ENROLLED
       2017 Legislature            CS for CS for SB 1672, 1st Engrossed
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                                             20171672er
    1  
    2         An act relating to the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit
    3         Authority; amending s. 339.175, F.S.; creating the
    4         Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority Metropolitan
    5         Planning Organization Chairs Coordinating Committee to
    6         replace the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation
    7         Authority Metropolitan Planning Organization Chairs
    8         Coordinating Committee; providing that the Tampa Bay
    9         Area Regional Transit Authority Metropolitan Planning
   10         Organization Chairs Coordinating Committee is created
   11         within the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority;
   12         amending s. 343.90, F.S.; revising the short title to
   13         “Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority Act”;
   14         amending s. 343.91, F.S.; revising the definition of
   15         the term “authority” to mean the Tampa Bay Area
   16         Regional Transit Authority and to include only
   17         Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, and Pinellas
   18         Counties and any other contiguous county that is party
   19         to an agreement of participation; revising the
   20         definition of the term “commuter rail”; amending s.
   21         343.92, F.S.; creating the Tampa Bay Area Regional
   22         Transit Authority to replace the Tampa Bay Area
   23         Regional Transportation Authority; decreasing voting
   24         membership on the governing board of the authority;
   25         requiring the members to be appointed within a
   26         specified period; revising appointment and term
   27         requirements of such membership; revising requirements
   28         for filling vacancies on the board; requiring the
   29         Governor to appoint an initial chair of the board from
   30         one of the four members appointed by the Governor;
   31         providing that seven members of the board constitute a
   32         quorum; providing that the vote of seven members is
   33         necessary for any action to be taken by the authority;
   34         requiring the board to evaluate the abolishment,
   35         continuance, modification, or establishment of
   36         specified committees, beginning on a specified date;
   37         requiring the board to submit its recommendations for
   38         abolishment, continuance, modification, or
   39         establishment of the committees to the Legislature
   40         before a specified time; deleting requirements related
   41         to the establishment of a Transit Management
   42         Committee, a Citizens Advisory Committee, and
   43         technical advisory committees; conforming provisions
   44         to changes made by the act; amending s. 343.922, F.S.;
   45         revising the express purposes of the authority to
   46         include planning, implementing, and operating mobility
   47         improvements and expansions of certain multimodal
   48         transportation options, producing a certain regional
   49         transit development plan, and serving as the recipient
   50         of certain federal funds under certain circumstances;
   51         directing the authority to provide to the Legislature
   52         a plan to produce the regional transit development
   53         plan by a specified date; providing requirements for
   54         the regional transit development plan; requiring the
   55         authority to develop and adopt a regional transit
   56         development plan, rather than a transportation master
   57         plan; deleting obsolete provisions; conforming
   58         provisions to changes made by the act; providing that
   59         an action by the authority regarding state funding of
   60         commuter rail, heavy rail transit, or light rail
   61         transit, or any combination thereof, requires approval
   62         by a majority vote of each M.P.O. serving the county
   63         or counties where such rail transit investment will be
   64         made, and the approval by an act of the Legislature;
   65         prohibiting the authority from engaging in certain
   66         advocacy that seeks to approve the funding of commuter
   67         rail, heavy rail transit, or light rail transit, or
   68         any combination thereof, subject to specified
   69         requirements; requiring the authority to conduct a
   70         feasibility study, through an independent third party,
   71         for any project of commuter rail, heavy rail transit,
   72         or light rail transit, or any combination thereof,
   73         before proceeding with the development of the project
   74         and before any related contracts are issued; requiring
   75         the feasibility study to be submitted to the Governor,
   76         the Legislature, and the board of county commissioners
   77         of specified counties; amending ss. 343.94, 343.947,
   78         343.95, 343.975, and 343.976, F.S.; conforming
   79         provisions to changes made by the act; providing an
   80         effective date.
   81          
   82  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   83  
   84         Section 1. Paragraph (i) of subsection (6) of section
   85  339.175, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   86         339.175 Metropolitan planning organization.—
   87         (6) POWERS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES.—The powers,
   88  privileges, and authority of an M.P.O. are those specified in
   89  this section or incorporated in an interlocal agreement
   90  authorized under s. 163.01. Each M.P.O. shall perform all acts
   91  required by federal or state laws or rules, now and subsequently
   92  applicable, which are necessary to qualify for federal aid. It
   93  is the intent of this section that each M.P.O. shall be involved
   94  in the planning and programming of transportation facilities,
   95  including, but not limited to, airports, intercity and high
   96  speed rail lines, seaports, and intermodal facilities, to the
   97  extent permitted by state or federal law.
   98         (i) The Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Transportation
   99  Authority Metropolitan Planning Organization Chairs Coordinating
  100  Committee is created within the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit
  101  Transportation Authority, composed of the M.P.O.’s serving
  102  Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk,
  103  and Sarasota Counties. The authority shall provide
  104  administrative support and direction to the committee. The
  105  committee must, at a minimum:
  106         1. Coordinate transportation projects deemed to be
  107  regionally significant by the committee.
  108         2. Review the impact of regionally significant land use
  109  decisions on the region.
  110         3. Review all proposed regionally significant
  111  transportation projects in the respective transportation
  112  improvement programs which affect more than one of the M.P.O.’s
  113  represented on the committee.
  114         4. Institute a conflict resolution process to address any
  115  conflict that may arise in the planning and programming of such
  116  regionally significant projects.
  117         Section 2. Section 343.90, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  118  read:
  119         343.90 Short title.—This part may be cited as the “Tampa
  120  Bay Area Regional Transit Transportation Authority Act.”
  121         Section 3. Paragraphs (a) and (e) of subsection (1) of
  122  section 343.91, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  123         343.91 Definitions.—
  124         (1) As used in this part, the term:
  125         (a) “Authority” means the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit
  126  Transportation Authority, the body politic and corporate and
  127  agency of the state created by this part, covering the seven
  128  county area comprised of Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough,
  129  Manatee, Pasco, and Pinellas, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties and
  130  any other contiguous county that is party to an agreement of
  131  participation.
  132         (e)1. “Commuter rail” means a complete system of tracks,
  133  guideways, stations, and rolling stock necessary to effectuate
  134  medium-distance to long-distance passenger rail service to,
  135  from, or within the municipalities within the authority’s
  136  designated seven-county region.
  137         2. “Heavy rail transit” means a complete rail system
  138  operating on an electric railway with the capacity for a heavy
  139  volume of traffic, characterized by high-speed and rapid
  140  acceleration passenger rail cars operating singly or in multicar
  141  trains on fixed rails in separate rights-of-way from which all
  142  other vehicular and pedestrian traffic are excluded. “Heavy rail
  143  transit” includes metro, subway, elevated, rapid transit, and
  144  rapid rail systems.
  145         3. “Light rail transit” means a complete system of tracks,
  146  overhead catenaries, stations, and platforms with lightweight
  147  passenger rail cars operating singly or in short, multicar
  148  trains on fixed rails in rights-of-way that are not separated
  149  from other traffic for much of the way.
  150         Section 4. Section 343.92, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  151  read:
  152         343.92 Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Transportation
  153  Authority.—
  154         (1) There is created and established a body politic and
  155  corporate, an agency of the state, to be known as the Tampa Bay
  156  Area Regional Transit Transportation Authority.
  157         (2) The governing board of the authority shall consist of
  158  13 15 voting members appointed no later than 45 days after the
  159  creation of the authority.
  160         (a) The secretary of the department shall appoint two
  161  advisors to the board who must be the district secretary for
  162  each of the department districts within the designated seven
  163  county area of the authority.
  164         (b) The 13 15 voting members of the board shall be as
  165  follows:
  166         1. The county commissions of Citrus, Hernando,
  167  Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, and Pinellas, Manatee, and
  168  Sarasota Counties shall each appoint one county commissioner
  169  elected official to the board. Members appointed under this
  170  subparagraph shall serve 2-year terms with not more than three
  171  consecutive terms being served by any person. If a member under
  172  this subparagraph leaves elected office, a vacancy exists on the
  173  board to be filled as provided in this subparagraph within 90
  174  days subparagraph.
  175         2. The Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority
  176  (TBARTA) Metropolitan Planning Organization Chairs Coordinating
  177  Committee shall appoint one member to the board who must be a
  178  chair of one of the six metropolitan planning organizations in
  179  the region. The member appointed under this subparagraph shall
  180  serve a 2-year term with not more than three consecutive terms
  181  being served by any person.
  182         2.3.a. Two members of the board shall be the mayor, or the
  183  mayor’s designee, of the largest municipality within the service
  184  area of each of the following independent transit agencies or
  185  their legislatively created successor agencies: Pinellas
  186  Suncoast Transit Authority and Hillsborough Area Regional
  187  Transit Authority. The largest municipality is that municipality
  188  with the largest population as determined by the most recent
  189  United States Decennial Census.
  190         b. Should a mayor choose not to serve, his or her designee
  191  must be an elected official selected by the mayor from that
  192  largest municipality’s city council or city commission. A mayor
  193  or his or her designee shall serve a 2-year term with not more
  194  than three consecutive terms being served by any person.
  195         c. A designee’s term ends if the mayor leaves office for
  196  any reason. If a designee leaves elected office on the city
  197  council or commission, a vacancy exists on the board to be
  198  filled by the mayor of that municipality as provided in sub
  199  subparagraph a.
  200         3. The following independent transit agencies or their
  201  legislatively created successor agencies shall each appoint from
  202  the membership of their governing bodies one member to the
  203  board: Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority and Hillsborough Area
  204  Regional Transit Authority. Each member appointed under this
  205  subparagraph shall serve a 2-year term with not more than three
  206  consecutive terms being served by any person. If a member no
  207  longer meets the transit authority’s criteria for appointment, a
  208  vacancy exists on the board, which must be filled as provided in
  209  this subparagraph within 90 days.
  210         d. A mayor who has served three consecutive terms on the
  211  board must designate an elected official from that largest
  212  municipality’s city council or city commission to serve on the
  213  board for at least one term.
  214         4.a. One membership on the board shall rotate every 2 years
  215  between the mayor, or his or her designee, of the largest
  216  municipality within Manatee County and the mayor, or his or her
  217  designee, of the largest municipality within Sarasota County.
  218  The mayor, or his or her designee, from the largest municipality
  219  within Manatee County shall serve the first 2-year term. The
  220  largest municipality is that municipality with the largest
  221  population as determined by the most recent United States
  222  Decennial Census.
  223         b. Should a mayor choose not to serve, his or her designee
  224  must be an elected official selected by the mayor from that
  225  municipality’s city council or city commission.
  226         4.5. The Governor shall appoint to the board four members
  227  from the regional four business community representatives, each
  228  of whom must reside in one of the seven counties governed by the
  229  authority and, none of whom may not be an elected official
  230  officials, and at least one but not more than two of whom shall
  231  represent counties within the federally designated Tampa Bay
  232  Transportation Management Area. Of the members initially
  233  appointed under this subparagraph, one shall serve a 1-year
  234  term, two shall serve 2-year terms, and one shall serve a term
  235  as the initial chair as provided in subsection (5). Thereafter,
  236  a member Members appointed under this subparagraph by the
  237  Governor shall serve a 2-year term 3-year terms with not more
  238  than three two consecutive terms being served by any person.
  239         (c) Appointments may be staggered to avoid mass turnover at
  240  the end of any 2-year or 4-year period. A vacancy during a term
  241  shall be filled by the respective appointing authority within 90
  242  days in the same manner as the original appointment and only for
  243  the remainder of the unexpired term.
  244         (3) The members of the board shall serve without
  245  compensation but shall be entitled to receive from the authority
  246  reimbursement for travel expenses and per diem actually incurred
  247  in connection with the business of the authority as provided in
  248  s. 112.061.
  249         (4) Members of the board shall comply with the applicable
  250  financial disclosure requirements of ss. 112.3145, 112.3148, and
  251  112.3149.
  252         (5) The Governor shall appoint one of the four members
  253  appointed under subparagraph (2)(b)4. as the initial chair from
  254  among the full membership of the board immediately upon their
  255  appointment. In no case may those appointments be made any later
  256  than 45 days following the creation of the authority. The
  257  initial chair shall serve will hold this position for a minimum
  258  term of 2 years. The board shall elect a vice chair and
  259  secretary-treasurer from among its members who shall serve a
  260  minimum term of 1 year and shall establish the duties and powers
  261  of those positions during its inaugural meeting. During its
  262  inaugural meeting, the board shall will also establish its rules
  263  of conduct and meeting procedures.
  264         (6) At the end of the initial chair’s term, the board shall
  265  elect a chair from among the its members. The chair shall hold
  266  office at the will of the board. In that election, the board
  267  shall also elect a vice chair and secretary-treasurer.
  268         (7) The first meeting of the authority shall be held no
  269  later than 60 days after the creation of the authority.
  270         (8) Seven Eight members of the board shall constitute a
  271  quorum, and the vote of seven eight members is necessary for any
  272  action to be taken by the authority. The authority may meet upon
  273  the constitution of a quorum. A vacancy does not impair the
  274  right of a quorum of the board to exercise all rights and the
  275  ability to perform all duties of the authority.
  276         (9) Beginning July 1, 2017, the board must evaluate the
  277  abolishment, continuance, modification, or establishment of may
  278  establish committees for the following committees areas:
  279         (a) Planning committee.
  280         (b) Policy committee.
  281         (c) Finance committee.
  282         (d) Citizens advisory committee.
  283         (e) Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority Metropolitan
  284  Planning Organization Chairs Coordinating Committee.
  285         (f) Transit management committee.
  286         (g) Technical advisory committee.
  287  
  288  The board must submit its recommendations for abolishment,
  289  continuance, modification, or establishment of the committees to
  290  the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
  291  Representatives before the beginning of the 2018 Regular
  292  Session.
  293         (10) The authority may employ an executive director, an
  294  executive secretary, its own legal counsel and legal staff,
  295  technical experts, engineers, and such employees, permanent or
  296  temporary, as it may require. The authority shall determine the
  297  qualifications and fix the compensation of such persons, firms,
  298  or corporations and may employ a fiscal agent or agents;
  299  however, the authority shall solicit sealed proposals from at
  300  least three persons, firms, or corporations for the performance
  301  of any services as fiscal agents. The authority may, except for
  302  duties specified in chapter 120, delegate its power to one or
  303  more of its agents or employees to carry out the purposes of
  304  this part, subject always to the supervision and control of the
  305  authority.
  306         (11)(a) The authority shall establish a Transit Management
  307  Committee comprised of the executive directors or general
  308  managers, or their designees, of each of the existing transit
  309  providers and bay area commuter services.
  310         (b) The authority shall establish a Citizens Advisory
  311  Committee comprised of appointed citizen committee members from
  312  each county and transit provider in the region, not to exceed 16
  313  members.
  314         (c) The authority may establish technical advisory
  315  committees to provide guidance and advice on regional
  316  transportation issues. The authority shall establish the size,
  317  composition, and focus of any technical advisory committee
  318  created.
  319         (11)(d) Persons appointed to a committee shall serve
  320  without compensation but may be entitled to per diem or travel
  321  expenses as provided in s. 112.061.
  322         Section 5. Subsection (1), paragraph (a) of subsection (2),
  323  subsection (3), subsection (4), and paragraph (g) of subsection
  324  (5) of section 343.922, Florida Statutes, are amended, and
  325  subsections (9) and (10) are added to that section, to read:
  326         343.922 Powers and duties.—
  327         (1) The express purposes of the authority are to:
  328         (a)Plan, implement, and operate improve mobility
  329  improvements and expansions of expand multimodal transportation
  330  options for passengers and freight throughout the designated
  331  seven-county Tampa Bay region.
  332         (b) Produce a regional transit development plan,
  333  integrating the transit development plans of participant
  334  counties, to include a prioritization of regionally significant
  335  transit projects and facilities.
  336         1. The authority shall provide to the President of the
  337  Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, on or
  338  before the beginning of the 2018 Regular Session, a plan to
  339  produce the regional transit development plan.
  340         2. The regional transit development plan prepared by the
  341  authority must adhere to guidance and regulations set forth by
  342  the department or any successor agency, including, but not
  343  limited to:
  344         a. Public involvement;
  345         b. Collection and analysis of socioeconomic data;
  346         c. Performance evaluation of existing services;
  347         d. Service design and ridership forecasting; and
  348         e. Financial planning.
  349         (c) Serve, with the consent of the Governor or his or her
  350  designee, as the recipient of federal funds supporting an
  351  intercounty project or an intracounty capital project that
  352  represents a phase of an intercounty project that exists in a
  353  single county within the designated region.
  354         (2)(a) The authority has the right to plan, develop,
  355  finance, construct, own, purchase, operate, maintain, relocate,
  356  equip, repair, and manage those public transportation projects,
  357  such as express bus services; bus rapid transit services; light
  358  rail, commuter rail, heavy rail, or other transit services;
  359  ferry services; transit stations; park-and-ride lots; transit
  360  oriented development nodes; or feeder roads, reliever roads,
  361  connector roads, bypasses, or appurtenant facilities, that are
  362  intended to address critical transportation needs or concerns in
  363  the Tampa Bay region as identified by the authority by July 1,
  364  2009. These projects may also include all necessary approaches,
  365  roads, bridges, and avenues of access that are desirable and
  366  proper with the concurrence of the department, as applicable, if
  367  the project is to be part of the State Highway System.
  368         (3)(a) No later than July 1, 2009, The authority shall
  369  develop and adopt a regional transit development transportation
  370  master plan that provides a vision for a regionally integrated
  371  multimodal transportation system. The goals and objectives of
  372  the master plan are to identify areas of the Tampa Bay region
  373  where multimodal mobility, traffic safety, freight mobility, and
  374  efficient emergency evacuation alternatives need to be improved;
  375  identify areas of the region where multimodal transportation
  376  systems would be most beneficial to enhance mobility and
  377  economic development; develop methods of building partnerships
  378  with local governments, existing transit providers, expressway
  379  authorities, seaports, airports, and other local, state, and
  380  federal entities; develop methods of building partnerships with
  381  CSX Corporation and CSX Transportation, Inc., to craft mutually
  382  beneficial solutions to achieve the authority’s objectives, and
  383  with other private sector business community entities that may
  384  further the authority’s mission, and engage the public in
  385  support of regional multimodal transportation improvements. The
  386  master plan shall identify and may prioritize projects that will
  387  accomplish these goals and objectives, including, without
  388  limitation, the creation of express bus and bus rapid transit
  389  services, light rail, commuter rail, and heavy rail transit
  390  services, ferry services, freight services, and any other
  391  multimodal transportation system projects that address critical
  392  transportation needs or concerns, pursuant to subsection (2);
  393  and identify the costs of the proposed projects and revenue
  394  sources that could be used to pay those costs. In developing the
  395  master plan, the authority shall review and coordinate with the
  396  future land use, capital improvements, and traffic circulation
  397  elements of its member local governments’ comprehensive plans
  398  and the plans, programs, and schedules of other units of
  399  government having transit or transportation authority within
  400  whose jurisdictions the projects or improvements will be located
  401  to define and resolve potential inconsistencies between such
  402  plans and the authority’s developing master plan. By July 1,
  403  2008, the authority, working with its member local governments,
  404  shall adopt a mandatory conflict resolution process that
  405  addresses consistency conflicts between the authority’s regional
  406  transportation master plan and local government comprehensive
  407  plans.
  408         (b) The authority shall consult with the department to
  409  further the goals and objectives of the Strategic Regional
  410  Transit Needs Assessment completed by the department.
  411         (c) Before the adoption of the regional transit development
  412  master plan, the authority shall hold at least one public
  413  meeting in each of the seven counties within the designated
  414  region. At least one public hearing must be held before the
  415  authority’s board.
  416         (d) After its adoption, the regional transit development
  417  master plan shall be updated every 5 years before July 1.
  418         (e) The authority shall present the original regional
  419  transit development master plan and updates to the governing
  420  bodies of the counties within the designated seven-county
  421  region, to the TBARTA Metropolitan Planning Organization Chairs
  422  Coordinating Committee, and to the legislative delegation
  423  members representing those counties within 90 days after
  424  adoption.
  425         (f) The authority shall coordinate plans and projects with
  426  the TBARTA Metropolitan Planning Organization Chairs
  427  Coordinating Committee, to the extent practicable, and
  428  participate in the regional M.P.O. planning process to ensure
  429  regional comprehension of the authority’s mission, goals, and
  430  objectives.
  431         (g) The authority shall provide administrative support and
  432  direction to the TBARTA Metropolitan Planning Organization
  433  Chairs Coordinating Committee as provided in s. 339.175(6)(i).
  434         (4) The authority may undertake projects or other
  435  improvements in the regional transit development master plan in
  436  phases as particular projects or segments become feasible, as
  437  determined by the authority. The authority shall coordinate
  438  project planning, development, and implementation with the
  439  applicable local governments. The authority’s projects that are
  440  transportation oriented must be consistent to the maximum extent
  441  feasible with the adopted local government comprehensive plans
  442  at the time such projects are funded for construction. Authority
  443  projects that are not transportation oriented and meet the
  444  definition of development pursuant to s. 380.04 must be
  445  consistent with the local comprehensive plans. In carrying out
  446  its purposes and powers, the authority may request funding and
  447  technical assistance from the department and appropriate federal
  448  and local agencies, including, but not limited to, state
  449  infrastructure bank loans.
  450         (5) The authority is granted and may exercise all powers
  451  necessary, appurtenant, convenient, or incidental to the
  452  carrying out of the aforesaid purposes, including, but not
  453  limited to, the following rights and powers:
  454         (g) To borrow money and to make and issue negotiable notes,
  455  bonds, refunding bonds, and other evidences of indebtedness or
  456  obligations, either in temporary or definitive form, hereinafter
  457  in this chapter sometimes called “revenue bonds” of the
  458  authority, for the purpose of financing all or part of the
  459  mobility improvements within the Tampa Bay region, as well as
  460  the appurtenant facilities, including all approaches, streets,
  461  roads, bridges, and avenues of access authorized by this part,
  462  the bonds to mature not exceeding 40 years after the date of the
  463  issuance thereof, and to secure the payment of such bonds or any
  464  part thereof by a pledge of any or all of its revenues, rates,
  465  fees, rentals, or other charges.
  466         (9)(a) An action by the authority regarding state funding
  467  of commuter rail, heavy rail transit, or light rail transit, as
  468  defined in s. 343.91, or any combination thereof, requires
  469  approval by a majority vote of each M.P.O. serving the county or
  470  counties where such rail transit investment will be made, and
  471  the approval by an act of the Legislature.
  472         (b) Subject to the requirements of s. 106.113, the
  473  authority may not engage in any advocacy regarding a referendum,
  474  ordinance, legislation, or proposal under consideration by any
  475  governmental entity or the Legislature which seeks to approve
  476  the funding of commuter rail, heavy rail transit, or light rail
  477  transit, as defined in s. 343.91, or any combination thereof.
  478         (10) The authority must conduct a feasibility study,
  479  through an independent third party, for any project of commuter
  480  rail, heavy rail transit, or light rail transit, as defined in
  481  s. 343.91, or any combination thereof, before proceeding with
  482  the development of the project and before any related contract
  483  is issued. The feasibility study shall be submitted, upon
  484  completion, to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the
  485  Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the board of county
  486  commissioners of Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, and
  487  Pinellas Counties.
  488         Section 6. Subsection (1) of section 343.94, Florida
  489  Statutes, is amended to read:
  490         343.94 Bond financing authority.—
  491         (1) Pursuant to s. 11(f), Art. VII of the State
  492  Constitution, the Legislature approves bond financing by the
  493  Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Transportation Authority for
  494  construction of or improvements to commuter rail systems,
  495  transit systems, ferry systems, highways, bridges, toll
  496  collection facilities, interchanges to the system, and any other
  497  transportation facility appurtenant, necessary, or incidental to
  498  the system. Subject to terms and conditions of applicable
  499  revenue bond resolutions and covenants, such costs may be
  500  financed in whole or in part by revenue bonds issued pursuant to
  501  paragraph (2)(a) or paragraph (2)(b), whether currently issued
  502  or issued in the future or by a combination of such bonds.
  503         Section 7. Section 343.947, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  504  read:
  505         343.947 Department may be appointed agent of authority for
  506  construction.—The department may be appointed by the authority
  507  as its agent for the purpose of constructing and completing
  508  transportation projects, and improvements and extensions
  509  thereto, in the authority’s regional transit development master
  510  plan. In such event, the authority shall provide the department
  511  with complete copies of all documents, agreements, resolutions,
  512  contracts, and instruments relating thereto; shall request the
  513  department to do such construction work, including the planning,
  514  surveying, and actual construction of the completion,
  515  extensions, and improvements to the system; and shall transfer
  516  to the credit of an account of the department in the treasury of
  517  the state the necessary funds therefor. The department shall
  518  proceed with such construction and use the funds for such
  519  purpose in the same manner that it is now authorized to use the
  520  funds otherwise provided by law for its use in construction of
  521  commuter rail systems, transit systems, ferry systems, roads,
  522  bridges, and related transportation facilities.
  523         Section 8. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 343.95,
  524  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  525         343.95 Acquisition of lands and property.—
  526         (1) For the purposes of this part, the authority may
  527  acquire private or public property and property rights,
  528  including rights of access, air, view, and light, by gift,
  529  devise, purchase, or condemnation by eminent domain proceedings,
  530  as the authority may deem necessary for any purpose of this
  531  part, including, but not limited to, any lands reasonably
  532  necessary for securing applicable permits, areas necessary for
  533  management of access, borrow pits, drainage ditches, water
  534  retention areas, rest areas, replacement access for landowners
  535  whose access is impaired due to the construction of a facility,
  536  and replacement rights-of-way for relocated rail and utility
  537  facilities; for existing, proposed, or anticipated
  538  transportation facilities within the seven-county Tampa Bay
  539  region designated identified by the authority; or for the
  540  purposes of screening, relocation, removal, or disposal of
  541  junkyards and scrap metal processing facilities. The authority
  542  may condemn any material and property necessary for such
  543  purposes.
  544         (3) When the authority acquires property for a
  545  transportation facility within the designated seven-county Tampa
  546  Bay region, the authority is not subject to any liability
  547  imposed by chapter 376 or chapter 403 for preexisting soil or
  548  groundwater contamination due solely to its ownership. This
  549  subsection does not affect the rights or liabilities of any past
  550  or future owners of the acquired property, nor does it affect
  551  the liability of any governmental entity for the results of its
  552  actions which create or exacerbate a pollution source. The
  553  authority and the Department of Environmental Protection may
  554  enter into interagency agreements for the performance, funding,
  555  and reimbursement of the investigative and remedial acts
  556  necessary for property acquired by the authority.
  557         Section 9. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 343.975,
  558  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  559         343.975 Complete and additional statutory authority.—
  560         (1) The powers conferred by this part are supplemental to
  561  the existing powers of the board and the department. This part
  562  does not repeal any of the provisions of any other law, general,
  563  special, or local, but supplements such other laws in the
  564  exercise of the powers provided in this part and provides a
  565  complete method for the exercise of the powers granted in this
  566  part. The projects planned and constructed by the Tampa Bay Area
  567  Regional Transit Transportation Authority shall comply with all
  568  applicable federal, state, and local laws. The extension and
  569  improvement of the system, and the issuance of bonds hereunder
  570  to finance all or part of the cost thereof, may be accomplished
  571  upon compliance with the provisions of this part without regard
  572  to or necessity for compliance with the provisions, limitations,
  573  or restrictions contained in any other general, special, or
  574  local law, including, but not limited to, s. 215.821. An
  575  approval of any bonds issued under this part by the qualified
  576  electors or qualified electors who are freeholders in the state
  577  or in any other political subdivision of the state is not
  578  required for the issuance of such bonds pursuant to this part.
  579         (3) This part does not preclude the department from
  580  acquiring, holding, constructing, improving, maintaining,
  581  operating, or owning tolled or nontolled facilities funded and
  582  constructed from nonauthority sources that are part of the State
  583  Highway System within the geographical boundaries of the Tampa
  584  Bay Area Regional Transit Transportation Authority.
  585         Section 10. Section 343.976, Florida Statutes, is amended
  586  to read:
  587         343.976 Effect on local government action.—This act does
  588  not prohibit any local government that is a member of the Tampa
  589  Bay Area Regional Transit Transportation Authority from
  590  participating in or creating any other transit authority,
  591  regional transportation authority, or expressway authority.
  592         Section 11. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.