The board shall provide input to the San Diego Association of Governments on the planning and construction of exclusive public mass transit guideways in the area under its jurisdiction in conformance with the California Transportation Plan and the regional transportation plan developed pursuant to Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 65080) of Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code.

Subject to Section 120260, if the board determines that there is a countywide agency capable of operating exclusive public mass transit guideways, the board shall contract with that agency for such operation.

Priority for guideway development shall be given to meeting the transportation needs of areawide corridors of travel. If the transit development board determines that a guideway system intended solely for an activity center is appropriate, the approval of the California Transportation Commission is necessary prior to the use of funds allocated from the State Highway Account in the State Transportation Fund for the guideway system.

The transit development board may acquire, construct, maintain, and operate (or let a contract in conformity with state labor laws and subdivision (d) of Section 120508 to operate) public transit systems and related transportation facilities and services as it deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this division in conformity with, and to the extent provided in, the San Diego Regional Transportation Consolidation Act (Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 132350) of Division 12.7). The various systems, facilities, and services may be administered by the transit development board under the name of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System.

taxicabs, passenger jitney service, low-speed vehicles, nonemergency medical vehicles to the extent that the commission does not have regulatory authority, charters, and sightseeing vehicles. The term “for-hire vehicle services” does not include any public transportation services operated by the North County Transit District established pursuant to Division 11.5 (commencing with Section 125000).

transportation service by motor vehicles of not more than 15-passenger capacity, excluding the driver, that operates between fixed termini and over a regular route and generally on short nonscheduled headways.

The board may enter into cooperative agreements with cities within its area of jurisdiction and with the County of San Diego to establish uniform policies and regulations governing the use of bus passenger loading zones and establishing responsibility and standards for the maintenance of bus loading zones and any associated improvements.

testing certification program for those drivers.