The Legislature further finds and declares that the role of the state in transportation shall be to:

(a) Encourage and stimulate the development of urban mass transportation and interregional high-speed transportation where found appropriate as a means of carrying out the policy of providing balanced transportation in the state.

(b) Implement and maintain a state highway system which supports the goals and priorities determined through the transportation planning process, which is in conformity with comprehensive statewide and regional transportation plans, and which is compatible with statewide and regional socioeconomic and environmental goals, priorities and available resources.

(c) Assist in the development of an air transportation system that is consistent with the needs and desires of the public, and in which airports are compatible in location with, and provide services meeting, statewide and regional goals and objectives.

(d) Develop a rail passenger network consistent with the needs and desires of the public, and in which the location of rail corridors and their service characteristics are compatible with statewide and regional goals and objectives, except that nothing in this section shall be construed to discourage the development of passenger rail service by privately owned carriers.

(e) Encourage research and development of technological innovation in all modes of transportation in cooperation with public agencies and the private sector.

(Amended by Stats. 1981, Ch. 1183, Sec. 1.)