By Section 803 of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976, designated in this chapter as the “act,” Congress has established a local rail service continuation assistance program. Such program is designed to cover: the cost of rail service continuation payments; the cost of purchasing a line of railroad or other rail properties to maintain existing or provide for future rail service; the cost of rehabilitating and improving rail properties on a line of railroad to the extent necessary to permit adequate and efficient rail freight service on such line; and the cost of reducing the costs of lost rail service in a manner less expensive than continuing rail service. The Legislature hereby determines that such program should be implemented in California and that such implementation would constitute a public purpose.

(Added by Stats. 1977, Ch. 819.)