§ 2009 — Other agreement provisions

(a)Grant of rights to contracting party. —An agreement may include provisions authorizing the State to grant necessary easements and lease to a contracting party existing rights of way or rights of way subsequently acquired. An agreement may also include provisions to lease the airspace above or below the right of way associated with the project to the contracting party at less than fair market value during the term of the contracting party’s lease of the project, provided that if the Department continues to lease the airspace rights to the contracting party after the expiration of such lease term, it must do so only at fair market value. The agreement may also grant the contracting party the right of first refusal to undertake projects utilizing real estate and airspace owned by the Department within or contiguous to the right of way, provided that in the judgment of the Secretary such projects must contribute to the public use and benefit of the project, and provided further that nothing herein shall derogate from the Department’s power to declare real estate or airspace owned by the Department surplus to the needs of the Department pursuant to § 137 of Title 17 or any successor provision.

(b)Miscellaneous. —An agreement may include any contractual provision that is necessary to protect the project revenues required to repay the costs incurred to study, plan, design, finance, acquire, build, install, lease, operate, enforce laws, and maintain the transportation system including, but not limited to, a traffic guarantee, an equity guarantee or insurance provided that such provision will not unreasonably prohibit the development of essential public transportation systems and facilities.