(

a) A local agency may request authorization from the commission to make advance expenditures of funds, other than state or federal funds, for a project which is included in the priority list for the allocation of transit capital improvement funds pursuant to

Section of the Public Utilities Code, or is included in the adopted state transportation improvement program, or is specifically authorized by

Chapter 3 (commencing with

Section 99620) of

Part 11.5 of Division of the Public Utilities Code. (

b) If the commission approves a request submitted pursuant to subdivision (a), the approved advance expenditures shall be considered either part of the nonfederal share of project costs, or part of the match from public or private sources, for projects which are included in the transit capital improvement program pursuant to

Section of the Public Utilities Code, or included in the state transportation improvement program, or which are authorized by

Chapter 3 (commencing with

Section 99620) of

Part 11.5 of Division of the Public Utilities Code. (

c) The commission’s approval of a request pursuant to subdivision (

b) does not, in and of itself, constitute an obligation to allocate state funds for the project. (

d) The commission, in consultation with the department and local transportation officials, shall develop and adopt guidelines to implement this section. The guidelines shall include a requirement that the advance expenditure of funds will result in the completion of an operable segment of a transportation project. The acquisition of right-of-way needed either for a usable urban or commuter rail project or an operable segment of an urban or commuter rail project meets that requirement. (

e) The commission shall prepare a report on the progress and impact of the advance expenditure program authorized by this

section and shall include the report as an element of the annual report to the Legislature required pursuant to Sections and of the Government Code.