§ 2006 — Authorization of tolls and user fees; limitations on toll and user fee revenues

(a)Authorization of tolls and user fees. —Each agreement may authorize the contracting party to impose tolls or user fees for use of the transportation system constructed and/or leased by it to allow a reasonable rate of return on investment. The agreement may authorize the contracting party to collect tolls or user fees through both conventional methods and non-conventional methods including, but not limited to, automatic vehicle identification systems, electronic toll collection systems and, to the extent permitted by law, video-based toll collection enforcement. The agreement may authorize the collection of tolls and user fees by a third party.

(b)Classification of tolls and user fees. —A contracting party may establish different toll rates or user fees based on categories such as vehicle class or vehicle weight and may further vary toll rates by time of day or year.

(c)Maximum rate of return. —A maximum rate of return on investment shall be negotiated by the parties and stated in the agreement. A contracting party may establish and modify toll rates and user fees as long as the maximum rate of return on investment is not exceeded.

(d)Uses of revenues. —Each agreement shall require that over the term of the lease toll or user fee revenues be applied to payment of the contracting party’s capital outlay costs for the project, including interest expense, the project’s operations costs, costs of toll collections, administration of the project, any reimbursement to the State for the costs of project review and oversight, maintenance and police services, establishment and funding of a fund to ensure the adequacy of maintenance expenditures, a reasonable return on investment to the contracting party, and any other use mutually agreed upon by the parties and specifically set forth in the agreement, regardless of any contrary provisions of Delaware law.

(e)Excess revenues. —As agreed upon by the parties the agreement may require that any revenues in excess of the maximum rate of return allowed in the agreement either be applied to any indebtedness incurred by the contracting party in connection with the project and/or be paid to one or more other entities or funds including, but not limited to, the Revolving Loan Fund established in § 2012 of this title, the State’s Transportation Trust Fund established under § 1404 of this title, the Department, or the State. For the purpose of determining whether there are revenues in excess of the maximum rate of return (or in excess of any incentive rate of return authorized by the agreement pursuant to subsection (f) of this section), the agreement shall expressly provide for an annual audit to be performed (at the expense of the contracting party) by the same auditor chosen to perform the annual audit of the Transportation Trust Fund pursuant to § 1323 of this title and the certification of the rate of return which the contracting party has realized during the audited period. The contracting party shall maintain its books and corporate records in the State.

(f)Incentive rates of return. —Notwithstanding § 2006(c) of this title, each agreement or an amendment to each agreement may provide for incentive rates of return in excess of the maximum rate of return established in the agreement for the attainment of specific safety, performance, transportation demand management or other goals set forth in the agreement or amendment.

(g)Continuation of tolls. —After expiration of the lease or ownership period of a project to or by a contracting party, the Department may continue to charge tolls or user fees for the use of the project. The Department may delegate such authority to continue to collect tolls or user fees for the use of the project to a third party, provided that such revenues must first be used for operations and maintenance of the project and, subsequently, any revenues determined by the Secretary to be excess must be paid by such 3rd party to the State’s Transportation Trust Fund, the Department or the State.