(a) Notwithstanding Section 100160.5 or any other law, a district may provide charter bus service for the 2026 FIFA World Cup during the period from June 1, 2026, to July 31, 2026, inclusive, if all of the following conditions are met:

1. (1) Bus equipment that is designed solely for charter service is not purchased. A bus equipped with a toilet or underfloor baggage compartment shall be deemed charter equipment.
2. (2) Charter service originates and terminates within the area served by the district unless a private charter-party carrier requests the district to provide service beyond the area served by the district.

3. (3) The district establishes a schedule of rates for charter bus services that are incidental to the holding of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the area authorized to be served pursuant to paragraph (2) subject to the following requirements:

   1. (A) The rates for charter-party bus services established under this subdivision are sufficient to pay all marginal costs related to those charter bus services and contribute financially to the reduction of deficits incurred by the district in the operation of scheduled route services.
   2. (B) The rates are at least equal to the average of the lowest rates charged by the three largest private charter-party carriers operating similar service in the greater San Francisco Bay area.
   3. (C) The schedule of rates are effective from June 1, 2026, to July 31, 2026, inclusive.
4. (4) The district provides charter bus service for the events to the extent that private charter-party carriers are not capable of providing that service.

(c) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

1. (1) “District” means the VTA and any other public transportation operator providing public transit services in any portion of the greater San Francisco Bay area.
2. (2) “Greater San Francisco Bay area” means the region comprised of the City and County of San Francisco and the Counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, and Sonoma.
3. (3) “Not capable of providing that service” includes, but is not limited to, the inability to meet requirements, including, but not limited to, requirements with regard to unique equipment, fuel type, number of doors, frequency, public safety, accommodations for standing passengers, handicap accessibility, or the nature of the service.