N.Y. Transportation Law § 31: Mass transportation demonstration projects

§ 31. Mass transportation demonstration projects. The commissioner

shall have power to sponsor, conduct and undertake mass transportation

demonstration projects which will assist in carrying out urban

transportation plans and research, including but not limited to the

development of data and information of general applicability on the

reduction of urban transportation needs, the improvement of mass

transportation service, and the contribution of such service toward

meeting total urban transportation needs at minimum cost, and in

connection therewith to enter into contracts and otherwise cooperate

with the federal government pursuant to section one hundred three (b) of

the housing act of nineteen hundred forty-nine, as amended or section

six of the urban mass transportation act of nineteen hundred sixty-four,

as amended. For the purposes of this section the commissioner may enter

into contracts or agreements with any person, firm, corporation or

governmental agency.

Any real property which the commissioner deems necessary for the

purposes of this section may be acquired and disposed of by him in the

name of the people of the state of New York according to the procedure

provided in the highway law for the acquisition and disposition of

property for state highway purposes. The provisions of the highway law

shall also control the meaning of property as used herein, the manner in

which possession of such property may be obtained and the circumstances

under the procedure by which it may be sold or exchanged. Adjusted

claims for such acquisition and awards and judgments of the court of

claims made in respect thereto shall be paid out of the state treasury

from moneys available for the purposes of this section. The construction

of improvements by the commissioner in connection with a demonstration

project, and the design of such improvements, shall be carried on,

generally, in the same manner and subject to the same provisions of law

as apply to the design and construction of state highways. The

department of taxation and finance is hereby designated to accept and

receive all grants or advances from the federal government for the

purposes of this section. All monies so accepted and received shall be

deposited by the department of taxation and finance in a special fund

for use exclusively for the purposes for which such grants or advances

were made. Payment from the said fund shall be made upon audit and

warrant of the comptroller upon vouchers approved by the commissioner.

The commissioner is hereby authorized to present any claim to the

federal government or any agency or official thereof with respect to the

funds made available pursuant to section one hundred three (b) of the

housing act of nineteen hundred forty-nine, as amended or section six of

the urban mass transportation act of nineteen hundred sixty-four, as

amended.