Legislative findings and declaration of policy

The Legislature hereby finds and declares: (a) That a significant part of the population of this state is located in expanding urban areas; (b) That in certain of these areas there are no urban mass transportation systems and in others there are urban mass transportation systems which are inadequate or in imminent danger of becoming inadequate or in imminent danger of discontinuing such service; (c) That the establishment and maintenance of adequate urban mass transportation systems in such areas is essential for preserving viable urban areas and further promoting the healthful, safe, orderly and economical development and expansion of such urban areas; (d) That the creation of urban mass transportation authorities to establish and maintain urban mass transportation systems in such areas is for the welfare of the people of this state in general and of the participating governments in particular, and is a public purpose for which public money may be spent and private property acquired; and (e) This article is enacted in view of these findings and shall be liberally construed in the light thereof.