§ 31 — Mass transportation demonstration projects

§ 31. Mass transportation demonstration projects. The commissioner\nshall have power to sponsor, conduct and undertake mass transportation\ndemonstration projects which will assist in carrying out urban\ntransportation plans and research, including but not limited to the\ndevelopment of data and information of general applicability on the\nreduction of urban transportation needs, the improvement of mass\ntransportation service, and the contribution of such service toward\nmeeting total urban transportation needs at minimum cost, and in\nconnection therewith to enter into contracts and otherwise cooperate\nwith the federal government pursuant to section one hundred three (b) of\nthe housing act of nineteen hundred forty-nine, as amended or section\nsix of the urban mass transportation act of nineteen hundred sixty-four,\nas amended. For the purposes of this section the commissioner may enter\ninto contracts or agreements with any person, firm, corporation or\ngovernmental agency.\n Any real property which the commissioner deems necessary for the\npurposes of this section may be acquired and disposed of by him in the\nname of the people of the state of New York according to the procedure\nprovided in the highway law for the acquisition and disposition of\nproperty for state highway purposes. The provisions of the highway law\nshall also control the meaning of property as used herein, the manner in\nwhich possession of such property may be obtained and the circumstances\nunder the procedure by which it may be sold or exchanged. Adjusted\nclaims for such acquisition and awards and judgments of the court of\nclaims made in respect thereto shall be paid out of the state treasury\nfrom moneys available for the purposes of this section. The construction\nof improvements by the commissioner in connection with a demonstration\nproject, and the design of such improvements, shall be carried on,\ngenerally, in the same manner and subject to the same provisions of law\nas apply to the design and construction of state highways. The\ndepartment of taxation and finance is hereby designated to accept and\nreceive all grants or advances from the federal government for the\npurposes of this section. All monies so accepted and received shall be\ndeposited by the department of taxation and finance in a special fund\nfor use exclusively for the purposes for which such grants or advances\nwere made. Payment from the said fund shall be made upon audit and\nwarrant of the comptroller upon vouchers approved by the commissioner.\nThe commissioner is hereby authorized to present any claim to the\nfederal government or any agency or official thereof with respect to the\nfunds made available pursuant to section one hundred three (b) of the\nhousing act of nineteen hundred forty-nine, as amended or section six of\nthe urban mass transportation act of nineteen hundred sixty-four, as\namended.\n