Cal. Pub. Util. Code § 105001

It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this part to provide for a unified, comprehensive institutional structure for the ownership and governance of a passenger rail system within the Counties of Sonoma and Marin that shall operate in harmony with existing freight service that operates upon the same rail line and serves the Counties of Humboldt, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, and Sonoma. It is the further intent of the Legislature that the district established by this act may succeed to the powers, duties, obligations, liabilities, immunities, and exemptions of both the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit Commission and the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Authority upon their dissolution. Because there is no general law under which this district could be formed, the adoption of a special act and the formation of a special district is required.