Pasadena Metro Blue Line Construction Authorithy v. Pacific Bell Telephone Co.

Plaintiff Pasadena Metro Blue Line Construction Authority (the Authority) appeals from the summary judgment entered for defendants Southern California Edison Co. (Edison), Southern California Gas Co. (SCG), and Pacific Bell Telephone Co. (PacBell), which determined that those companies did not have to reimburse the Authority for the cost of relocating their utility lines as part of the Authority’s construction of a light rail public transit line. We affirm.

ISSUE PRESENTED

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) operates a light rail public transit system throughout the greater Los Angeles area, comprised of various lines that are designated by color names: Red Line, Green Line, and Blue Line. MTA was supposed to build an extension of its Blue Line from Los Angeles Union Station to Pasadena. Due to legal and budget problems, the MTA suspended that project. The Legislature then stepped in and created a new entity—the Authority—“for the purpose of awarding and overseeing all design and construction contracts for completion of the project.” (Pub. Util. Code, § 132405; see id., §§ 132400-132450.)

Under state law, when utility lines must be moved…