Bill Text: WV SB414 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Creating Division of Multimodal Transportation
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2017-03-24 - To House Roads and Transportation [SB414 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2017-SB414-Introduced.html
WEST virginia Legislature
2017 regular session
Introduced
Senate Bill 414
By Senators Carmichael (Mr. President) and Prezioso
(By Request of the Executive)
[Introduced
February 23, 2017; Referred
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; and then to the
Committee on Government Organization]
A BILL to repeal §17-16B-1, §17-16B-2, §17-16B-3, §17-16B-4, §17-16B-5, §17-16B-6, §17-16B-7, §17-16B-7a , §17-16B-7b, §17-16B-8, §17-16B-9, §17-16B-10, §17-16B-11, §17-16B-12, §17-16B-13, §17-16B-14, §17-16B-15, §17-16B-16, §17-16B-17, §17-16B-18, §17-16B-19, §17-16B-20, §17-16B-21 and §17-16B-22 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to repeal §29-2A-1, §29-2A-2, §29-2A-3, §29-2A-3a, §29-2A-4, §29-2A-5, §29-2A-6, §29-2A-7, §29-2A-8, §29-2A-9, §29-2A-10, §29-2A-11, §29-2A-11a, §29-2A-11b, §29-2A-11c, §29-2A-11d, §29-2A-11e, §29-2A-11f, §29-2A-12, §29-2A-13, §29-2A-14, §29-2A-17, §29-2A-18, §29-2A-19, §29-2A-20, §29-2A-21, §29-2A-22, §29-2A-23, §29-2A-24, §29-2A-25, §29-2A-26, §29-2A-27 and §29-2A-28 of said code; to repeal §29-18-1, §29-18-2, §29-18-3, §29-18-4, §29-18-4a, §29-18-5, §29-18-6, §29-18-7, §29-18-8, §29-18-9, §29-18-10, §29-18-11, §29-18-12, §29-18-13, §29-18-14, §29-18-15, §29-18-16, §29-18-17, §29-18-18, §29-18-19, §29-18-20, §29-18-21, §29-18-22, §29-18-23, §29-18-24 and §29-18-25 of said code; to amend and reenact §5F-2-1 of said code; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §17-16F-1, §17-16F-2, §17-16F-3, §17-16F-4, §17-16F-5, §17-16F-6, §17-16F-7, §17-16F-8, §17-16F-9, §17-16F-10, §17-16F-11, §17-16F-12, §17-16F-13, §17-16F-14, §17-16F-15, §17-16F-16, §17-16F-17, §17-16F-18, §17-16F-19, §17-16F-20, §17-16F-21, §17-16F-22, §17-16F-23, §17-16F-24, §17-16F-25, §17-16F-26, §17-16F-27, §17-16F-28, §17-16F-29, §17-16F-30, §17-16F-31 and §17-16F-32, all relating to the creation of the Division of Multimodal Transportation; combining the powers and duties and eliminating certain references to the Public Port Authority, the West Virginia State Rail Authority and the state Aeronautics Commission; providing for legislative findings and creation of the division; transferring employees, equipment, assets, liabilities, contracts, agreements, functions and duties to the division; providing for all property currently held by the Public Port Authority, the West Virginia State Rail Authority and the state Aeronautics Commission to be transferred to the division; authorizing the Secretary of the Department of Transportation to appoint the director; providing for qualifications for the director; establishing general powers and duties of the director; defining terms; establishing the powers and duties of the division generally; requiring division to promote, supervise and support safe, adequate and efficient transportation, preserve rail, water, highway and airway facilities and promote economic development and tourism; authorizing division to work cooperatively with similar entities within and without the state; providing for siting, development and operation of facilities; authorizing employment of trained and qualified staff and consultants and compensating therefor; providing the right to enter into contracts and agreements; authorizing acquisition of various types and interests in property to be held in the name of the state; authorizing use of eminent domain; authorizing acquisition and disposal of property by various means; authorizing interagency cooperation; authorizing division to act on behalf of the state in planning, financing, development, construction and operation of port, railroad and aeronautic projects or facilities; reporting annually to Legislature on status of projects, operations, finances and related information; authorizing study and assessment of state transportation needs; authorizing use of various financing options including issuing revenue bonds and receipt of grants and loans; authorizing division to make grants and loans to governmental agencies and persons for multimodal transportation projects; permitting collection of reasonable fees and charges connected to making and servicing loans, notes, bonds and other obligations; granting rule-making authority to the division; continuing all rules, policies and orders of the combined entities until revised and reissued by the division; requiring strategic plan and reports to the Governor and the Legislature; requiring collection and analysis of shipping through state ports; providing for confidentiality of collected information and providing criminal penalty for violation; providing that division employees may not have direct or indirect financial interest in contracts, sale of property of the division and providing criminal penalty for violation; providing that activities of division are for public purpose; authorizing the division to use certain property or facilities of a public utility, common carrier, public road, highway or railroad for certain public projects; requiring the division to relocate any such property or facilities; providing for rules regarding relocation or removal of railroad or public utility located on division property; requiring the division to pay for said relocation or removal; encouraging participation of private enterprise in construction and operation of facilities; authorizing lease back to division; authorizing development of foreign trade zones, free trade zones, ports of entry and customs zones; providing for specific duties related to port projects; authorizing the division to act on behalf of the state in developing, operating, improving and maintaining ports; authorizing the division to coordinate and cooperate with other port entities; creating the West Virginia Multimodal Operations Fund and transference of funds and liabilities of the West Virginia Public Port Authority Operations Fund; eliminating local port authority districts; providing for specific duties related to rail projects; authorizing the exercise of powers necessary to qualify for federal subsidies; authorizing various means to carry out rail projects that are consistent with state plan with other entities; providing authority for the division to establish, fund, construct, reconstruct, acquire, repair, replace, operate, maintain and make available to other entities railroad projects; providing that research and development of railroads may be conducted; providing that contracts may be entered into to acquire various rolling stock, equipment or trackage and providing the requirements therefor; providing for the authority to enter into agreements that are beneficial to railroad projects notwithstanding other code provisions, including the authority to reject bids; authorizing division to purchase various types of insurance; authorizing the collection of fees for use of rail projects; providing for the administration and coordination of a state plan, including the distribution of federal subsidies; providing for investigation, research, promotion and development with public participation; authorizing the provision of fiscal assurances and adoption of accounting procedures necessary to continue subsidies; authorizing compliance with applicable federal regulations; authorizing all actions necessary to maximize federal assistance for rail subsidies; providing powers necessary to coordinate with the Maryland Transit Administration for continued operation in the state, including negotiation and contracting authority; providing that any commuter rail operation agreement will meet certain service standards; providing that any track access fees to be paid pursuant to the agreement shall be paid from the West Virginia Commuter Rail Access Fund; authorizing sale or transfer of interest in rail other property with federal approval when required; authorizing assistance to entities seeking federal railroad service certification, including the provision of any necessary assurances or guarantees; authorizing division to retain attorney or others to title ownership of rail properties within the state; requiring rail properties offered for sale within the state to be offered first to the state; providing that division may acquire railroad rights in other states and may cooperate with other states in so purchasing any rail properties; providing for the division to give consideration to county or municipality interest in acquiring abandoned property interest and providing for the division to acquire any such abandoned property for subsequent conveyance to a county or municipality; authorizing the division to apply for and utilize federal funds or loans in carrying out its purposes of this article; authorizing the purchase of any railroad rolling stock, equipment and machinery necessary for the operation and maintenance of state rail properties and authorizing contracts with the Division of Highways for maintenance or purchase of vehicles; authorizing maintenance, rebuilding or relocation of state rail properties and authorizing expenditures for the modernization, rebuilding and relocation of any rail properties owned by the state or private carrier; providing for contracting with domestic or foreign entities to provide, maintain or improve rail transportation service on state rail properties; providing for transfer of rail properties to other entities within the state when permitted by the Governor; authorizing the division to resolve conflicts when multiple entities want to utilize the same rail property; providing for proceeds from the sale of state rail property to be deposited in Railroad Maintenance Fund; terminating Railroad Maintenance Authority Fund and creating a Railroad Maintenance Fund for proceeds and expenditures related to division’s purpose; authorizing expenditure from any fund for study of proposed rail projects and use of funds from Railroad Maintenance Fund for study and engineering costs; authorizing the issuance of railroad maintenance revenue bonds and notes for costs of rail projects, including issuance of renewal notes and bond refund, with aggregate amount of all issues of bonds and notes outstanding at one time not exceeding amount capable of being serviced by revenues received; providing that issues of bonds or notes are negotiable instruments and are obligations of the division and are payable out of the revenues which are pledged for such payment; providing for maturity date, terms of execution, sale, redemption and delivery; authorizing the establishment of various conditions necessary to secure sufficient funds to protect bonds or notes; providing that person executing bonds or notes is not personally liable therefor; providing for trust agreement to secure bonds issued by division and creating conditions therefor, not including mortgage of any rail project; allocating expenses of bond issuance or trust agreement to rail projects; providing for civil action for bondholders seeking to enforce rights granted; providing that bonds are payable from division revenues and are not a debt of state or political subdivision; restricting division from incurring debt on behalf of state or political subdivision; authorizing use of proceeds from bonds to carry out division’s powers and prohibiting commingling with other funds; providing for the investment of excess funds by West Virginia State Board of Investments; authorizing division to collect rents or revenues for use of rail projects; providing for cooperation with other governmental agencies to effect acquisition of rail project or bond issuance; authorizing division to maintain rail projects in good repair; providing that railroad maintenance bonds are lawful investments for various entities; continuing West Virginia Commuter Rail Access Fund which is administered by division director; requiring division to establish a state rail plan that complies with federal requirements for funding; providing for specific duties related to aeronautics projects; authorizing division to advance development of aeronautics in cooperation with municipalities; authorizing rules necessary for public safety related to airports and aeronautics; providing for the expenditure of funds for various needs of Civil Air Patrol; authorizing division to fund grants for public airport authorities; authorizing division to receive federal funding to support airports or air navigation facilities; and providing for procedures and conditions for use of federal funds.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §17-16B-1, §17-16B-2, §17-16B-3, §17-16B-4, §17-16B-5, §17-16B-6, §17-16B-7, §17-16B-7a , §17-16B-7b ,§17-16B-8, §17-16B-9, §17-16B-10, §17-16B-11, §17-16B-12, §17-16B-13, §17-16B-14, §17-16B-15, §17-16B-16, §17-16B-17, §17-16B-18, §17-16B-19, §17-16B-20, §17-16B-21 and §17-16B-22 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be repealed; that §29-2A-1, §29-2A-2, §29-2A-3, §29-2A-3a, §29-2A-4, §29-2A-5, §29-2A-6, §29-2A-7, §29-2A-8, §29-2A-9, §29-2A-10, §29-2A-11, §29-2A-11a, §29-2A-11b, §29-2A-11c, §29-2A-11d, §29-2A-11e, §29-2A-11f, §29-2A-12, §29-2A-13, §29-2A-14, §29-2A-17, §29-2A-18, §29-2A-19, §29-2A-20, §29-2A-21, §29-2A-22, §29-2A-23, §29-2A-24, §29-2A-25, §29-2A-26, §29-2A-27 and §29-2A-28 of said code be repealed; that §29-18-1, §29-18-2, §29-18-3, §29-18-4, §29-18-4a, §29-18-5, §29-18-6, §29-18-7, §29-18-8, §29-18-9, §29-18-10, §29-18-11, §29-18-12, §29-18-13, §29-18-14, §29-18-15, §29-18-16, §29-18-17, §29-18-18, §29-18-19, §29-18-20, §29-18-21, §29-18-22, §29-18-23, §29-18-24 and §29-18-25 of said code be repealed; that §5F-2-1 of said code be amended and reenacted; and that said code be amended by adding a new article, designated §17-16F-1, §17-16F-2, §17-16F-3, §17-16F-4, §17-16F-5, §17-16F-6, §17-16F-7, §17-16F-8, §17-16F-9, §17-16F-10, §17-16F-11, §17-16F-12, §17-16F-13, §17-16F-14, §17-16F-15, §17-16F-16, §17-16F-17, §17-16F-18, §17-16F-19, §17-16F-20, §17-16F-21, §17-16F-22, §17-16F-23, §17-16F-24, §17-16F-25, §17-16F-26, §17-16F-27, §17-16F-28, §17-16F-29, §17-16F-30, §17-16F-31 and §17-16F-32, all to read as follows:
CHAPTER 5F. REORGANIZATION OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF STATE GOVERNMENT.
ARTICLE 2. TRANSFER OF AGENCIES AND BOARDS.
§5F-2-1. Transfer and incorporation of agencies and boards; funds.
(a) The following agencies and boards, including all of the allied, advisory, affiliated or related entities and funds associated with any agency or board, are incorporated in and administered as a part of the Department of Administration:
(1) Building Commission provided in article six, chapter five of this code;
(2) Public Employees Insurance Agency provided in article sixteen, chapter five of this code;
(3) Governor's Mansion Advisory Committee provided in article five, chapter five-a of this code;
(4) Commission on Uniform State Laws provided in article one-a, chapter twenty-nine of this code;
(5) West Virginia Public Employees Grievance Board provided in article three, chapter six-c of this code;
(6) Board of Risk and Insurance Management provided in article twelve, chapter twenty-nine of this code;
(7) Boundary Commission provided in article twenty-three, chapter twenty-nine of this code;
(8) Public Defender Services provided in article twenty-one, chapter twenty-nine of this code;
(9) Division of Personnel provided in article six, chapter twenty-nine of this code;
(10) The West Virginia Ethics Commission provided in article two, chapter six-b of this code;
(11) Consolidated Public Retirement Board provided in article ten-d, chapter five of this code; and
(12) Real Estate Division provided in article ten, chapter five-a of this code.
(b) The following agencies and boards, including all of the allied, advisory, affiliated or related entities and funds associated with any agency or board, are incorporated in and administered as a part of the Department of Commerce:
(1) Division of Labor provided in article one, chapter twenty-one of this code, which includes:
(A) Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission provided in article three-a, chapter twenty-one of this code; and
(B) Board of Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety provided in article nine, chapter twenty-one of this code;
(2) Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training provided in article one, chapter twenty-two-a of this code. The following boards are transferred to the Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training for purposes of administrative support and liaison with the office of the Governor:
(A) Board of Coal Mine Health and Safety and Coal Mine Safety and Technical Review Committee provided in article six, chapter twenty-two-a of this code;
(B) Board of Miner Training, Education and Certification provided in article seven, chapter twenty-two-a of this code; and
(C) Mine Inspectors' Examining Board provided in article nine, chapter twenty-two-a of this code;
(3) The West Virginia Development Office provided in article two, chapter five-b of this code;
(4) Division of Natural Resources and Natural Resources Commission provided in article one, chapter twenty of this code;
(5) Division of Forestry provided in article one-a, chapter nineteen of this code;
(6) Geological and Economic Survey provided in article two, chapter twenty-nine of this code; and
(7) Workforce West Virginia provided in chapter twenty-one-a of this code, which includes:
(A) Division of Unemployment Compensation;
(B) Division of Employment Service;
(C) Division of Workforce Development; and
(D) Division of Research, Information and Analysis;
(8) Division of Energy provided in article two-f, chapter five-b of this code; and
(9) Division of Tourism and the Tourism Commission provided in article two, chapter five-b of this code.
(c) The Economic Development Authority provided in article fifteen, chapter thirty-one of this code is continued as an independent agency within the executive branch.
(d) The Water Development Authority and the Water Development Authority Board provided in article one, chapter twenty-two-c of this code is continued as an independent agency within the executive branch.
(e) The following agencies and boards, including all of the allied, advisory and affiliated entities, are transferred to the Department of Environmental Protection for purposes of administrative support and liaison with the office of the Governor:
(1) Air Quality Board provided in article two, chapter twenty-two-b of this code;
(2) Solid Waste Management Board provided in article three, chapter twenty-two-c of this code;
(3) Environmental Quality Board, or its successor board, provided in article three, chapter twenty-two-b of this code;
(4) Surface Mine Board provided in article four, chapter twenty-two-b of this code;
(5) Oil and Gas Inspectors' Examining Board provided in
article seven, chapter twenty-two-c of this code;
(6) Shallow Gas Well Review Board provided in article eight, chapter twenty-two-c of this code; and
(7) Oil and Gas Conservation Commission provided in article nine, chapter twenty-two-c of this code.
(f) The following agencies and boards, including all of the allied, advisory, affiliated or related entities and funds associated with any agency or board, are incorporated in and administered as a part of the Department of Education and the Arts:
(1) Library Commission provided in article one, chapter ten of this code;
(2) Division of Culture and History provided in article one, chapter twenty-nine of this code; and
(3) Division of Rehabilitation Services provided in article ten-a, chapter eighteen of this code.
(g) The Educational Broadcasting Authority provided in article five, chapter ten of this code, is part of the Department of Education and the Arts for purposes of administrative support and liaison with the office of the Governor.
(h) The following agencies and boards, including all of the allied, advisory, affiliated or related entities and funds associated with any agency or board, are incorporated in and administered as a part of the Department of Health and Human Resources:
(1) Human Rights Commission provided in article eleven, chapter five of this code;
(2) Division of Human Services provided in article two, chapter nine of this code;
(3) Bureau for Public Health provided in article one, chapter sixteen of this code;
(4) Office of Emergency Medical Services and Emergency Medical Service Advisory Council provided in article four-c, chapter sixteen of this code;
(5) Health Care Authority provided in article twenty-nine-b, chapter sixteen of this code;
(6) Commission on Mental Retardation provided in article fifteen, chapter twenty-nine of this code;
(7) Women's Commission provided in article twenty, chapter twenty-nine of this code; and
(8) The Child Support Enforcement Division provided in chapter forty-eight of this code.
(i) The following agencies and boards, including all of the allied, advisory, affiliated or related entities and funds associated with any agency or board, are incorporated in and administered as a part of the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety:
(1) Adjutant General's Department provided in article one-a, chapter fifteen of this code;
(2) Armory Board provided in article six, chapter fifteen of this code;
(3) Military Awards Board provided in article one-g, chapter fifteen of this code;
(4) West Virginia State Police provided in article two, chapter fifteen of this code;
(5) Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery Board provided in article five, chapter fifteen of this code and Emergency Response Commission provided in article five-a of said chapter;
(6) Sheriffs' Bureau provided in article eight, chapter fifteen of this code;
(7) Division of Justice and Community Services provided in article nine-a, chapter fifteen of this code;
(8) Division of Corrections provided in chapter twenty-five of this code;
(9) Fire Commission provided in article three, chapter twenty-nine of this code;
(10) Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority provided in article twenty, chapter thirty-one of this code;
(11) Board of Probation and Parole provided in article twelve, chapter sixty-two of this code.
(j) The following agencies and boards, including all of the allied, advisory, affiliated or related entities and funds associated with any agency or board, are incorporated in and administered as a part of the Department of Revenue:
(1) Tax Division provided in chapter eleven of this code;
(2) Racing Commission provided in article twenty-three, chapter nineteen of this code;
(3) Lottery Commission and position of Lottery Director provided in article twenty-two, chapter twenty-nine of this code;
(4) Insurance Commissioner provided in article two, chapter thirty-three of this code;
(5) West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Commissioner provided in article sixteen, chapter eleven of this code and article two, chapter sixty of this code;
(6) Board of Banking and Financial Institutions provided in article three, chapter thirty-one-a of this code;
(7) Lending and Credit Rate Board provided in chapter forty-seven-a of this code;
(8) Division of Banking provided in article two, chapter thirty-one-a of this code;
(9) The State Budget Office provided in article two of this chapter code;
(10) The Municipal Bond Commission provided in article three, chapter thirteen of this code;
(11) The Office of Tax Appeals provided in article ten-a, chapter eleven of this code; and
(12) The State Athletic Commission provided in article five-a, chapter twenty-nine of this code.
(k) The following agencies and boards, including all of the allied, advisory, affiliated or related entities and funds associated with any agency or board, are incorporated in and administered as a part of the Department of Transportation:
(1) Division of Highways provided in article two-a, chapter seventeen of this code;
(2) Parkways, Economic Development and Tourism Authority provided in article sixteen-a, chapter seventeen of this code;
(3) Division of Motor Vehicles provided in article two, chapter seventeen-a of this code;
(4) Driver's Licensing Advisory Board provided in article two, chapter seventeen-b of this code; and
(5) Aeronautics
Commission provided in article two-a, chapter twenty-nine of this code;
(6) State Rail Authority
provided in article eighteen, chapter twenty-nine of this code; and
(7) Public Port
Authority provide in article eighteen, chapter seventeen of this code.
West Virginia Division of Multimodal Transportation provided in article sixteen-f, chapter seventeen of this code.
(l) The Veterans' Council provided in article one, chapter nine-a of this code, including all of the allied, advisory, affiliated or related entities and funds associated with it is, incorporated in and administered as part of the Department of Veterans' Assistance.
(m) Except for powers, authority and duties that have been delegated to the secretaries of the departments by the provisions of section two of this article, the position of administrator and the powers, authority and duties of each administrator and agency are not affected by the enactment of this chapter.
(n) Except for powers, authority and duties that have been delegated to the secretaries of the departments by the provisions of section two of this article, the existence, powers, authority and duties of boards and the membership, terms and qualifications of members of the boards are not affected by the enactment of this chapter. All boards that are appellate bodies or are independent decision makers shall not have their appellate or independent decision-making status affected by the enactment of this chapter.
(o) Any department previously transferred to and incorporated in a department by prior enactment of this section means a division of the appropriate department. Wherever reference is made to any department transferred to and incorporated in a department created in section two, article one of this chapter, the reference means a division of the appropriate department and any reference to a division of a department so transferred and incorporated means a section of the appropriate division of the department.
(p) When an agency, board or commission is transferred under a bureau or agency other than a department headed by a secretary pursuant to this section, that transfer is solely for purposes of administrative support and liaison with the office of the Governor, a department secretary or a bureau. Nothing in this section extends the powers of department secretaries under section two of this article to any person other than a department secretary and nothing limits or abridges the statutory powers and duties of statutory commissioners or officers pursuant to this code.
CHAPTER 17. ROADS AND HIGHWAYS.
ARTICLE 16F. wEST VIRGINIA DIVISION OF MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION.
§17-16f-1. Legislative findings and creation of division.
(a) The Legislature finds and declares that there is a need to streamline the execution of implementation of the state’s intermodal transportation goals and reduce costs related thereto by consolidating existing intermodal authorities to a single division, known as the “West Virginia Division of Multimodal Transportation,” under the Secretary of Transportation pursuant to the provisions of chapter five-f of this code. The Department of Transportation through the West Virginia Division of Multimodal Transportation is hereby designated as the agency of this state responsible for administering all federal and state programs related to public ports, railroads, aeronautics, airports and air navigation facilities.
(b) On July 1, 2017, the Public Port Authority, the West Virginia State Rail Authority and the state Aeronautics Commission are reestablished, reconstituted and continued as the West Virginia Division of Multimodal Transportation, an agency of the state. The purpose of the division is to administer all federal and state programs related to public ports, railroad transportation and commerce, aeronautics, airports and air navigation facilities in the State of West Virginia. The powers and duties heretofore imposed upon the Public Port Authority, the West Virginia State Rail Authority and the state Aeronautics Commission are hereby transferred to and imposed upon the West Virginia Division of Multimodal Transportation and its director in the manner prescribed by this article.
(c) On July1, 2017, persons employed by the Public Port Authority, the West Virginia State Rail Authority and the state Aeronautics Commission, the duties and functions of which have been transferred to the West Virginia Division of Multimodal Transportation, are hereby assigned, transferred and by affiliation are taken into the classified service. It is the intent of this article to consolidate into the West Virginia Division of Multimodal Transportation those entities and employees performing functions which will be facilitated by their consolidation. The Department of Transportation shall provide appropriate office locations necessary to fulfill the functions of the division.
(d) On the effective date of this article, all real property interests, vehicles, equipment contracts or agreements, interests under any existing insurance policy and records belonging to the Public Port Authority, the West Virginia State Rail Authority and the state Aeronautics Commission shall be transferred to the West Virginia Division of Multimodal Transportation. Any state funds, special revenue funds and all accounts created for the benefit or use of the Public Port Authority, the West Virginia State Rail Authority and the state Aeronautics Commission are hereby transferred to the West Virginia division of State Multimodal Transportation.
§17-16F-2. Director of division; qualifications; powers and duties.
(a) The Secretary of the Department of Transportation shall appoint the director of the division. The director shall be a person knowledgeable of multimodal transportation in the state, including public ports, railroads and aeronautics.
(b) The director shall:
(1) Consistent with the provisions of this article, administer the operations of the division, allocating the functions and activities of the division among sections as the director may establish;
(2) Supervise payrolls and audit payrolls, reports or transactions for conformity with the provisions of this article;
(3) Plan, evaluate, administer and implement multimodal transportation programs and policies in the state as set forth in this article;
(4) Assist the Governor and Secretary of the Department of Transportation in multimodal transportation matters; and
(5) Make an annual report to the Governor and Legislature and all other special or periodic reports as may be required.
§17-16BF-3. Definitions.
As used in this article, the following words and terms have the following meanings, unless the context indicates another or different meaning or intent:
(a) "Aeronautics" means the art and science of flight, including, but not limited to, transportation by aircraft; the operation, construction, repair or maintenance of aircraft, aircraft power plants and accessories, including the repair, packing and maintenance of parachutes; and the design, establishment, construction, extension, operation, improvement, repair or maintenance of airports or other air navigation facilities.
(b) "Aircraft" means any contrivance now known, or hereafter invented, used or designed for navigation of or flight in the air.
(c) "Airmen" means any individual who engages, as the person in command, or as pilot, mechanic or member of the crew, in the navigation of the aircraft while under way and any individual who is directly in charge of the inspection, maintenance, overhauling or repair of aircraft engines, propellers or appliances and any individual who serves in the capacity of aircraft dispatcher or air-traffic control-tower operator. It does not include any individual employed outside the United States, or any individual employed by a manufacturer of aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers or appliances to perform duties as inspector or mechanic in connection therewith, or any individual performing inspection or mechanical duties in connection with aircraft owned or operated by him.
(d) "Air navigation" or "navigation" means the operation or navigation of aircraft in the air space over this state, or upon any airport within this state.
(e) "Air navigation facility" means any facility other than one owned or controlled by the federal government used in, available for use in, or designed for use in aid of air navigation, including airports, and any structures, mechanisms, lights, beacons, markers, communications system or other instrumentalities or devices used or useful as an aid or constituting an advantage or convenience to the safe taking off, navigation, and landing of aircraft or the safe and efficient operation or maintenance of an airport, and any combination of any or all of such facilities.
(f) "Airport" means any area of land or water which is used, or intended for use, for the landing and take off of aircraft and any appurtenant areas which are used, or intended for use, for airport buildings or other airport facilities or rights-of-way, together with all airport buildings and facilities located thereon.
(g) "Airport hazard" means any structure, object of natural growth or use of land which obstructs the air space required for the flight of aircraft in landing or taking off at any airport or is otherwise hazardous to such landing or taking off.
(h) "Bond" means a revenue bond or rate issued by the division to effectuate the intents and purposes of this article.
(i) "Commuter rail" means a transit mode that is an electric or diesel propelled railway for urban passenger train service consisting of local short distance travel operating between a central city and adjacent suburbs. Service must be operated on a regular basis by or under contract with a transit operator for the purpose of transporting passengers within urbanized areas or between urbanized areas and outlying areas. The rail service, using either locomotive-hauled or self-propelled railroad passenger cars, is generally characterized by multitrip tickets, specific station-to-station fares or railroad employment practices and usually has only one or two stations in the central business district. It does not include heavy rail rapid transit or light rail/streetcar transit service. Intercity rail service is excluded except for that portion of service operated by or under contract with a public transit agency for predominantly commuter services. Only the predominantly commuter service portion of an intercity route is eligible for inclusion when determining commuter rail route miles.
(j) "Heavy rail" means a transit mode that is an electric railway with the capacity for a heavy volume of traffic. It is characterized by high speed and rapid acceleration passenger rail cars operating singly or in multicar trains on fixed rails, separate rights-of-way from which all other vehicular and foot traffic are excluded, sophisticated signaling and high platform loading.
(k) "Income" means and includes all money accruing to the division from any source.
(l) “Intermodal transportation” means the successive transport of goods or passengers using more than one mode of transportation, including air, rail, ship, or roadway.
(m) "Light rail" means a transit mode that typically is an electric railway with a light volume traffic capacity compared to heavy rail. It is characterized by passenger rail cars operating singly or in short, usually two-car trains, on fixed rails in shared or exclusive rights-of-way, low-or high-platform loading and vehicle power drawn from an overhead electric line via a trolley or a pantograph.
(n) “Multimodal transportation” means, for the purposes of this article, the consideration or connection of various modes of transportation, including air, rail, ship or roadway, with the goal of unifying and developing transportation in the state.
(o) "Municipality" means any county, city, town, village or other political subdivision of this state. "Municipal" means pertaining to a municipality as herein defined.
(p) "Operation fund" means the special West Virginia Public Port Operation Fund as created by section twelve of this article.
(q) "Operation of aircraft" or "operate aircraft" means the use, navigation or piloting of aircraft in the airspace over this state or upon the ground within this state.
(r) "Owner" means and includes all individuals, copartnerships, associations, corporations, companies, transportation companies, public service corporations, the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof, common carriers by rail and railroad companies having any title or interest in any rail properties authorized to be acquired, leased or used by this article.
(s) "Person" means any individual, firm, copartnership, corporation, partnership, company, foreign or domestic association, including railroads, joint stock association or body politic and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee or other similar representative thereof.
(t) "Port" or "public port" means ports, airports, wayports, terminals, buildings, roadways, rights-of-way, rails, rail lines, facilities for rail, water, highway or air transportation, and such structures, equipment, facilities or improvements as are necessary or incident thereto.
(u) "Predominantly commuter services" means that for any given trip segment (i.e., distance between two stations), more than fifty percent of the average daily ridership travels on the train at least three times a week.
(v) "Public port development" or "public port project" means any activities which are undertaken with respect to public ports.
(w) "Rail properties" means assets or rights owned, leased or otherwise controlled by a railroad or other person which are used, or useful, in rail transportation service: Provided, That rail properties does not include any properties owned, leased, or otherwise controlled by a railroad not in reorganization, unless it consents to such properties' inclusion in the particular transaction.
(x) "Rail service" means both freight and passenger service.
(y) "Railroad" means a common carrier by railroad as defined in section 10102 of the Interstate Transportation Act (49 U. S. C. 10102).
(z) "Railroad project" means the initiation, acquisition, construction, maintenance, repair, equipping or operation of rail properties or rail service, or the provisions of loans or grants to or with government agencies, or to persons for such purposes, by the division.
(aa) "Wayport" means an airport used primarily as a location at which passengers and cargo may be transferred between connecting flights of air carriers engaged in air commerce; but also allows passengers to initiate and terminate flights, and shipments of cargo to originate and terminate at the airport or similar type facility.
(bb) “West Virginia Commuter Rail Access Fund” means the special West Virginia commuter rail access fund as created by section twenty-seven of this article.
(cc) “West Virginia Railroad Maintenance Fund” means the West Virginia railroad maintenance fund as created by section seventeen of this article.
(dd) The singular of any of the above defined terms shall include the plural and plural the singular.
§17-16F-4. Powers and duties of division.
The division shall perform any and all acts necessary and proper to carry out the purposes of this article and is granted the following powers and duties:
(a) To promote, supervise and support safe, adequate and efficient transportation throughout the state;
(b) To initiate preservation of railroad, waterway, highway and airway facilities, to promote economic development and tourism in this state;
(c) To meet and cooperate with similar division, authorities or bodies of any of the several states contiguous with this state, whose purpose in their respective states is to establish an interstate or intermodal transportation network;
(d) To take all steps appropriate and necessary to effect siting, development and operation of public ports, railroads or airport facilities within the state;
(e) To employ managers, superintendents and other sufficiently trained and qualified personnel and retain or contract with consulting engineers, financial consultants, accountants, attorneys and other consultants and independent contractors as are necessary in its judgment to carry out the provisions of this article and fix the compensation or fees thereof. All expenses thereof are payable from the proceeds of revenue bonds or notes issued by the division, from revenues and funds appropriated for this purpose by the Legislature or from grants from the federal government which may be used for such purpose;
(f) To make and enter into all contracts and agreements with any federal, state, county, municipal agency or private entity and execute all instruments necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties and the execution of its powers including, but not limited to, the power to make contracts and agreements in accordance with the provisions set forth in this article;
(g) To acquire, purchase, lease, construct, own, hold, operate, maintain, equip, use and control, by eminent domain or other means, any land, property, rights, franchises, easements, ports, and such terminals, buildings, roadways, rights-of-way, rails and such structures, equipment, facilities, any and every kind or character of motive powers and conveyances or appliances necessary or proper to carry goods, wares and merchandise over, along, upon or through the railway, highway, waterway or airway or other conveyance of such transportation system, excluding pipelines or improvements, as are necessary or incident to carry out the provisions of this article, upon such terms and at such price as may be considered by it to be reasonable and to take title in the name of the state;
(h) To acquire, by gift or purchase, lease, sell or otherwise dispose of real and personal property in the exercise of its powers and the performance of its duties as set forth in this article;
(i) To act on behalf of the state and to represent the state in the planning, financing, development, construction and operation of any port, railroad or aeronautics project or any facility related to any such project, with the concurrence of the affected public agency. Other state agencies and local governmental entities in this state shall cooperate to the fullest extent the division deems appropriate to effectuate the duties of the division;
(j) To act as agent for the United States of America, or any agency, department, corporation or instrumentality thereof, in any manner coming within the purposes or powers of the division;
(k) The division may expend, out of any funds available for the purpose, such moneys as are necessary for the study of any proposed railroad project and may use its engineering and other forces, including consulting engineers for the purpose of effecting the study. All expenses incurred in conducting the study and necessary engineering shall be paid from the funds established in section seventeen of this article.
(l) To report annually to the Legislature on December 31 of each year on the status of projects, operations, financial condition and other necessary information relating to the statewide intermodal transportation system and public port activities in accordance with this article;
(m) To initiate meetings with political subdivisions of the state to assess specific transportation needs and determine the needs of the state as a whole in terms of transportation, as well as consider feasibility studies for the purpose of determining the best site locations for transportation centers, terminals, railroads, airports, ports and harbors and foreign trade zones;
(n) To apply for and accept loans, grants or gifts of money, property or service from the government of the United States or the State of West Virginia or any political subdivision thereof or from any public or private sources available for any and all of the purposes authorized in this article, or imposed thereon by any such federal agency, the State of West Virginia, or any political subdivision thereof, or any public or private lender or donor, to give such evidences of indebtedness as may be required, and to permit the state Board of Investments to invest, as provided by this code, any funds received by the division pursuant to the provisions of this code;
(o) To make loans and grants, out of any appropriation made to the division by the Legislature or out of any funds at its disposal, to governmental agencies and persons for carrying out any multimodal transportation projects by any governmental agency or person in accordance with rules adopted under this article;
(p) To issue revenue bonds or request other appropriate state agencies to issue and administer revenue bonds to finance port, railroad or aeronautics projects; and
(q) To collect reasonable fees and charges in connection with making and servicing loans, notes, bonds, obligations, commitments and other evidence of indebtedness, and in connection with providing technical, consulting and project assistance services.
§17-16F-5. Rules of division.
(a) All rules promulgated by the Public Port Authority, the West Virginia State Rail Authority or the state Aeronautics Commission in effect at the time of creation of the division shall continue in full force and effect until revised by the division.
(b) The director of the division may make and promulgate rules for the government and conduct of personnel, for the orderly and efficient administration and supervision of the multimodal transportation division and for the effective and expeditious performance and discharge of the duties and responsibilities placed upon the division by law. Where appropriate, rules of the division shall be promulgated as legislative rules pursuant to the provisions of chapter twenty-nine-a of this code.
§17-16F-6. Annual report.
(a) The division shall prepare and file a comprehensive report on December 31, 2017, and annually thereafter, with the Governor and the Legislature setting forth the overall strategic plan both short term and long term for accomplishing the purposes set forth in this article. Incidental to the development of a comprehensive strategic plan for intermodal transportation, the division shall analyze the intermodal shipment of products and passengers through the state, and shall be authorized to collect and analyze such information, which is maintained in the ordinary course of business by the person, firm or corporation providing such information, pertaining to the transportation of products and passengers which has been moved by rail, water, highway or air to and from points within and without this state:
(b) Any such information and data supplied to the division shall be for exclusive use of the division. Such information is deemed confidential and is not subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. The division shall not publicly disclose this information and data to any person, firm, corporation or agent. It is unlawful for any employee of this state to divulge or make known in any manner any information obtained pursuant to this subsection or disclose information concerning the personal or business affairs of any individual or the business of any single firm or corporation, or disclose any particulars set forth or disclosed in any report or other information provided to the division.
(c) Any employee, or former employee, of this state who violates subsection (b) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $1,000 or confined in the regional jail for not more than one year, or both, together with costs of prosecution.
§17-16F-7. Financial interest in contracts prohibited; penalty.
No director or employee of the division may be financially interested, directly or indirectly, in any contract of any person with the division, or in the sale of any property, real or personal, to or from the division. This section does not apply to contracts or purchases of property, real or personal, between the division and any governmental agency. If any director or employee of the division has such financial interest in a contract or sale of property prohibited hereby, he or she is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $1,000, or confined in a regional jail not more than one year, or both fined and confined.
§17-16F-8. Public purpose of activities; property of public utilities and common carriers.
(a) The exercise of the powers granted to the division by this article and the acquisition of any lands or interests therein pursuant to this article, the planning, acquisition, establishment, construction, improvement, maintenance and operation of public port, railroad, airport or air navigation facilities, whether by the state separately or jointly with any municipalities, and the exercise of any other powers herein granted to the division are hereby declared to be public and governmental functions, exercised for a public purpose, and matters of public necessity. All lands and other property and privileges acquired and used by or on behalf of the state in the manner and for the purposes enumerated in this article shall and are hereby declared to be acquired and used for public and governmental purposes and as a matter of public necessity.
(b) The division may take or disturb property or facilities belonging to any public utility or to a common carrier, which property or facilities are required for the proper and convenient operation of such public utility or common carrier, if provision is made for the restoration, relocation or duplication of such property or facilities elsewhere at the sole cost of the division.
(c) The division may make reasonable rules for the installation, construction, maintenance, repair, renewal, relocation and removal of railroad or public utility facilities in, on, over or under any public port, railroad, airport or air navigation facility project. Whenever the division determines that it is necessary that any such facilities installed or constructed in, on, over or under property of the division pursuant to such rules and be relocated, the railroad or public utility owning or operating such facilities shall relocate or remove them in accordance with the order of the division. The cost and expenses of such relocation or removal, including the cost of installing such facilities in a new location, the cost of any lands or any rights or interests in lands and the cost of any other rights acquired to accomplish such relocation or removal, may be paid by the division as a part of the cost of such project. In case of any such relocation or removal of facilities, the railroad or public utility owning or operating them, and its successors or assigns, may maintain and operate such facilities, with the necessary appurtenances in the new location in, on, over or under the property of the division for as long a period and upon the same terms as it had the right to maintain and operate such facilities in their former location.
§17-16F-9. Construction and operation of facilities by private enterprise; leasing of facilities by port authority.
(a) The division shall foster and encourage the participation of private enterprise in the development of railroad, waterway, highway and airway facilities to the fullest extent it deems practicable in the interest of limiting the necessity of construction and operation of such facilities by the division. In this respect, the division may advertise and solicit for the construction, operation, maintenance or a combination thereof of any facility included in the development plan in accordance to plans, specifications, policies or guidance prepared by the division.
(b) It is further provided that in the event division considers it advisable and practicable, it may include certain facilities in the development plan to be installed by private enterprise and leased back to the division on an installment contract or option to purchase: Provided, That any such lease back arrangement must be financially feasible and any bonds or loans utilized to enter into such lease back arrangement shall be repayable in full from the expected rentals to be generated by such facility.
§17-16F-10. Foreign trade zones; free trade zones; ports of entry and customs zones.
The division is empowered and directed to develop, maintain and operate foreign trade zones, free trade zones, ports of entry and customs zones under such terms and conditions as are or may be prescribed by federal law, and to keep foreign trade zone status for, and to assist in the applications for foreign trade zone status of political subdivisions and eligible private corporations under federal law.
§17-16F-11. Additional powers and duties of division related to port projects
The division has the following additional powers and duties related to its execution of duties related to any port project or any facility related to any such project:
(a) The division is hereby designated and empowered to act on behalf of the state on submitting siting proposals for public ports and shall seek coordination, cooperation and feasibility studies from local and area port authority districts, committees and entities.
(b) The division is empowered to construct, reconstruct, improve, maintain, repair and operate infrastructure projects at the designated port sites;
(c) The division shall take affirmative steps to coordinate freely all aspects of the submission of a siting proposal for any port project, and to coordinate fully the development of any project or any facility related to any project with the federal government agency.
§17-16F-12. Special West Virginia Public Port Operations Fund; West Virginia Multimodal Division Operations Fund.
The current revenue account, known as the special West Virginia Public Port Authority Operations Fund created by prior enactment of section seven, article sixteen-b of this chapter, is continued and shall be known as The West Virginia Multimodal Division Operations Fund which shall be administered by the director of the division. At the end of each fiscal year, any unexpended funds in this account shall be appropriated and available for expenditure for the subsequent fiscal year.
§17-16F-13. Designation of local port authority districts, powers and duties; plan for development.
(a) Upon application by a local governmental entity, groups of local governmental entities, or joint venture of local government entity or entities and private industry, the division may grant authority for the creation of a local inland port authority district. In authorizing such entities, political subdivisions of this state are authorized to join with other political subdivisions of this and sister states to form a local port authority. In deciding on a local port district designation, consideration shall be given to the following:
(1) Areas which have entered into a joint venture with private industry;
(2) Areas for which the political subdivision(s) seeking designation has made or will make the greatest effort, both financially and otherwise, to encourage the establishment of facilities to enhance the efficiency and cost of the movement of goods and services to and from markets in West Virginia, or will make the greatest effort to encourage the construction and completion of infrastructure projects, including all types of transportation systems.
(b) A local port authority district as provided in this article has the authority to establish a local board of directors, and has powers only as provided for by the state board of directors. In no event may the powers of a local port authority district supersede the powers of the state authority.
Any board of directors of a port authority district shall prepare or cause to be prepared a plan for the future development, construction and improvement of its services and facilities.
§17-16F-14. Additional powers and duties of division related to railroad projects.
(a) The division shall facilitate railroad transportation and commerce within the state by exercising those powers of the state necessary to qualify for rail services continuation subsidies pursuant to the provisions of the federal Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 and any amendment thereto and any regulations promulgated thereunder;
(b) The division may carry out railroad projects or cause railroad projects to be carried out pursuant to a lease, sublease or agreement with any person or governmental agency; may make loans and grants to or with governmental agencies or to persons for railroad projects; and may issue bonds of this state; payable solely from revenues, to pay the cost of such projects. A railroad project shall not be undertaken unless it has been determined by the division to be consistent with any applicable comprehensive plan for railroad projects approved by the division;
(c) The division may establish, fund, construct, reconstruct, acquire, repair, replace, operate and maintain railroads and railroad projects;
(d) The division may make available the use or services of any railroad project to one or more persons, one or more governmental agencies or any combination thereof;
(e) The division may engage in research and development with respect to railroads.
(f) The division may make and enter into contracts and agreements to acquire rolling stock or equipment with a value of $1 million or less exempt from the provisions of article three, chapter five-a of this code. The division shall propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code which set forth the methods for determining value of rolling stock or equipment to be purchased.
(1) Where rolling stock, equipment or trackage of the division is in need of immediate maintenance, repair or reconstruction in order to avoid a cessation of its operations, economic loss, the inability to provide essential service to customers or danger to division personnel or the public, the following requirements and procedures for entering into the contract or agreement to remedy the condition shall be in lieu of those provided in article three, chapter five-a of this code or any legislative rule promulgated pursuant thereto:
(i) If the cost under the contract or agreement involves an expenditure of more than $1,000, but $10,000 or less, the division shall award the contract to or enter into the agreement with the lowest responsible bidder based upon at least three oral bids made pursuant to the requirements of the contract or agreement.
(ii) If the cost under the contract or agreement, other than one for compensation for personal services, involves an expenditure of more than $10,000, but $500,000 or less, the division shall award the contract to or enter into the agreement with the lowest responsible bidder based upon at least three bids, submitted to the division in writing on letterhead stationery, made pursuant to the requirements of the contract or agreement.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, a contract or lease for the operation of a railroad project constructed and owned by the division or an agreement for cooperation in the acquisition or construction of a railroad project authorized by this article is not subject to the provisions of article three, chapter five-a of this code or any legislative rule promulgated pursuant thereto and the division may enter into the contract or lease or the agreement pursuant to negotiation and upon such terms and conditions and for a period of time as it finds to be reasonable and proper under the circumstances and in the best interests of proper operation or of efficient acquisition or construction of the railroad project.
(3) The division may reject any and all bids. A bond with good and sufficient surety, approved by the division, is required of all contractors in an amount equal to at least fifty percent of the contract price, conditioned upon the faithful performance of the contract.
(g) The division may purchase fire and extended coverage and liability insurance for any railroad project and for any offices of the division, insurance protecting the division and its officers and employees against liability, if any, for damage to property or injury to or death of persons arising from its operations and be a member of, and to participate in, the state workers' compensation insurance;
(h) The division may charge, alter and collect rates, rentals and other charges for the use or services of any railroad project as provided in this article;
(i) The division may purchase railroad tracks being abandoned by any common carrier;
(j) The division may acquire rail properties both within and not within the jurisdiction of the Interstate Commerce Commission and rail properties within the purview of the federal Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973, any amendments to it and any other relevant federal legislation;
(k) The division may enter into agreements with owners of rail properties for the acquisition of rail properties or use, or both, of rail properties upon the terms, conditions, rates or rentals that can best effectuate the purposes of this article;
(l) The division may acquire rail properties and other property of a railroad in concert with another state or states as is necessary to ensure continued rail service in this state;
(m) The division may provide in the state plan for the equitable distribution of federal rail service continuation subsidies among state, local and regional transportation authorities;
(n) The division may maintain adequate programs of investigation, research, promotion and development in connection with the purposes and to provide for public participation therein;
(o) The division may provide satisfactory assurances on behalf of the state that fiscal control and fund accounting procedures will be adopted by the state necessary to assure proper disbursement of and accounting for federal funds paid to the state as rail service continuation subsidies;
(p) The division may comply with the regulations of the Secretary of Transportation of the United States Department of Transportation affecting federal rail service continuation programs.
(q) The division may do all things otherwise necessary to maximize federal assistance to the state under Title IV of the federal Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 and to qualify for rail service continuation subsidies pursuant to the federal Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973.
§17-16F-15. Additional authority in regard to the Maryland area regional commuter.
(a) The division is hereby granted, has and may exercise all aforementioned powers necessary or appropriate to coordinate all activities with the Maryland Transit Administration to assure the continued operation of the Maryland Area Regional Commuter into the eastern panhandle of the state.
(b) In addition to the authority provided in this section, the division shall negotiate agreements with the state of Maryland or the Maryland Transit Administration for the continued operation of the commuter rail operation between Maryland and the Washington D. C. metropolitan area and West Virginia. A commuter rail operation agreement shall provide for quantity and quality of commuter rail service, including certain minimum daily service at least equivalent to the level service on July 12, 2013, unless daily ridership diminishes significantly from said date. The agreement may provide for the payment of track access fees attributed to commuter rail operation within the boundaries of the state. Any payments of track access fees pursuant to the agreement shall be paid from the fund created in section twenty-seven of this article as provided by appropriation of the Legislature.
§17-16F-16. Rail operations; purchases.
(a) The division may sell, transfer or lease all, or any part, of the rail properties and other property acquired under the provisions of this article to any responsible person, firm or corporation for continued operation of a railroad or other public purpose: Provided, That approval for the continued operation or other public purpose, is granted by the Interstate Commerce Commission of the United States, whenever approval is required. The sale, transfer or lease shall be for a price and subject to any further terms and conditions which the division feels are necessary and appropriate to effectuate the purposes of this article.
(b) After acquiring any railroad lines within the state, the division shall assist any responsible person, firm or corporation to secure, as promptly as possible, any order or certificate required by the Interstate Commerce Commission for the performance of railroad service. The division shall also give any assurances or guarantees which are necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this article.
(c) The division may take whatever steps are necessary in order to determine the absolute fee simple title ownership of all rail properties of any railroad within the state. The determination may include the status of the rail properties with respect to easements, rights-of-way, leases, reversionary rights, fee simple title ownership and any and all related title matters. The division may retain attorneys, experts or other assistants, and issue any contracts as are necessary to make the title determination.
(d) All rail properties within the state offered for sale by any railway corporation after the date of enactment of this article shall be offered for sale to the state in the first instance.
(e) The division may cooperate with other states in connection with the purchase of any rail properties within this state. The division may also acquire railroad rights in other states and rail properties lying in other states in order to carry out the intentions and purposes of this article. In carrying out the powers and duties conferred by this article, the division may enter into general contractual arrangements, including joint purchasing and leasing of rail properties with other states.
(f) In weighing the varied interests of the residents of this state, the division shall give consideration to the individual interest of any county or municipality expressing a desire to acquire a portion, or all, of the abandoned real estate located within its jurisdiction. The division may exercise its powers under this article to acquire the abandoned property for subsequent conveyance to the county or municipality.
(g) The division may utilize federal funds, grants, gifts or donations which are available and any sums that are appropriated in carrying out the purposes of this article. The division may also apply for discretionary or other funds available under the provisions of the federal Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 or other federal programs.
(h) The division may apply for an acquisition and modernization loan, or a guarantee of a loan, pursuant to the federal Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973, or any other federal programs, within the limit of funds appropriated for those purposes.
(i) The division is authorized to purchase any railroad rolling stock, equipment and machinery necessary for the operation and maintenance of any rail properties purchased by it on behalf of the state, with any funds made available for this purpose. The division may also acquire and have available a pool of equipment and machinery which may be utilized by the operators of the rail properties for the purpose of track maintenance and other related railroad activities upon terms and conditions determined by the division. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections forty-eight through fifty-three, article three, chapter five-a of this code to the contrary, the division may enter into contracts or agreements for the lease or purchase and maintenance of any vehicles required for its purposes with the Division of Highways. For those purposes, the Division of Highways is authorized and empowered to enter into contracts or agreements for the lease or purchase and maintenance of any vehicles with the division.
(j) The division may contract for the rebuilding or relocation of any rail properties acquired pursuant to this article, within the provisions of the federal Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973, or any other applicable legislation. The division may also spend any sums appropriated, as well as any other available funds, for the modernization, rebuilding and relocation of any rail properties owned by the state or by a private carrier. The division may do any maintenance on any rail properties owned by the state as is necessary in the public interest.
(k) The division may contract with any domestic or foreign person, firm, corporation, agency or government to provide, maintain or improve rail transportation service on the rail properties acquired by the state under this article.
(l) Whenever the division determines that any rail properties acquired by the state are no longer needed for railroad purposes, it may, with the permission of the Governor, permanently or temporarily transfer the rail properties to any other state department or agency or political subdivision of the state, which shall utilize the properties for a public purpose. Whenever more than one department or agency or political subdivision wishes to utilize the property, the division shall resolve such a conflict and make a prompt determination of the reasonable and proper order of priority, taking into consideration any applicable state plans, policies or objectives. If no state department or agency or political subdivision wants the properties, the division may sell them, with the proceeds deposited to the Rail Access Fund established by this article.
§17-16F-17. Railroad Maintenance Authority Fund; Rail Maintenance Fund.
The special revenue account, known as the Railroad Maintenance Authority Fund, previously created by prior enactment of section eight, article eighteen, chapter twenty-nine of this code shall be closed and all funds and obligations transferred to the Railroad Maintenance Fund, which is hereby created. The Railroad Maintenance Fund shall be administered by the director. Expenditures are authorized from collections, but are to be made only in accordance with appropriation by the Legislature and in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twelve of this code and upon fulfillment of the provisions of article two, chapter eleven-b of this code. Any balance remaining in the special revenue account at the end of any state fiscal year does not revert to the General Revenue Fund but remains in the special revenue account and shall be used solely in a manner consistent with this article. All costs and expenses incurred pursuant to this article, including administrative, shall be paid from those funds.
§17-16F-18. Division empowered to issue bonds, renewal notes and refunding bonds; requirements and manner of such issuance.
(a) The division is hereby empowered to raise the cost of one or more railroad projects or parts thereof by the issuance from time to time of railroad maintenance revenue bonds and notes of the state in such principal amount as the division deems necessary, but the aggregate amount of all issues of bonds and notes outstanding at one time for all projects authorized hereunder may not exceed that amount capable of being serviced by revenues received from such projects.
(b) The division may, from time to time, issue renewal notes, issue bonds to pay the notes and whenever it deems refunding expedient, refund any bonds by the issuance of railroad maintenance revenue refunding bonds of the state, whether the bonds to be refunded have or have not matured, and issue bonds partly to refund bonds then outstanding and partly for any other authorized purpose. The refunding bonds shall be sold and the proceeds applied to the purchase, redemption or payment of the bonds to be refunded. Except as may otherwise be expressly provided by the division, every issue of its bonds or notes are obligations of the division payable out of the revenues of the division, which are pledged for such payment, without preference or priority of the first bonds issued, subject only to any agreements with the holders of particular bonds or notes pledging any particular revenues. Such pledge is valid and binding from the time the pledge is made and the revenue so pledged and thereafter received by the division is immediately subject to the lien of such pledge without any physical delivery thereof or further act and the lien of any such pledge is valid and binding as against all parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract or otherwise against the division irrespective of whether the parties have notice thereof.
(c) All bonds and notes have and are hereby declared to have all the qualities of negotiable instruments.
(d) The bonds and notes authorized by the division, shall bear such date and shall mature at such time, in the case of any note or any renewals thereof not exceeding five years from the date of issue of the original note, and in the case of any bond not exceeding fifty years from the date of issue, as the authorization may provide. The bonds and notes shall bear interest at a rate, be in denominations, be in the form, either coupon or registered, carry registration privileges, be payable in a medium of payment, at place and be subject to any terms of redemption that the division may authorize. The bonds and notes of the division may be sold by the division, at public or private sale, at or not less than the price the division determines. The bonds and notes shall be executed by the director of the division, who may use a facsimile signature. The official seal of the division or a facsimile thereof shall be affixed thereto or printed thereon and attested, manually or by facsimile signature, by the director of the division, and any coupons attached thereto shall bear the signature or facsimile signature of the director of the division. In case any director whose signature, or a facsimile of whose signature, appears on any bonds, notes or coupons ceases to be director before delivery of the bonds or notes, the signature or facsimile is nevertheless sufficient for all purposes the same as if he or she had remained in office until delivery and in case the seal of the division has been changed after a facsimile has been imprinted on such bonds or notes the facsimile seal will continue to be sufficient for all purposes.
(e) Any authorization of any bonds or notes or any issue thereof may contain provisions, subject to agreements with bondholders or noteholders as may then exist, which provisions shall be a part of the contract with the holders thereof, as to pledging all or any part of the revenues of the division to secure the payment of the bonds or notes or of any issue thereof; the use and disposition of revenues of the division; a covenant to fix, alter and collect rates, rentals and other charges so that pledged revenues will be sufficient to pay the costs of operation, maintenance and repairs, pay principal of and interest on bonds or notes secured by the pledge of such revenues and provide any reserves that may be required by the applicable authorization or trust agreement; the setting aside of reserve funds, sinking funds or replacement and improvement funds and the regulation and disposition thereof; the crediting of the proceeds of the sale of bonds or notes to and among the funds referred to or provided for in the authorization of issuance of the bonds or notes; the use, lease, sale or other disposition of any railroad project or any other assets of the division; limitations on the purpose to which the proceeds of sale of bonds or notes may be applied and pledging such proceeds to secure the payment of the bonds or notes or of any issue thereof; notes issued in anticipation of the issuance of bonds, the agreement of the division to do all things necessary for the authorization, issuance and sale of such bonds in such amounts that may be necessary for the timely retirement of the notes; limitations on the issuance of additional bonds or notes; the terms upon which additional bonds or notes may be issued and secured; the refunding of outstanding bonds or notes; the procedure, if any, by which the terms of any contract with bondholders or noteholders may be amended or abrogated, the amount of bonds or notes the holders of which must consent thereto and the manner in which such consent may be given; limitations on the amount of moneys to be expended by the division for operating, administrative or other expenses of the division; securing any bonds or notes by a trust agreement; and any other matters, of like or different character, which in any way affect the security or protection of the bonds or notes.
(f) No person executing the bonds or notes is liable personally on the bonds or notes or be subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of the issuance thereof.
§17-16F-19. Trustee for bondholders; contents of trust agreement.
(a) In the discretion of the division, any railroad maintenance bonds or notes or railroad maintenance refunding bonds issued by the division under this article may be secured by a trust agreement between the division and a corporate trustee, which trustee may be any trust company or banking institution having the powers of a trust company within or without this state.
(b) Any such trust agreement may pledge or assign revenues of the division to be received, but shall not convey or mortgage any railroad project or any part thereof. Any such trust agreement or any authorization providing for the issuance of such bonds or notes may contain such provisions for protecting and enforcing the rights and remedies of the bondholders or noteholders as are reasonable and proper and not in violation of law, including covenants setting forth the duties of the division in relation to the acquisition of property, the construction, improvement, maintenance, repair, operation and insurance of the railroad project in connection with which such bonds or notes are authorized, the rentals or other charges to be imposed for the use or services of any railroad project, the custody, safeguarding, and application of all moneys and provisions for the employment of consulting engineers in connection with the construction or operation of such railroad project. Any banking institution or trust company incorporated under the laws of this state which may act as depository of the proceeds of bonds or notes or of revenues shall furnish such indemnifying bonds or pledge such securities as are required by the division. Any such trust agreement may set forth the rights and remedies of the bondholders and noteholders and of the trustee and may restrict individual rights of action by bondholders and noteholders as customarily provided in trust agreements or trust indentures securing similar bonds. Such trust agreement may contain such other provisions as the division deems reasonable and proper for the security of the bondholders or noteholders. All expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of any trust agreement may be treated as a part of the cost of the operation of the railroad project. Any trust agreement or authorization of the issuance of railroad maintenance revenue bonds may provide the method whereby the general administrative overhead expenses of the division shall be allocated among the several projects acquired or constructed by it as a factor of the operating expenses of each such project.
§17-16F-20. Legal remedies of bondholders and trustees.
Any holder of railroad maintenance revenue bonds issued under the authority of this article or any of the coupons appertaining thereto and the trustee under any trust agreement, except to the extent the rights given by this article may be restricted by the applicable authorization or trust agreement, may by civil action, mandamus or other proceedings, protect and enforce any rights granted under the laws of this state or granted under this article, by the trust agreement or by the authorization of issuance of bonds, and may enforce and compel the performance of all duties required by this article, or by the trust agreement or authorization, to be performed by the division or any employee thereof, including the fixing, charging and collecting of sufficient rentals or other charges.
§17-16F-21. Bonds and notes not debt of state, county, municipality or of any political subdivision; expenses incurred pursuant to article.
(a) Railroad maintenance revenue bonds and notes and railroad maintenance revenue refunding bonds issued under authority of this article and any coupons in connection therewith do not constitute a debt or a pledge of the faith and credit or taxing power of this state or of any county, municipality or any other political subdivision of this state, and the holders or owners thereof have no right to have taxes levied by the Legislature or taxing authority of any county, municipality or any other political subdivision of this state for the payment of the principal thereof or interest thereon, but such bonds and notes are payable solely from the revenues and funds pledged for their payment as authorized by this article unless the notes are issued in anticipation of the issuance of bonds or the bonds are refunded by refunding bonds issued under authority of this article, which bonds or refunding bonds are payable solely from revenues and funds pledged for their payment as authorized by this article. All bonds and notes shall contain on the face thereof a statement to the effect that the bonds or notes, as to both principal and interest, are not debts of the state or any county, municipality or political subdivision thereof, but are payable solely from revenues and funds pledged for their payment.
(b) All expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of this article are payable solely from funds provided under authority of this article. This article does not authorize the division to incur indebtedness or liability on behalf of or payable by the state or any county, municipality or political subdivision thereof.
§17-16F-22. Use of funds by division; restrictions.
All moneys, properties and assets acquired by the division, whether as proceeds from the sale of railroad maintenance revenue bonds or as revenues or other source which are attributable to a railroad project or purpose, shall be held by it in trust for the purposes of carrying out its powers and duties, and shall be used and reused in accordance with the purposes and provisions of this article. Such moneys may at no time be commingled with other public funds. Such moneys, except as otherwise provided in any authorization of the issuance of railroad maintenance revenue bonds or in any trust agreement securing the same, or except when invested pursuant to section twenty-three of this article, shall be kept in appropriate depositories and secured as provided and required by law. The authorization of the issuance of bonds of any issue or the trust agreement securing bonds shall provide that any person to whom, or any banking institution or trust company to which, moneys are paid shall act as trustee of such moneys and hold and apply them for the purposes hereof, subject to the conditions this article and the authorization or trust agreement provide.
§17-16F-23. Investment of funds by division.
Funds of the division in excess of current needs, except as otherwise provided in any authorization for the issuance of its railroad maintenance revenue bonds or in any trust agreement securing the same, may be invested by the West Virginia State Board of Investments as authorized to invest under article six, chapter twelve of this code. Income from all such investments of moneys in any fund shall be credited to such funds as the division determines, subject to the provisions of any authorization or trust agreement and such investments may be sold at such times as the division determines.
§17-16F-24. Rentals and other revenues from railroad projects; contracts and leases of division; cooperation of other governmental agencies; bonds of such agencies.
(a) The division may charge, alter and collect rates, rentals or other charges for the use or services of any project, and contract in the manner provided by this section with one or more persons, one or more governmental agencies, or any combination thereof, desiring the use or services thereof, and fix the terms, conditions, rates, rentals or other charges for use or services. The rentals or other charges are not be subject to supervision, or regulation by any other division, authority, department, commission, board, bureau or agency of the state, and the contract may provide for acquisition by a person or governmental agency of all or any part of a railroad project for consideration payable over the period of the contract or otherwise as the division in its sole discretion determines to be appropriate, but subject to the provisions of any authorized issue of railroad maintenance revenue bonds or notes or railroad maintenance revenue refunding bonds of the division or any trust agreement securing the same. Any governmental agency which has power to construct, operate and maintain railroad projects may enter into a contract or lease with the division whereby the use or services of any railroad project of the division will be made available to such governmental agency and pay for such use or services such rentals or other charges as may be agreed to by such governmental agency and the division.
(b) Any governmental agency or agencies or combination thereof may cooperate with the division in the acquisition or construction of a railroad project and shall enter into such agreements with the division as are necessary, with a view to effective cooperative action and safeguarding of the respective interests of the parties thereto, which agreements shall provide for such contributions by the parties thereto in such proportion as may be agreed upon and such other terms as may be mutually satisfactory to the parties, including without limitation the authorization of the construction of the project by one of the parties acting as agent for all of the parties and the ownership and control of the project by the division to the extent necessary or appropriate for purposes of the issuance of railroad maintenance revenue bonds by the division. Any governmental agency may provide such contribution as is required under such agreements by the appropriation of money or, if authorized by a favorable vote of the electors to issue bonds or notes or levy taxes or assessments and issue notes or bonds in anticipation of the collection thereof, by the issuance of bonds or notes or by the levying of taxes or assessments and the issuance of bonds or notes in anticipation of the collection thereof, and by the payment of such appropriated money or the proceeds of such bonds or notes to the division pursuant to such agreements.
(c) Any governmental agency, pursuant to a favorable vote of the electors in an election held for the purpose of issuing bonds to provide funds to acquire, construct or equip, or provide real estate and interests in real estate for a railroad project, whether or not the governmental agency at the time of such election had the authority to pay the proceeds from such bonds or notes issued in anticipation thereof to the division as provided in this section, may issue such bonds or notes in anticipation of the issuance thereof and pay the proceeds thereof to the division in accordance with an agreement between such governmental agency and the division: Provided, That the legislative authority of the governmental agency finds and determines that the railroad project to be acquired or constructed by the division in cooperation with such governmental agency will serve the same public purpose and meet substantially the same public need as the facility otherwise proposed to be acquired or constructed by the governmental agency with the proceeds of such bonds or notes.
§17-16F-25. Maintenance, operation and repair of projects.
Each railroad project, when constructed and placed in operation, shall be maintained and kept in good condition and repair by the division or the division shall cause the project to be maintained and kept in good condition and repair. Each project shall be operated by division employees pursuant to a contract or lease with a governmental agency or person. All public or private property damaged or destroyed in carrying out the provisions of this article and in the exercise of the powers granted hereunder with regard to any project shall be restored or repaired and placed in its original condition, as nearly as practicable, or adequate compensation made therefor out of funds provided in accordance with the provisions of this article.
§17-16F-26. Railroad maintenance bonds lawful investments.
The provisions of article six, chapter twelve of this code to the contrary notwithstanding, all railroad maintenance revenue bonds issued pursuant to this article are lawful investments for the West Virginia State Board of Investments and are also lawful investments for banking institutions, societies for savings, building and loan associations, savings and loan associations, deposit guarantee associations, trust companies, insurance companies, including domestic for life and domestic not for life insurance companies.
§17-16F-27. West Virginia Commuter Rail Access Fund.
There is hereby continued a special fund in the State Treasury known as the West Virginia Commuter Rail Access Fund. The fund shall be administered by the director and shall consist of appropriations by the Legislature. Subject to legislative appropriation, the director shall administer the fund to pay track access fees pursuant to agreement as required by this article. Balances in the fund at the end of any fiscal year shall not expire, but shall be expended for those purposes in ensuing fiscal years.
§17-16F-28. State rail plan required.
(a) The division shall establish, administer and coordinate a state plan for rail transportation and local rail services. In establishing and updating the plan, the division may request input from freight and rail passenger associations.
(b) The plan shall, at a minimum, comply with the provisions of the laws of the United States and any regulations made thereunder relating to capturing and administering federal moneys for rail transportation, local rail services, and intermodal facilities as deemed necessary by the division.
§17-16F-29. Additional powers and duties of division related to aeronautics, airport and air navigation projects.
The division shall encourage, foster and assist in the development of aeronautics in this state and encourage the establishment of airports and air navigation facilities. It shall cooperate with and assist the federal government, the municipalities of this state and other persons in the development of aeronautics and shall act to coordinate the aeronautical activities of these bodies and persons. Municipalities are authorized to cooperate with the division in the development of aeronautics and aeronautics facilities in this state. The division is hereby given the power and authority to make such rules as it may consider necessary and advisable for the public safety, governing the designing, laying out, locating, building, equipping and operating of all airports and the conduct of all other phases of aeronautics.
§17-16F-30. Expenses of civil air patrol; division may expend funds pursuant to rules.
(a) The division, in addition to all other powers and functions authorized by law, may expend state funds: (1) For educational purposes of the civil air patrol, including, but not limited to, the purchase of civil air patrol aviation education training aid books, materials and equipment; (2) to defray maintenance, repair and replacement costs of civil air patrol aircraft; (3) to purchase and obtain supplies and equipment for the civil air patrol; and (4) to maintain the communications network for the civil air patrol.
(b) No expenditure of state funds for these purposes may be made unless the purchase order is first approved by the division in accordance with the division’s rules relating to the expenditure. Only funds specifically appropriated by the Legislature for these purposes may be expended by the division and funds appropriated shall be expended for no other purposes.
§17-16F-31. State financial assistance for county, municipal and regional airports.
The division, out of any appropriation made to it by the Legislature or out of any funds at its disposal, may make funds available by grant or otherwise to counties, municipalities and regional airport authorities, created under the provisions of chapter eight of this code, for the planning, acquisition, construction, improvement, maintenance, or operation of airports owned or operated or to be owned or operated by such counties, municipalities or regional airport authorities. Acceptance of any moneys so made available to any such county, municipality or regional airport authority, shall constitute consent by the recipient that a reasonable use of such airport may be made, upon request of the division, by the United States government, the state, or any of their respective agencies, including the National Guard of West Virginia for state purposes related or incidental to aeronautics. Such financial assistance may be furnished in connection with federal or other financial aid for the same purpose.
§17-16F-32. Federal aid.
(a) The division is authorized to accept, receive and receipt for federal moneys and other moneys, either public or private, for and in behalf of this state, or any municipality thereof, for the planning, acquisition, construction, improvement, maintenance and operation of airports and other air navigation facilities, whether such work is to be done by the state or by a municipality, or jointly, aided by grants of aid from the United States, upon the terms and conditions as are or may be prescribed by the laws of the United States and any regulations made thereunder, and it is hereby designated as the agency of the state, and is authorized to and may act as agent of any municipality of this state upon the request of the municipality, in accepting, receiving and receipting moneys in its behalf for airports or other air navigation facility purposes, and in contracting for the planning, acquisition, construction, improvement, maintenance or operation of airports or other air navigation facilities, financed, either in whole or in part, by federal moneys; and any municipality is authorized to and may enter into an agreement with the division prescribing the terms and conditions of such agency in accordance with federal laws and regulations and with this article. Moneys paid over by the United States government shall be retained by the state or paid over to the municipalities under the terms and conditions that may be imposed by the United States government in making the grants.
(b) All contracts for the planning, acquisition, construction, improvement, maintenance and operation of airports, or other air navigation facilities made by the division, either as the agent of the state or as the agent of any municipality therein, shall be made pursuant to the laws of this state governing the making of like contracts: Provided, That where the planning, acquisition, construction, improvement, maintenance and operation of any airport or other air navigation facility is financed wholly or partially with federal moneys, the division, as agent of the state or of any municipality thereof, may let contracts in the manner prescribed by the federal authorities, acting under the laws of the United States, and any regulations made thereunder, notwithstanding any other state law to the contrary.
(c) All moneys accepted for disbursement by the division pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the State Treasury, and, unless otherwise prescribed by the division from which the money is received, kept in separate funds, designated according to the purposes for which the moneys were made available, and held by the state in trust for such purposes. All such moneys are hereby appropriated for the purposes for which they were made available and shall be expended in accordance with federal laws and regulations and with the provisions of this article. The division is authorized, whether acting for this state or as the agent of any municipality therein, when requested by the United States government or any agency or department thereof, or when requested by the state or municipality for which the money has been made available, to disburse the moneys for the designated purposes, but this shall not preclude any other authorized method of disbursement.
(d) The state or any municipality therein is authorized to cooperate with the government of the United States, and any agency or department thereof, in the acquisition, construction, improvement, maintenance and operation of airports and other air navigation facilities in this state and is authorized to accept federal aid, either by way of outright grant or by matching the same, in whole or in part, as may be required, and to comply with the provisions of the laws of the United States and any regulations made thereunder for the expenditure of federal moneys upon such airports and other navigation facilities.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create the Division of Multimodal Transportation under the Secretary of Transportation and to combine the employees, equipment, assets, liabilities and duties previously executed by the Public Port Authority, the state Aeronautics Commission and the West Virginia State Rail Authority.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
