Pub. Util. Code, § 99624

(a) Eighty million dollars ($80,000,000) to the department for grade separations along the Alameda-San Pedro branch rail line connecting the Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors with downtown Los Angeles and paralleling Alameda Street, to alleviate vehicle traffic congestion, conserve energy, reduce air pollution in the area, and facilitate the more efficient and expeditious shipment of freight to and from the Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors. The current owner of the Alameda-San Pedro branch line may, at its option, continue to own and operate the line and related right-of-way.

(b) The allocation and granting of funds pursuant to this Section shall be exempt from Sections 99653 and 99663. The allocation and granting of funds pursuant to this section shall also be exempt from subdivision (c) of Section 1202, and Sections 1202.5 and 99317.8 of the Public Utilities Code, and Sections 2450 to 2461, inclusive, of the Streets and Highways Code if the affected railroad corporation contributes ten (10) percent of the costs of constructing the grade separations funded pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding any provision of this code or the Streets and Highways Code, no city on the Alameda-San Pedro branch line shall be assessed costs for the grade separations. The department is the sole state agency responsible for designing, determining priorities, and implementing the construction of those grade separations. The department shall coordinate its planning with any joint powers agency established to represent affected cities, local agencies, or commissions. The department shall further coordinate and cooperate with any such joint powers agency so that the expenditure of any federal, local, and private funds including those for tracks, switching, and interconnection improvements, and the possible construction of a proposed Alameda Street truck corridor is accomplished in an efficient and well-planned manner.

(c) For the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code), grade separations funded pursuant to this section and all related track and switching improvements and rail interconnections shall be considered to be one project.