the Public Utilities Code and Section 203 of the Streets and Highways Code to projects which relate to research and development of alternative modes of transportation. (c) Funds made available pursuant to Section 203 of the Streets and Highways Code may be used for any research and development project which is designed to enhance or improve the operation of highways. 14453. The department's role in this program shall be limited to research and development. The department shall consider the following guidelines in evaluating and selecting a site for a research and development center: (a) Sources of funding for the center, with the stipulation that the state's funding share does not exceed one-third of the total costs of the center, with the remaining funds provided from local, federal, and private sources. The department shall seek to maximize private participation in the funding of a center, and state funds shall be expended only for facilities to be used by the state to be located on real property owned by the state, including acquisition of real property to be owned by the state in fee simple or pursuant to a lease-purchase contract. (b) Accessibility to the center by rail or bus service operating at frequency headways of not less than one-half hour during peak commute hours. (c) Other criteria to be used in the evaluation of a site for the center, which shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) The ability of the project to enhance environmental quality, including the dedication of open space for preservation of open space, wetlands, and other wildlife habitat. (2) The ability of the project to rely on existing infrastructure, including water and sewer hookups to existing systems and access by existing roads and transit systems, or alternatively, an assurance by the local jurisdiction or jurisdictions that an infrastructure development plan has been adopted which provides for the timely construction of necessary infrastructure and which is fully funded. (3) The extent to which the project will result in the least cost to public agencies, direct and indirect, including costs incurred by state and local agencies other than the department. (4) The extent to which the project provides a return on investment of public funds to public agencies. (d) Contracting for consultant services to assist it in selecting a site for a center. (e) Receiving and evaluating proposals for the center, to be ranked in priority order consistent with this section. (f) Not committing any state funds to the project other than for the development of a request for proposals and the evaluation of proposals received in response to the request, unless funds are specifically appropriated as a separate item in the annual Budget Act for the financing, planning, design, and construction of the center. Prior to funds being included in the annual Budget Act for the center, the department shall submit a report to the Legislature which fully describes any proposal which incorporates all information and activities required by this section. (g) Construction of the center shall be subject to prevailing wage laws and minority enterprise and women business enterprise participation laws applicable to the department's highway construction projects. 14454. (a) If a decision is made to proceed with a research and development center, proceeds from the sale or lease of existing facilities owned by the department due to the transfer of the functions performed at those facilities to the research and development center shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for allocation for research and development purposes. (b) Prior to recommending a site, the department shall hold at least one public hearing. (c) The department shall not acquire a site for the center unless, at the time of the selection, construction of the center on that site is consistent with the applicable city or county general plan. With respect to this subdivision, the state shall not supercede local planning and zoning decisions. 14455. (a) Research contracts approved by the department shall require the contractor to disclose administrative overhead as a separate cost item, with a detailed statement identifying what activities will be paid as administrative overhead. (b) Proposed research contracts shall be circulated by the department to interested private sector parties as well as public and private academic institutions. 14456. Pursuant to Section 14453, the department may enter into a joint powers agreement with other entities for development and operation of the center.