No funds shall be allocated to an entity pursuant to Section 29142.2, after January 1, 1978, unless, as determined by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the transit operator:

(a) Is a participating member of a regional transit coordinating council which the commission shall establish to better coordinate routes, schedules, fares, and transfers among the San Francisco Bay area transit operators and to explore potential advantages of joint ventures in areas such as marketing, maintenance, and purchasing. The commission shall be a member of the council.

(b) Establishes, for the period for which the funds are allocated, fare levels such that fare revenues equal at least 33 percent of its operating cost, which shall be all of its costs in the expense object classes, exclusive of the costs of the depreciation and amortization expense object classes, of the uniform system of accounts and records adopted by the State Controller pursuant to Section 99243. The allocation period shall not be less than one calendar quarter nor longer than one fiscal year, as determined by the commission. For purposes of this subdivision, the two special transit service districts of the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District shall be considered separate transit districts. On and after July 1, 1981, the commission may grant, any operator which was in compliance with the 33 percent requirement prior to that date, a credit not to exceed 5 percent to meet that requirement on the basis of special operating characteristics of its transit system, including, but not limited to, its transfer and special fare policies. In no event shall the combined fare revenues of the three operators, excluding any credit granted by the commission, be less than 33 percent of their combined operating cost.

(c) Has complied with standards established by the commission pursuant to § 66517.5 of the Government Code.

(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 256, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 1997.)