The legislature finds that construction, installation, and improvement of certain infrastructure is necessary and desirable to facilitate renewal and redevelopment of areas designated by the State and the counties for transit-oriented development. Transit-oriented development is a powerful tool that can ultimately deliver a wide range of social, environmental, and economic benefits. Transit-oriented development promotes development patterns that support quality of life, preserves the natural environment, provides a range of housing choices for residents, and encourages walking, biking, and use of mass transit. The State plays an important role in overcoming barriers to transit-oriented development, including encouraging needed investments in improving regional infrastructure such as roads, sewers, water, power, communication, and storm water management systems. This part is intended to move transit-oriented development planning efforts forward into infrastructure improvements that benefit the community. The legislature further finds that, currently, no single state agency has the authority to improve infrastructure along a transit corridor in the best interest of the State. This part will enable the delivery of infrastructure needed to support development on lands within designated transit-oriented development zones.

Accordingly, the purpose of this part is to establish transit-oriented development infrastructure improvement districts to foster community development by strategically investing in infrastructure improvements.