This chapter shall be known as the Delaware Transportation Authority Act.

62 Del. Laws, c. 164, §§  1, 2; 

(a) The General Assembly finds that:

(1) There is a continuing need to apply the resources of the State to implement plans for air, water, vehicular, public and specialized transportation in the State;

(2) There is a continuing need to implement such plans on a comprehensive and integrated basis for the benefit of all people in the State and the users of those facilities from other states in order to obtain an economical, efficient and unified system of air, water, vehicular, public and specialized transportation;

(3) There is a continuing need to provide methods for financing existing and future transportation facilities in the State to maintain and develop such economical transportation systems for the health, welfare, convenience and safety of the people of the State and the users of those facilities from other states; and

(4) Air, water, vehicular, public and specialized transportation facilities form a unified system of transportation because, among other reasons:

a. Such facilities, as a whole, contribute to the commerce of the State and unification of the planning for and financing of such facilities will increase the economic vitality of the State;

b. The use of 1 form of or facility for transportation will reduce congestion in the use of another form of or facility for transportation; and

c. The use of public and specialized transportation will reduce environmental pollution and conserve energy for the benefit of all users of transportation facilities and for the benefit of the people of this State and such unified system of transportation is of grave concern to the State.

(b) The General Assembly hereby determines that in order to remedy such conditions and to implement the purposes of this chapter, there shall be created an authority which shall be a body politic and corporate constituting a public instrumentality having the powers, duties and functions provided in this chapter; that the creation of the authority and the powers conferred on such authority under this chapter and the expenditure of moneys pursuant to this chapter constitute a valid public purpose and the performance of a valid public function; that the enactment of the provisions hereinafter set forth is in the public interest and for the public benefit and welfare and is hereby so declared to be as a matter of express legislative determination.

60 Del. Laws, c. 503, §  8;  62 Del. Laws, c. 164, §§  1, 2;  63 Del. Laws, c. 179, §  28; 

(a) “Delaware Transit Corporation” means a corporation created pursuant to this chapter which is the parent corporation of subsidiaries created pursuant to this chapter the purpose of which is to provide public transit services.

(b) “Airport facility” means an air transportation facility, including but not limited to terminal improvements, air cargo facilities, airfield improvements and general aviation facilities, and necessary or incidental site improvements, utilities, roads, parking lots, land or rights in land, machinery, equipment, apparatus and appurtenances for use in handling air carrier service and general aviation activities.

(c) “Authority” means the Delaware Transportation Authority and its successors.

(d) “Bond” means bonds, notes or other obligations issued by the Authority pursuant to this chapter.

(e) “Cost” means the cost of constructing, reconstructing, improving, extending, altering, modernizing, repairing, operating and maintaining a transportation facility, including but not limited to the costs of acquisition of land and rights in land, demolition of structures on such land, machinery, equipment, furnishings and apparatus, financing charges including interest on borrowed money for a transportation facility for a period ending 1 year after commencement of operations of such transportation facility, the funding of reserves, estimates, plans, reports, specifications and studies, legal, financial, architectural, consulting, engineering, administrative and other expenses deemed necessary or incident to the construction, reconstruction, improvement, extension, alteration, modernization, repair, operation or maintenance of a transportation facility by the Authority.

(f) “Council” means the Council on Transportation reestablished by this chapter.

(g) “Delaware Turnpike” means the toll express highway designated Delaware Interstate 95 extending from a point in the vicinity of Farnhurst, Delaware, to a point at or near the boundary line between the State and the State of Maryland.

(h) “Department” means the Department of Transportation and its successors.

(i) “Director” means the Director of the Delaware Transit Corporation.

(j) “Division of Highway Operations” means the Division of the Department created by 57 Del. Laws, c. 514, § 1 (§ 8406 of Title 29, as amended).

(k) “General Assembly” means the Senate and the House of Representatives of the State.

(l) “Operating expenses” means the reasonable and necessary current expenses of operating, repairing and maintaining transportation facilities, including administrative expenses incurred in maintenance and operation of the Delaware Turnpike, but not the administrative expenses of the Authority.

(m) “Person” means any person, including individuals, firms, partnerships, associations, societies, trusts, public or private corporations, not for profit corporations or other legal entities, including public or governmental bodies as well as natural persons and subsidiaries created pursuant to this chapter.

(n) “Port facility” means any water port, including but not limited to piers, docks, wharves, warehouses, sheds, elevators, compressors, refrigeration and other storage structures, terminals, land or rights in land and site improvements used or to be used in the handling, storage, loading and unloading of freight, the embarking and disembarking of passengers, or both, at a water port.

(o) “Public transportation facility” means a bus, rail or other facility, owned or operated by the Delaware Transit Corporation, which provides general service to the public on a regular and continuing basis.

(p) “Revenues” means charges, fares, fees, gifts, receipts, rentals, tolls or other payments or moneys derived from or with respect to the operation, lease, sale or other disposition of transportation facilities by the Authority, including, but not limited to, proceeds from insurance covering transportation facilities, investment income from revenues, the proceeds of bonds and investment income therefrom, gifts, grants or appropriations from any person, and including motor fuel taxes and annual motor carrier registration fees imposed pursuant to § 5211(a) of Title 30, as amended, pledged and assigned by this chapter.

(q) “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Department of Transportation.

(r) “Specialized transportation facility” means a transportation facility designed or intended to be utilized by persons who are disabled by reason of physical or mental infirmity or age.

(s) “State” means the State of Delaware.

(t) “Subsidiary” means a corporation created by the Authority pursuant to this chapter.

(u) “Transportation facility” means any facility used in connection with the performance of a transportation service, including but not limited to an airport facility, turnpike, port facility, road, highway, bridge, tunnel, subway or parking facility, and all equipment, machinery, fixtures, buildings and structures, land or rights in land incidental to or required in connection with the performance of transportation services.

(v) “Turnpike” means any express toll road, or part or parts thereof, including but not limited to land and rights in land, bridges, tunnels, overpasses, underpasses, interchanges, entrance plazas, exits, approaches, service stations, restaurants, administration, lodging, storage and other buildings and facilities which the Authority may deem necessary or appropriate for the construction, reconstruction, improvement, extension, alteration, modernization, repair, operation and maintenance of a turnpike.

(w) [Repealed.]

60 Del. Laws, c. 503, §  8;  62 Del. Laws, c. 164, §§  1, 2;  63 Del. Laws, c. 179, §  29;  63 Del. Laws, c. 387, §  42(b);  69 Del. Laws, c. 435, §§  1-6; 

(a) There is hereby established a body corporate and politic, to be known as the “Delaware Transportation Authority.” The Authority shall be a public instrumentality of the State exercising public and essential governmental functions, and the exercise by the Authority of the powers conferred by this chapter is hereby determined to be an essential governmental function of the State in order to create an economical, efficient and unified system of air, water, vehicular, public and specialized transportation in the State. The exercise of power by the Authority pursuant to this chapter is hereby mandated by the State as sovereign, it being the intention of the State to displace competition with regulation or monopoly public service.

(b) All action by the Authority shall be taken by resolution of the Secretary, the Director of the Office of Financial Management and Budget and the Administrator of the Transportation Trust Fund.

(c) The Authority may be dissolved by an act of the General Assembly on condition that the Authority has no debts or obligations outstanding or that provision has been made for the payment or retirement of such debts or obligations. Upon any such dissolution of the Authority, all property, funds and assets thereof shall be vested in the State.

(d) The Authority shall make an annual report of its activities to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate of the General Assembly, the Controller General and the Auditor of Accounts. Each such report shall contain a complete operating and financial statement covering the Authority’s operations during the past fiscal year of the Authority and shall include copies of the audits required to be obtained by the Authority pursuant to this chapter.

(e) No director, officer, employee or agent of the Authority shall be interested, either directly or indirectly, in any project or in any contract, sale, purchase, lease or transfer of real or personal property to which the Authority is a party. The existence of any such interest shall not affect the validity of bonds issued pursuant to this chapter.

(f) No director, officer, employee or agent of the Authority shall be deemed to have forfeited or shall forfeit any other state office or employment or any benefits or emoluments thereof by reason of acceptance of an office of the Authority or services therefor, subject to this chapter.

62 Del. Laws, c. 164, §§  1, 2;  69 Del. Laws, c. 435, §§  7, 8; 

The Authority is authorized to make appropriate provisions for the maintenance and operation of the Delaware Turnpike including, but not limited to, assignment of the responsibility for maintenance and operation by the Division of Highway Operations, subject however, to the requirement that at all times the Authority shall retain the ultimate responsibility for operation and maintenance of the Delaware Turnpike in accordance with the terms and conditions of any trust agreement with bondholders. The assignment of responsibilities for maintenance and operation of the Delaware Turnpike to an entity other than the Authority shall not include the authority to adjust in any manner charges, fares, fees, rentals and/or tolls.

62 Del. Laws, c. 164, §§  1, 2;  69 Del. Laws, c. 435, §  9; 

Administration of the laws of this State appearing in Chapters 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 of this title shall be administered by the Office of Aeronautics within the Department. The Secretary of the Department may appoint a person of suitable qualifications to administer the Office of Aeronautics.

62 Del. Laws, c. 164, §§  1, 2;  69 Del. Laws, c. 435, §  10; 

(a) The Authority may create or abolish 1 or more subsidiary corporations and grant to such subsidiaries any or all of the powers to perform the duties, functions or activities granted by this chapter to the Authority necessary or convenient to execute the powers and duties and to undertake the functions and activities granted by this chapter to the Authority with respect to any transportation facilities including but not limited to public transportation facilities and specialized transportation facilities except as proscribed by this section.

The Authority is authorized to create or abolish a subsidiary corporation called the “Delaware Transit Corporation” to be the parent corporation of all subsidiaries created pursuant to this section to provide public transit services. The Delaware Transit Corporation is declared to be a public benefit corporation constituting a public instrumentality of the State exercising public and essential governmental functions. The Delaware Transit Corporation and its public transportation services subsidiaries shall be under the direction and supervision of a Director who shall be appointed by the Secretary, with the written approval of the Governor, and who shall serve at the pleasure of the Secretary. The Director of the Delaware Transit Corporation may appoint a Deputy Director.

Each subsidiary shall have all the privileges, immunities, tax exemptions and other exemptions of the Authority. A subsidiary shall be created by filing with the Secretary of State a certificate of incorporation. Such certificate shall be filed by the Secretary. Such certificate shall set forth (1) the name of the subsidiary; (2) the address of the subsidiary; (3) the term of existence of the subsidiary; (4) the name of the original administrator of the subsidiary; (5) the purposes of the subsidiary; (6) the powers of the subsidiary granted by the Authority; and (7) such other matters as the Secretary may deem appropriate. If the Authority shall determine that 1 or more of its subsidiaries shall be a public benefit corporation, constituting a public instrumentality of the State exercising public and essential governmental functions, such certificate shall make such recital and such subsidiary shall be a body politic and corporate of the State.

The Authority shall have no power or right (1) to grant any subsidiary the power to issue bonds, notes or other obligations of the subsidiary evidencing an obligation of the subsidiary to repay borrowed money, except that any subsidiary may borrow money for operating expenses for no more than 12 months in such amounts as may be approved in writing by the Secretary; or (2) to grant, donate, pledge, assign or otherwise transfer or create an obligation to transfer any revenues of the Authority derived from the operation of the Delaware Turnpike.

Chapter 69 of Title 29 shall not apply to any contracts between any subsidiary and an agency or department of the State or any of its political subdivisions. Except as otherwise provided by law, all agencies and departments of the State and any of its political subdivisions that contract with subsidiaries for service shall provide payment for such services at least 1 month prior to the rendering of such service. Subsidiaries will provide such agencies a status of their respective accounts on a monthly basis.

(b) (1) All subsidiaries operating any public transportation facility or specialized transportation facility shall have authority to bargain collectively with labor organizations representing employees and may enter into agreements with such organizations relative to wages, salaries, hours, working conditions, health benefits, pensions and retirement allowances of such employees.

(2) In the case of any labor dispute between such a subsidiary and its employees where collective bargaining does not result in a settlement, the same may be submitted at the written request of either party to final and binding arbitration pursuant to any agreement entered into between the subsidiary and the employees so providing, or, in the absence of such provisions, with the written consent of both parties to an arbitration board composed of 3 persons, 1 appointed by the subsidiary, 1 appointed by the labor organization representing the employees and a third member to be agreed upon by the subsidiary and the labor organization or, if no such third member is mutually acceptable, selected from a list of 5 persons, to be furnished by the American Arbitration Association at the request of either party, by alternately striking 1 name until only 1 name remains.

(3) The determination of the majority of the board of arbitration thus established shall be final and binding on all matters in dispute.

(4) No employee of such a subsidiary shall strike while in the performance of official duties.

62 Del. Laws, c. 164, §§  1, 2;  63 Del. Laws, c. 179, §§  36-38;  69 Del. Laws, c. 435, §§  11-15;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1; 

Repealed by 69 Del. Laws, c. 435, § 16, eff. July 14, 1994.

The Authority shall have all of the powers necessary or convenient to carry out and effectuate the purposes and provisions of this chapter, to be exercised through the written approval of the Secretary, including, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power to:

(1) Adopt bylaws for the regulation of its affairs and the conduct of its business;

(2) Prescribe rules, regulations and policies in connection with the performance of its functions and duties, and to provide penalties for the violation of such rules and regulations and to provide for the enforcement of state law in or on any transportation facility owned or operated by the Authority or a subsidiary;

(3) Adopt an official seal and to alter the same at pleasure;

(4) Sue in its own name;

(5) Acquire in the name of the Authority, without the approval of the Public Service Commission or any other public body, by purchase, lease, assignment, gift or otherwise, on such terms and conditions and in such manner as it may deem proper, or by the exercise of the power of eminent domain, any land or interest therein or personal property for any transportation facility; however, no facility of the Greater Wilmington Airport, owned by New Castle County, the Sussex County Airport, owned by Sussex County, the Port of Wilmington, owned by the City of Wilmington, or any facility of the Wilmington Parking Authority may be acquired by the Authority unless specifically authorized to do so by an act of the General Assembly;

(6) Supervise or contract for the supervision of all engineering work for any transportation facility appointing such deputies as may be necessary to assist the Authority in such supervision;

(7) Employ consulting engineers, architects, attorneys in accordance with § 2507 of Title 29, real estate counselors, appraisers, accountants, construction and financial experts, superintendents, managers and such other consultants and employees or to enter into contracts with a person, upon such terms and conditions as the Secretary shall determine to be reasonable, to effect the purposes of this chapter including but not limited to payment or reimbursement for planning, designing, financing, constructing, reconstructing, improving, extending, altering, modernizing, repairing, operating and maintaining a transportation facility, to fix their compensation from funds available to the Authority, and to compromise any claims arising therefrom;

(8) Construct, reconstruct and maintain an administration office or offices or such other facilities at such places within the State as it may determine for the effective and efficient operation of the Authority;

(9) Construct, reconstruct, improve, extend, alter, modernize, repair, operate and maintain transportation facilities;

(10) Manage, operate, sell, lease, convey, enter into management contracts, grant options or exclusive licenses, or otherwise dispose of real and personal property acquired by the Authority, for such consideration and upon such terms as the Authority may determine to be reasonable;

(11) Provide for the removal of abandoned, wrecked or disabled motor vehicles and other objects from transportation facilities; provided that only such persons as the Authority may designate shall be permitted to enter any transportation facility owned or operated by the Authority for the purpose of such removal; or, to provide any assistance to any person for compensation;

(12) Fix and revise from time to time, and to charge and collect charges, fares, fees, rentals and tolls, for use of transportation facilities as the Authority may deem necessary, proper, desirable or reasonable and to apply such charges, fares, fees, rentals and tolls, and other revenues, to the cost of any transportation facility without regard to the source of such revenues to assist in financing an economical, efficient and unified system of air, water, vehicular, public and specialized transportation in the State subject to this chapter;

(13) Designate the locations and to establish, limit and control the points of ingress and egress from a turnpike as may be necessary or desirable in the judgment of the Authority to ensure the proper operation and maintenance of a turnpike, and to prohibit entrance to a turnpike from any point or points not so designated;

(14) Contract for and to receive and accept gifts, grants or loans of funds or property or financial or other aid from any person for the purposes of this chapter and to comply, subject to this chapter, with the terms and conditions thereof; and to make grants or loans to any person for any transportation purpose approved by the Authority;

(15) Issue bonds for the purposes of this chapter;

(16) Appoint and fix the salary of the administrator of any administration or subsidiary created pursuant to this chapter;

(17) Purchase, acquire and take assignments of notes, mortgages and other forms of security and evidences of indebtedness;

(18) Establish and maintain reserve and insurance funds with respect to any transportation facility;

(19) Invest any funds or money of the Authority pending the application of such funds or moneys to the purposes of this chapter;

(20) Procure insurance against any losses in connection with its property, operations or assets of any of its administrations or subsidiaries in such amounts and from such insurers as it deems desirable;

(21) Change the location of any portion of any public highway, or to vacate or relocate any highway affected by construction of transportation facilities, provided that the Authority reconstruct such relocated highway at such location as the Authority shall deem most favorable, of substantially the same type and in as good condition as the existing highway at the time the Authority changed the location of such highway, provided further that the cost of such reconstruction and any damage incurred in changing the location of any such highway shall be paid by the Authority;

(22) Construct, reconstruct, maintain or improve grade separations at intersections with public highways and to change and adjust the lines and grades of such highways so as to accommodate the same to the design of such grade separation, provided that the cost of such grade separations and any damage incurred in changing and adjusting the lines and grades of such highways shall be paid by the Authority;

(23) Enter upon any lands, waters and premises in the State for the purpose of making such surveys, soundings, drillings and examinations as the Authority may deem necessary or convenient for the purposes of this chapter, such entry not being deemed a trespass, nor shall an entry for such purposes be deemed entry under any condemnation proceedings which may be then pending; provided that the Authority shall make reimbursement for any actual damage resulting from such activities;

(24) Grant easements for the installation, construction, reconstruction, maintenance, repair, renewal, relocation and removal of tracks, pipes, pipelines, mains, conduits, cables, wires, towers, poles and other equipment and appliances to any person owning or operating such facilities in, on, along, over or under any transportation facility provided that if the Authority shall determine that it is necessary that any such facilities which now are, or after July 12, 1979, may be located in, on, along, over or under any transportation facility should be relocated or should be removed from such transportation facility, the person owning or operating such facilities shall relocate or remove the same in accordance with the order of the Authority; provided further that the person owning or operating the same, its successors or assigns, may maintain and operate such facilities, with the necessary appurtenances, in the new location or new locations, for as long a period, and upon the same terms and conditions, as it had the right to maintain and operate such facilities in their former location or locations; provided, however, that the cost of removal or relocation of such facilities, or of installing such facilities in a new location, and the cost of any lands, or any rights or interests in lands, and any other rights acquired to accomplish such relocation, removal or installation, shall be paid by the Authority;

(25) Take by eminent domain such land abutting a transportation facility, subject to this chapter, as the Authority may deem necessary or desirable for the purpose of removing or relocating all or any part of the facilities of a public utility and may thereafter lease the same or convey an easement or any other interest therein to such person upon such terms as the Authority, in its sole discretion, may determine; provided that the relocation of such facilities of any public utility, in accordance herewith, shall be valid subject to the filing of the plans thereof, as may be required by law, with the Public Service Commission, and no other general laws or other special laws or parts thereof shall be applicable to such relocation;

(26) Place and maintain, or to grant permission by easement or otherwise to any person to place and maintain, on or under or within a transportation facility ducts, pipes, pipelines, wires or other structures or fixtures, to be so located as not to interfere with the safe and convenient operation and maintenance of such transportation facility, and may contract with any such person for such permission on such terms and conditions as may be fixed by the Authority; provided that the construction, reconstruction, maintenance, improvement and repairs of such ducts, pipes, pipelines, wires or other structures or fixtures shall be subject to such directions and regulations as the Authority may impose;

(27) Create or abolish subsidiaries, as provided in this chapter;

(28) Delegate to the Delaware Transit Corporation the rights and responsibilities to:

a. Develop plans and programs:

1. To foster efficient and economical public transportation; and

2. To serve citizens requiring specialized transportation.

b. Fix from time to time, without approval of the Public Service Commission or any other agency or political subdivision of the State, schedules, routes, rates or fares, and charges for use of public transportation services furnished or operated by the Delaware Transit Corporation (“Corporation”) pursuant to this chapter, subject to the following provisions:

1. The Corporation will provide an opportunity for a public hearing or public meeting whenever it proposes either to increase the basic fare structure or a major reduction in service (defined herein as affecting 15 percent or more of the ridership within the county for which the reduction is proposed, or at least 15 percent of the service miles currently operating in the affected county, or at least 25 percent of the revenue service trips of any 1 route). The Corporation shall publish a legal notice in 2 newspapers of general circulation announcing the opportunity for a public hearing or public meeting at least 20 days prior to any such proposed public hearing or meeting, as well as post on-board passenger notices of the proposed changes, directing those interested to the location where the details of the proposals can be reviewed. A verbatim transcript will be made of all comments made for the record at any such public hearing or meeting. The Corporation must first review this transcript and all other received comments before it makes a final decision whether to approve such proposals, make an adjustment in such proposals to respond to received public comments, or reject such proposals.

2. For other changes not subject to sub-subparagraph 1 of this subparagraph, including, by way of example and not by way of limitation, adjustments to running times to reflect current travel times, decreases in fares or additions to service, at least 2 weeks prior to the implementation date the Corporation shall publish statewide a legal notice in at least 1 newspaper of general circulation, as well as post on-board passenger notices of, the proposed changes on all normally scheduled bus service, directing those interested to the location where the details of the proposals can be reviewed and where comments concerning the change can be sent.

3. No public comment period shall be required when making a change in service to avoid hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions that may exist along a route or to initiate a temporary service or customer benefit for a defined period or for a service that is designed to change its routing and pickup times with fluctuating demands; provided that the rate of fare or charge for individuals 65 years of age or older shall be not more than 40 percent of the regular fare charged per zone.

4. No less than twice per year, the Corporation will publish all route, schedule and fare information for public transit routes operated by the Corporation for use and review by the public and third parties in generally accepted open data formats. For the purposes of this paragraph, “publish” shall mean to make available for anonymous download on a publicly maintained website of the Corporation, and “open data format” shall mean machine-readable data formats adhering to a generally accepted specification commonly used by transit agencies to publish schedule, route and fare information for third-party use. Such route information shall be available for download by members of the public and third parties at no charge.

c. Provide specialized transportation services to those persons contracting for such services by pooling and coordinating the resources of public transportation including the Delaware Transit Corporation’s facilities and private services including taxicabs and other privately owned transportation services; provided, that no reduction in service area, span of service hours, increase in basic fares or changes in rules (not mandated by federal regulations) on eligibility that would reduce the ability of those that qualify as being disabled by reason of physical or mental infirmity from utilizing available specialized transportation (except in cases where the individual engages in violent, seriously disruptive or illegal conduct) shall be implemented by the Corporation without first providing an opportunity for a public hearing or public meeting; further provided that all such public hearings or public meetings shall be preceded by the Corporation publishing a legal notice in 2 newspapers of general circulation announcing the opportunity for a public hearing or public meeting at least 20 days prior to such proposed public hearing or meeting, as well as posting on-board passenger notices of the proposed changes, directing those interested to the location where all details of the proposal can be reviewed; and further provided that a verbatim transcript shall be made of all comments made for the record at any such public hearings or meetings and that the transcript and all other received comments shall be reviewed by the Corporation prior to making a final decision on whether to approve such proposals, make an adjustment in such proposals that respond to received public comments, or reject such proposals;

d. Provide service without charge to all blind citizens of the State on any public transportation facility operated by the Delaware Transit Corporation, provided that an identification card issued by the Division for the Visually Impaired shall be sufficient evidence of the qualification of the patron for such free transportation, and provided further that no such service without charge as provided herein shall be offered by the Delaware Transit Corporation beyond the amount of funds specifically appropriated for such purpose by the General Assembly;

e. Provide for the use of contractual advertising on the downstream and back panels of Delaware Transit Corporation’s transit shelters to offset the cost of providing these facilities, except that no such advertising shall be permitted in the following locations:

1. Within a residential subdivision, except at its entrance;

2. Within 50 feet of a residence;

3. Within 100 feet of any property designated as a historic resource under federal, state, or local law; or

4. Within 150 feet of areas experiencing continually high incident rates of drug offenses or crimes against persons, measured on a calendar-year basis, as designated by the State Bureau of Identification or the applicable local police agency.

(29) Perform such other acts and duties as are necessary or convenient to carry out the powers expressly granted in this chapter.

60 Del. Laws, c. 503, §  8;  62 Del. Laws, c. 125, §  7;  62 Del. Laws, c. 164, §§  1, 2;  63 Del. Laws, c. 179, §  39;  69 Del. Laws, c. 435, §§  17-25;  72 Del. Laws, c. 72, §§  1, 2;  75 Del. Laws, c. 98, §  91;  77 Del. Laws, c. 372, §  1;  80 Del. Laws, c. 22, §  1;  83 Del. Laws, c. 455, § 5; 

(a) The Authority may make and enforce such rules and regulations and establish, fix and revise from time to time, and charge and collect (or authorize by contract, franchise, lease or otherwise, the establishment, fixing, revising, changing, charging and collecting of) such charges, fares, fees, rates, rentals and tolls for the use of any transportation facility, or parts or sections thereof, operated by the Authority, as the Authority may deem necessary, proper, desirable or reasonable, subject to this chapter. The Authority may contract with any person desiring the use of any part of such transportation facilities, including rights-of-way for placing thereon, telephone, telegraph, electric light or power lines, gas stations, garages, restaurants and advertisements or for any other purposes, and fix the terms, conditions, charges, fares, fees, rates, rentals and tolls for such use. Such charges, fares, fees, rates, rentals and tolls shall be so fixed and changed from time to time in respect to the aggregate of charges, fares, fees, rates, rentals and tolls from any such transportation facility in order to provide a fund sufficient with other available revenues, if any:

(1) To pay the operating expenses of the Authority with respect to such transportation facility;

(2) To pay the principal of premium, if any, and interest on bonds of the Authority issued under this chapter, including bonds issued to refund such bonds at or prior to maturity thereof, and bond financing costs, with respect to such transportation facility; and

(3) To provide operating and debt service reserve funds of such character and amount as the Authority shall determine to be necessary to ensure proper maintenance of such transportation facility and to protect the holders of such bonds.

(b) The State hereby irrevocably pledges and assigns the motor fuel taxes imposed pursuant to Chapter 51 of Title 30, as amended, and the annual motor carrier registration fees imposed pursuant to § 5211(a) of Title 30, as amended, collected by the State and deposited to the credit of the Authority to pay principal of, premium, if any, and interest on bonds of the Authority issued to finance the cost of transportation facilities as provided below. The State shall transfer all motor fuel taxes, and the annual motor carrier registration fees, as defined herein and in § 5206 of Title 30, as amended, to the Authority for deposit into a motor fuel tax collection fund and a motor carrier registration collection fund. The Authority shall apply motor fuel taxes, and annual motor carrier registration fees, in the following order and for the following purposes, to the extent such revenues are available:

(1) To pay principal of, premium, if any, and interest on bonds of the Authority issued subsequent to the effective date of this section, as amended, to finance costs of transportation facilities described in subdivisions (2) and (3) of § 1312 of this title, as amended;

(2) To pay any amounts that may be owing to a debt service reserve fund established by resolution or trust indenture of the Authority to secure the payment of bonds issued subsequent to the effective date of this section, as amended, for projects described in subdivisions (2) and (3) of § 1312 of this title, as amended; and

(3) To pay the remainder of the motor fuel taxes to the operating fund created by the Authority pursuant to a trust agreement dated as of September 1, 1979, between the Authority and the trustee for bonds issued under that trust agreement for application in the same manner as revenues derived from the Delaware Turnpike.

(c) Prior to the application of revenues derived from the Delaware Turnpike to any other purpose, the Authority shall apply such charges, fares, fees, rates, rentals and tolls collected from or with respect to the operation of the Delaware Turnpike in the following order and for the following purposes, to the extent such revenues are available for such purposes:

(1) To pay the operating expenses of the Delaware Turnpike;

(2) To pay any amounts that may be owing to an operating expense reserve fund established by resolution or trust indenture of the Authority to provide a reserve for operating expense;

(3) To pay principal of, premium, if any, and interest on bonds of the Authority to finance costs of the Delaware interstate system including the Delaware Turnpike, and feeder roads to the Delaware Turnpike;

(4) To pay any amounts that may be owing to a debt service reserve fund established by resolution or trust indenture of the Authority to secure the payment of the Authority’s bonds issued to finance costs of the Delaware interstate system including the Delaware Turnpike, and feeder roads to the Delaware Turnpike;

(5) To make payments to an improvement fund to provide for improvements and repairs, other than ordinary annual repairs, to the Delaware Turnpike;

(6) To pay the annual costs of operating and maintaining the Delaware interstate system as part of the unified transportation system of the State, as presently designated by the Secretary with the approval of the Federal Highway Administration, but excluding the Delaware Turnpike, the Delaware Memorial Bridge and roads designated as feeder roads of the interstate system, such amounts to be established by the resolution authorizing the issuance of bonds or the trust indenture securing the bonds which will mandate the allocation of such available revenues at least annually to such purposes;

(7) To make payments to an improvement fund to provide for improvements and repairs, other than ordinary annual repairs, to the Delaware interstate system excluding the Delaware Turnpike and the Delaware Memorial Bridge;

(8) To make payments to a motor fuel tax reimbursement fund. Money shall be transferred by the Authority monthly from the motor fuel tax reimbursement fund to the General Fund of the State in an aggregate amount equal to (i) 9 cents per gallon of motor fuel taxes collected by the State and deposited with the Authority plus (ii) an amount equal to the product of “y” — the refunds payable on motor fuel taxes — and “z” — a fraction, the denominator of which is the applicable motor fuel tax rate and the numerator of which is a number equaling the difference between the applicable motor fuel tax rate and 9 cents per gallon, which amount shall be deemed sufficient to pay refunds by the State pursuant to § 5120 of Title 30, as amended, attributable to the amount of motor fuel taxes levied in excess of 9 cents per gallon;

(9) To make payments to a motor carrier registration reimbursement fund. Money shall be transferred monthly by the Authority from the motor carrier registration reimbursement fund to the General Fund of the State in an aggregate amount equal to $3 for each vehicle registered during the preceding month, pursuant to § 5211(a) of Title 30, as amended;

(10) To make payments to a transportation fund established by a resolution or indenture of the Authority. Money from such transportation fund shall be transferred periodically to a special fund of the State for appropriation by the General Assembly to assist in financing an economical, efficient and unified system of air, water, vehicular, public and specialized transportation in the State;

(11) To make payments to a road improvement fund established by a resolution or indenture of the Authority. Money from such road improvement fund shall be transferred periodically to a special fund of the State for appropriation by the General Assembly to assist in financing road and street improvements throughout the State.

(d) Available money in any of the funds described in paragraphs (5) through (11) of subsection (c), inclusive, of this section may be transferred to meet payments required to be made from any fund described in subsection (c) of this section to which deposits of revenues are required to be made prior to the deposit of money from the fund or funds from which the transfer will be made.

(e) The Authority’s power to review and revise such tolls, fares, rents, rates and other charges shall not be subject to supervision or regulation by any department, division, commission, board, council, bureau or agency of the State or any political subdivision thereof. The Authority will consider the purposes of this chapter when establishing such charges, fares, fees, rates, rentals and tolls.

62 Del. Laws, c. 164, §§  1, 2;  63 Del. Laws, c. 179, §  30;  63 Del. Laws, c. 387, §§  42(c)-(f); 

The Authority is hereby authorized to provide by resolution, at 1 time or from time to time, for the issuance of duly authorized bonds of the Authority for any of its corporate purposes, including the refunding of its bonds. The principal of, premium, if any, and the interest on any issue of bonds shall be payable solely from, and may be secured by, a pledge and assignment of revenues, provided, that the proceeds of any bonds may be used, pledged and assigned for the establishment of any or all reserves for such payment or security or for other corporate purposes as the Authority may authorize in its resolution authorizing the issuance of bonds or in a trust agreement securing the same.

The bonds of each issue shall be dated, shall bear interest at such rate or rates, shall mature at such time or times, may be redeemed before maturity, at the option of the Authority, at such price or prices and under such terms and conditions, all as may be fixed by the Authority prior to the issuance of the bonds. The Authority shall determine the form of the bonds including any interest coupons to be attached thereto, and shall fix the denomination or denominations of the bonds and the place or places of payment of principal and interest, which may be at any bank or trust company within or without the State. The bonds shall be signed by the Secretary or shall bear the Secretary’s facsimile signature and the official seal of the Authority or a facsimile thereof shall be impressed, imprinted, engraved or otherwise reproduced thereon. The official seal or facsimile thereof shall be attested by the Director of the Office of Financial Management and Budget and/or the Administrator of the Transportation Trust Fund or by such other officer or agent as the Authority shall appoint and authorize and any coupons attached to such bonds shall bear the facsimile signature of the Secretary. In case any officer whose signature or a facsimile of whose signature shall appear on any bonds or coupons shall cease to be such officer before the delivery of such bonds, such signature or such facsimile shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes as if the officer had remained in office until such delivery. All bonds issued under this chapter are hereby declared to have all the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State. The bonds may be issued in coupon or in registered form, or both, as the Authority may determine, and provision may be made for the registration of any coupon bonds as to principal alone and also as to both principal and interest, and for the reconversion into coupon bonds of any bonds registered as to both principal and interest. The Authority may sell such bonds in such manner, whether at public or private sale, and for such price, as it may determine to be in the best interests of the Authority. Neither the Secretary nor any person executing the bonds shall be personally liable on the bonds or be accountable by reason of execution of any bonds or the issuance thereof in accordance with this chapter.

The proceeds of the bonds of each issue shall be disbursed in such manner and under such restrictions, if any, as the Authority may provide in the resolution authorizing the issuance of such bonds or in the trust agreement securing the same, subject to this chapter.

Prior to the preparation of definitive bonds, the Authority may, under like restrictions, issue interim receipts or temporary bonds, with or without coupons, exchangeable for definitive bonds when such bonds shall have been executed and are available for delivery. The Authority may also provide for the replacement of any bonds which shall become lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed. Bonds may be issued under this chapter without obtaining the consent of any department, division, commission, board, bureau or agency of the State, and without any other proceedings or the happening of any other conditions or things other than those proceedings, conditions or things which are specifically required by this chapter.

Any bonds issued under this chapter may be secured by a trust agreement by and between the Authority and a corporate trustee, which may be any trust company or bank having the powers of a trust company within or without the State. Such trust agreement or the resolution providing for the issuance of such bonds may pledge and assign revenues to which the Authority’s right then exists or may thereafter come into existence, and the moneys derived therefrom, and the proceeds of such bonds, but shall not convey or mortgage any road, highway, bridge, tunnel, overpass, underpass, interchange, entrance plaza, exit or approach constituting a portion of a turnpike. Such trust agreement or resolution providing for the issuance of such bonds may contain such provisions for protecting and enforcing the rights and remedies of the holders of bonds as may be reasonable and proper and not in violation of law, including covenants setting forth the duties of the Authority in relation to the acquisition of property and the construction, reconstruction, improvement, extension, alteration, modernization, repair, operation and maintenance of transportation facilities, the charges, fares, fees, rates, rentals and tolls to be imposed, the payment, security or redemption of bonds, and the custody, safeguarding and application of all moneys, and provisions for the employment of persons in connection with the undertaking, maintenance or operation of such transportation facilities. Any such trust agreement or resolution may set forth the rights and remedies of the holders of bonds and of the trustee, and may restrict the individual rights of action by holders of bonds. In addition to the foregoing, any such trust agreement or resolution may contain such other provisions as the Authority may deem reasonable and proper for the security of the holders of bonds, subject to this chapter. All expenses incurred in carrying out such resolution or trust agreement may be treated as a part of the cost of the operation of a transportation facility.

It shall be lawful for any bank or trust company incorporated under the laws of the State which may act as depository of the proceeds of bonds or of revenues to furnish such indemnifying bonds or to pledge such securities as may be required by the Authority.

This section is intended and shall be construed to authorize the Authority to finance any transportation facility or any combination of transportation facilities by any combination of issues or series of bonds which may be secured by the pledge of revenues derived from any transportation facility or facilities or combination of such facilities designated by the resolution authorizing the issuance of such bonds or by any trust agreement securing such bonds.

62 Del. Laws, c. 164, §§  1, 2;  63 Del. Laws, c. 179, §  31;  69 Del. Laws, c. 435, §  26;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1; 

The Authority is hereby authorized to issue bonds to refund outstanding bonds of the Authority and to issue bonds to finance the costs of the following transportation facilities forming part of the unified transportation system of the State:

(1) Reconstructing and improving the Delaware Turnpike;

(2) Constructing and reconstructing the following highways by the Division of Highways:

a. I-95, viaduct widening and Christiana interchange

b. Wilmington Boulevard, interstate portion

c. Wilmington Boulevard, urban portion

d. I-495, Christiana River to Edgemoor Bridge

e. I-95, I-295, I-495, safety and completion projects

f. I-495, Manor Avenue pedestrian crossing

g. I-495, Twelfth Street interchange

h. I-495, Terminal Avenue interchange

i. I-495, additional exit between 12th Street and intersection of I-95, I-495

j. Twelfth Street, Wilmington

k. Edgemoor Bridge

l. Naaman’s Road, U.S. 13 to U.S. 202

m. Harvey Road, I-95 to Philadelphia Pike

n. Marsh Road, I-95 to Wilson Road

o. Concord Pike, Augustine cut-off to Pennsylvania line

p. Airport Road

q. Route 7, Stanton to U.S. 13

r. Christiana Bypass, Routes 7 to 273

s. Route 273, Newark through Ogletown

t. Route 896, U.S. 40 to Route 4

u. Otts Chapel Road, I-95 to U.S. 40

(3) Constructing and reconstructing the following transportation facilities by the Division of Highways:

a. Route 4 — SR 2 to SR 7

b. New Churchman’s Road — SR 4 to SR 7

c. Alapocas Intersection at New Bridge Road

d. Chapman Road — Salem Church Road to SR 273

e. Route 113, Little Heaven to Dover Air Base

f. Saulsbury Road — Walker Road to Denney’s Road

g. Route 72 — U.S. 40 to Sunset Lake

h. U.S. 13 — Boyd’s Corner, weigh station, rest area, Laurel to Seaford II

i. Route 41 — SR 2 to Milltown Road

j. Red Mill Road — SR 2 to Darwin Drive

k. Stein Highway — Bradford to Front

l. Route 8 — Dover to Pearsons Corner

m. Denney’s Road — Saulsbury Road to U.S. 13

n. Old Baltimore Pike — SR 896 to Christiana

o. U.S. Route 113A — U.S. 13 to Route 113

p. Route 88 and CR 334 — U.S. 13 to SR 9

q. Route 141 — Route 2 to Route 202

r. Paving and rehabilitation program (statewide)

s. Bridge replacement and rehabilitation program (statewide)

t. Community transportation fund and drainage, intersections and miscellaneous projects program (statewide)

u. DTA capital and equipment (statewide)

v. Corridor/non-corridor

w. Road maintenance

The Authority may issue bonds for the purposes set forth in subdivision (1) above including bonds to fund reserves and to pay costs of issuing such bonds without the approval of the General Assembly; provided, however, that the proceeds of such bonds are not applied to the costs of financing feeder roads.

The Authority shall not issue bonds for the purposes set forth in subdivision (2) or (3) above without the approval of the General Assembly. The proceeds of bonds authorized to be applied to purposes described in subdivisions (2) and (3) above shall be: (i) Limited to amounts authorized or to be authorized by the General Assembly from time to time in an annual capital improvements project schedule forming part of the State’s capital improvement act; and (ii) transferred periodically by the Authority to the applicable special funds of the State to meet the costs of such projects. The approval of amounts to be expended for such purposes in an annual capital improvements project schedule shall constitute the approval of the issuance of bonds in such amounts for such purposes. Bond issued for such purposes may include additional amounts necessary to fund reserves and to pay costs of issuing the bonds.

The Authority may issue bonds to refund any bonds previously issued by the Authority for any purpose and to fund reserves and pay costs of issuing bonds without the approval of the General Assembly.

No bonds shall be issued by the Authority for any purpose, including any refunding bonds, unless the Authority has obtained an independent report from a qualified firm stating, on the basis of revenues transferred to and/or collected by the Authority in the fiscal year next prior to the year in which the report is prepared, that it is reasonable to assume, after giving effect to the issuance of bonds proposed to be issued (assuming that the principal and interest payments on such bonds will be the principal and interest payments on those bonds in the fiscal year in which the greatest amount of principal and interest will be payable on those bonds), that sufficient revenues will be available to make the reimbursements from the motor fuel tax reimbursement fund and the motor carrier registration reimbursement fund required by this chapter to be made for the next 5 fiscal years including the fiscal year of the issuance of such bonds. The report may assume that the amount of revenues deposited in the turnpike improvement fund, the interstate operations fund, and the interstate improvement fund, as defined in the trust agreement dated September 1, 1979, between the Authority and the trustee for certain outstanding bonds of the Authority, will not be increased during that 5 year period. A determination by the Authority that the report satisfied the requirements of this paragraph shall be conclusive.

62 Del. Laws, c. 164, §§  1, 2;  63 Del. Laws, c. 179, §  32;  64 Del. Laws, c. 343, §  45(j);  65 Del. Laws, c. 212, §  15;  73 Del. Laws, c. 95, §  84(e)(1); 

There is hereby repealed the authorization to issue bonds, to which the State has been authorized to pledge its faith and credit, the proceeds of which were appropriated to the Department of Transportation, by the following laws, for the following projects and in the following amounts:

Such projects, described in subdivision (2) of § 1312 of this title, are hereby transferred to the Authority. Such transfer shall be effective on the date the Authority issues bonds to finance such transportation facilities. The proceeds of such bonds shall be deposited, from time to time, in a special fund of the State and applied to the purposes for which such bonds are issued in order to meet payments due under executed contracts for such projects. The Division of Highway Operations shall continue to supervise construction and to maintain and operate such projects. It is the intention of the General Assembly that the Authority issue bonds within a reasonable period after the adoption of this chapter in order to permit the uninterrupted pace of construction of such projects.

62 Del. Laws, c. 164, §§  1, 2;  69 Del. Laws, c. 435, §  27; 

(a) In order to assist the program of highway construction and reconstruction authorized in §§ 1312 and 1313 of this title, and in connection with the construction and reconstruction of the State’s unified transportation system, the State hereby authorizes the issuance of $9,145,000 bonds by the State to which the State pledges its full faith and credit. Bonds authorized to be issued by this subsection shall mature not later than 20 years from their date of issuance. The proceeds of such bonds are hereby appropriated to the Department of Transportation for the purposes and in the amounts as set forth in the capital projects schedule attached to 62 Del. Laws, c. 164, and made a part thereof.

(b) In addition to such bonds, and in order to further assist such program of highway construction and reconstruction, the State hereby authorizes the issuance of $2,397,000 bonds by the State to which the State pledges its full faith and credit. Bonds authorized to be issued by this subsection shall mature not later than 10 years from their date of issuance. The proceeds of such bonds are hereby appropriated to the Department of Transportation for the following purposes and in the amounts as set forth in the capital projects schedule attached to 62 Del. Laws, c. 164, and made a part thereof.

(c) Bonds issued pursuant to this section shall be issued by the State pursuant to Chapter 74 of Title 29.

62 Del. Laws, c. 164, §§  1, 2; 

Bonds issued by the Authority under this chapter shall not constitute a debt or liability of the State or of any political subdivision thereof or a pledge of the faith and credit of the State or of any such political subdivision, but such bonds, unless refunded by bonds of the Authority authorized by this chapter, shall be payable solely from funds and property pledged, assigned or available for their payment as specifically authorized in the resolution authorizing such bonds or in the trust indenture securing such bonds. All bonds shall contain on the face thereof a statement to the effect that the Authority is obligated to pay such bonds and the interest thereon only from revenues or other specifically pledged property, and that neither the State nor any political subdivision thereof is obligated to pay the bonds or the interest thereon and that neither the faith and credit nor the taxing power of the State or any political subdivision thereof is pledged to the payment of the principal of or the interest on such bonds.

All expenses incurred in carrying out this chapter, other than for the issuance of general obligation bonds by the State, shall be payable solely from funds provided under this chapter and nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize the Authority to incur indebtedness or any liability on behalf of or payable by the State or any political subdivision thereof.

62 Del. Laws, c. 164, §§  1, 2; 

Bonds issued pursuant to this chapter are securities in which all state officers and officers of political subdivisions, administrative departments, boards and commissions of the State, all banks, bankers, savings banks and institutions, building and loan associations, trust companies, savings and loan associations, investment companies and other persons carrying on a banking business, all insurance companies, insurance associations and other persons carrying on an insurance business and all administrators, executors, guardians, trustees and other fiduciaries, and all other persons whatsoever who now are or may hereafter be authorized to invest in bonds or other obligations of the State, may properly and legally invest any funds, including capital, belonging to them or within their control.

Such bonds are obligations which may properly and legally be deposited with and received by any officer of the State, or of any political subdivision or agency of the State, for any purpose for which the deposit of bonds or other obligations of the State is now, or may hereafter be, authorized by law.

62 Del. Laws, c. 164, §§  1, 2; 

All moneys received pursuant to this chapter, whether as proceeds from sale of bonds, from grants or other contributions or other revenues, shall be trust funds, to be held and applied solely as provided in this chapter. A resolution authorizing the issuance of bonds and/or the execution and delivery of a trust agreement securing such bonds shall provide that any officer with whom, or any bank or trust company with which, such moneys shall be deposited shall act as trustee of such money and shall hold and apply the same for the purposes hereof subject to such regulations as this chapter and such resolution or trust agreement may provide.

Any pledge or assignment of or other security interest in revenues and any other moneys, earnings, income, accounts, contract rights, general intangibles, instruments, chattel papers or other personal property, including motor fuel taxes, and annual motor carrier registration fees, made or created by the Authority shall be valid, binding and perfected from the time when such pledge, assignment or other security interest is created, without any physical delivery of the collateral or further act. The lien of any such pledge, assignment or other security interest shall be valid, binding and perfected as against all parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract or otherwise against the Authority irrespective of whether or not such parties have notice thereof. No instrument by which such a pledge, assignment or other security interest is created nor any financing statement need be recorded or filed. This paragraph shall apply notwithstanding the Uniform Commercial Code.

62 Del. Laws, c. 164, §§  1, 2;  63 Del. Laws, c. 179, §  33;  63 Del. Laws, c. 387, §  42(g); 

The State hereby pledges to and agrees with the holders of bonds issued pursuant to this chapter that the State will not limit or restrict the rights granted to the Authority by this chapter to construct, reconstruct, improve, extend, alter, modernize, repair, operate and maintain any transportation facilities, or to establish and collect such charges, fares, fees, rates, rentals and tolls as may be convenient or necessary to produce sufficient revenue to meet the expenses of maintenance and operation thereof and to fulfill the terms of any agreements made with the holders of bonds authorized by this chapter or in any way impair the rights or remedies of the holders of such bonds until the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such bonds are fully paid and discharged.

62 Del. Laws, c. 164, §§  1, 2; 

The State covenants with the purchasers and with all subsequent holders, owners and transferees of bonds, in consideration of the acceptance of and payment for the bonds, that the bonds (which include interest thereon), and their transfer, shall be exempt from taxation by the State and its political subdivisions, except for estate, inheritance or gift taxes.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Authority may elect to issue bonds, the interest on which is subject to federal income taxation.

Any real or personal property of the Authority and all revenues of the Authority shall be exempt from any and all taxation by the State or any political subdivision thereof for any purpose.

62 Del. Laws, c. 164, §§  1, 2;  63 Del. Laws, c. 179, §  34; 

(a) The Authority and the State shall always maintain and keep in good condition and operating repair the Delaware Turnpike.

(b) The Authority may provide or make provision for an adequate police force to enforce the laws of the State and the rules and regulations established by the Authority and governing the use of the Delaware Turnpike.

(c) Any operator of a vehicle using the Delaware Turnpike who refuses to pay the toll prescribed by the Authority, or who evades or attempts to evade payment of the toll prescribed by the Authority, may be arrested without a warrant. The fine for such offense shall be not less than $10 and not more than $100 in addition to costs.

(d) The Authority may incorporate in the Delaware Turnpike as an integral part thereof any existing state highway or bridge or any partially completed state highway or bridge which it may deem necessary, provided that such incorporation shall not impair the right of the Authority to impose tolls on the Delaware Turnpike.

(e) If any property other than money which has been abandoned, mislaid or lost on the premises of the Delaware Turnpike comes into the possession of the Authority and remains unclaimed in the possession of the Authority for a period of 120 days, the Authority may sell the property at public auction after notice of such sale has been published for 3 successive weeks in a newspaper with general circulation in the county where such property was recovered. The net proceeds of sale, after deducting the cost of storage and the expenses of the sale, and all money unclaimed for such 120 day period, shall be paid into and become the property of the Authority. If, in the opinion of the Authority, any property so abandoned, mislaid or lost, which comes into the possession of the Authority and remains unclaimed in its possession for a period of 120 days, is of value of $10 or less, the Authority may donate the same to a charitable organization without offering such property for sale.

(f) A budget for each fiscal year of the Authority shall be prepared by the Authority and submitted to the General Assembly at the same time the State prepares and submits its annual budget appropriation bill to the General Assembly. The annual budget shall show, among other things, the operating expenses of the Authority for each subsidiary, and the estimated amount required to be deposited in various funds created by any resolution pursuant to which bonds have been issued or any trust indenture securing such bonds, including but not limited to an operating fund. The budget shall be approved by the General Assembly before its adoption by the Authority.

In approving the budget of the Authority, the General Assembly shall not:

(1) Approve an amount for operating expenses of the Delaware Turnpike less than the amount actually incurred as operating expenses for the Delaware Turnpike in the last prior fiscal year of the Authority, plus an inflation factor equal to the United States Consumer Price Index (CPI) or successor indices, annualized at November of the year prior to the year for which such budget is prepared, unless the budget prepared by the Authority requests a lesser amount.

(2) Approve an amount for application to pay debt service on bonds and an amount to meet any debt service reserve fund requirement less than the amounts required, by any resolution of the Authority pursuant to which bonds of the Authority are issued or pursuant to a trust indenture pursuant to which bonds are secured, to pay debt service on bonds and to meet any debt service reserve requirements.

If the General Assembly does not approve the budget of the Authority prior to July 1 for the year such budget is submitted, the budget, as submitted to the General Assembly, shall be adopted by the Authority until such time as a budget is approved by the General Assembly. Any obligations incurred by the Authority pursuant to an adopted budget shall be binding.

(g) The State or the Authority shall neither make nor authorize any appropriation or expenditure of money that would impair the right or power of the Authority to impose tolls on the Delaware Turnpike.

(h) The Authority shall operate only 1 barrier facility on the main line of the Delaware Turnpike for the collection of tolls, and it shall be located on the Delaware Turnpike at or near the boundary between the State and the state of Maryland. The Authority may also operate toll collection facilities for all vehicles other than 2-axle vehicles at such points along the Delaware Turnpike and/or the interstate within Delaware which the Authority shall determine.

(i) The Authority shall, upon request, furnish a user of the Delaware Turnpike a receipt showing the amount of the toll paid, the classification of the vehicle, the date the toll was paid and the name of the Authority.

62 Del. Laws, c. 164, §§  1, 2;  63 Del. Laws, c. 179, §  35;  65 Del. Laws, c. 385, §  11;  69 Del. Laws, c. 435, §  28; 

No political subdivision of the State shall exercise any power, authority or jurisdiction over property of the Authority including but not limited to the exercise of the police power or the exercise of the power of condemnation, without the consent of the Authority.

62 Del. Laws, c. 164, §§  1, 2; 

Any political subdivision, agency, department or commission of the State, notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, may lease, grant or convey to the Authority any real property or rights in real property, including but not limited to public roads and other real property already devoted to public use, at the written request of the Authority, upon such terms and conditions as such political subdivision, agency, department or commission may deem reasonable and fair, without the necessity for any advertisement, court order or other action other than the adoption of a resolution of such agency, department or commission, or, in the case of a political subdivision, the adoption of an ordinance or resolution.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no facilities of the Port of Wilmington, the Sussex County Airport, the Greater Wilmington Airport or the Wilmington Parking Authority may be leased, granted or conveyed to the Authority unless specifically authorized by an act of the General Assembly.

62 Del. Laws, c. 164, §§  1, 2; 

The office of Auditor of Accounts shall cause an annual audit of the books and accounts of the Authority. The selection of a firm to perform the annual audit of the books and accounts of the Authority shall be mutually agreed upon by the office of the Auditor of Accounts and the Secretary who shall consult and cooperate with each other in the selection, contract, employment and scope of professional services to be rendered, provisions in Chapter 29 of Title 29 notwithstanding. The audit shall be performed by an independent firm of certified public accountants of recognized ability and standing and shall conform in all respects to the covenants contained in all trust agreements entered into by the Authority for the benefit of its bondholders. The Authority shall transfer funds, as requested by the office of Auditor of Accounts, to cover the cost of the audit.

62 Del. Laws, c. 164, §§  1, 2;  63 Del. Laws, c. 179, §  40;  69 Del. Laws, c. 434, §  1;  69 Del. Laws, c. 435, §  29; 

All private property damaged or destroyed in the exercise by the Authority of the powers granted by this chapter shall either be restored or repaired and placed in its condition prior to such damage or destruction, as nearly as practicable, or adequate compensation made therefor, as determined solely by the Authority from funds available to the Authority.

62 Del. Laws, c. 164, §§  1, 2; 

The Director and Deputy Director of the Delaware Transit Corporation shall be exempt from Chapter 59 of Title 29, as amended. All employees of any public or specialized transportation subsidiary, including persons directly employed by the Delaware Transit Corporation, and any other subsidiaries created pursuant to this chapter, shall also be exempt from the provisions of Chapter 59 of Title 29, as amended. Except as otherwise provided herein, such employees shall not be considered state employees for purposes of wages, salaries, fringe benefits or for purposes of any other benefits which may accrue to state employees whether exempt or merit employees, including benefits that may accrue under Executive Order No. 36 dated November 23, 1977. Such employees shall be considered state employees for the purposes of participating in the group medical insurance, workers’ compensation and deferred compensation plans available to state employees. Participation in, and the terms of, medical insurance, workers’ compensation and deferred compensation programs available through the State shall not be a subject of collective bargaining.

60 Del. Laws, c. 503, §  8;  62 Del. Laws, c. 164, §§  1, 2;  67 Del. Laws, c. 77, §  1;  68 Del. Laws, c. 99, §  1;  69 Del. Laws, c. 435, §  30;  74 Del. Laws, c. 68, §  236; 

Any employee of the Delaware Transportation Authority as of June 30, 1994, and retaining merit system status at that time who is transferred to the Delaware Transit Corporation before August 31, 1995, shall be deemed to be employed by the State in the classified service with all the benefits accrued as a merit employee as of July 31, 1995, notwithstanding any provision of § 1325 of this title to the contrary.

70 Del. Laws, c. 118, §  240; 

The Delaware Interstate Highways 295 and 95 leading from the Delaware Memorial Bridge to the Maryland state line shall be known as the “John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway.” The Authority shall cause to be erected suitable signs or markers to inform the public of the name of such highway.

62 Del. Laws, c. 164, §§  1, 2; 

The Authority may lease a retail fuel outlet or service station to a manufacturer of petroleum products. The manufacturer, its subsidiary or agents may operate such outlet or service station notwithstanding § 2905 of Title 6 [repealed], as amended.

62 Del. Laws, c. 164, §§  1, 2;  77 Del. Laws, c. 394, §  4; 

(a) The Authority and its subsidiaries shall be subject to all applicable provisions of the state Freedom of Information Act, Chapter 100 of Title 29.

(b) Written or recorded information concerning employee addresses, work sites, times of travel, salary and other information of a personal nature, having been provided or to be provided by employers working with the Department to develop transportation programs or projects, shall be treated as confidential and shall not be considered as a public record under Chapter 100 of Title 29.

62 Del. Laws, c. 164, §§  1, 2;  69 Del. Laws, c. 435, §  31;  70 Del. Laws, c. 402, §  2; 

(a) Any operation, service or program provided by the Delaware Transportation Authority or under its auspices not covered by a general liability policy, self-insurance or other insurance policy as shall be legally established and funded by said Authority shall be covered and protected by the doctrine of sovereign immunity of the State which shall be applicable not only to the Authority but to each of its agencies, administrations, subsidiaries and each of their respective officers and employees; which immunity shall apply to and against any lawsuit or liability arising from any such operation, service or program, except as specifically excepted under this section. No legal or equitable action seeking damages as a result of any operation, service or program described in the preceding sentence shall be permitted or damages recovered except as such activity is and shall be covered by an insurance program procured in accordance with law and for which adequate funding is available. In the event that insurance has been provided, such claim, including any award for damages or costs assessed against the Authority, its administrations, subsidiaries, officers or employees either individually or on behalf of their employer shall not exceed the amount of said insurance covering the risk or loss or the amount of $1,000,000 whichever amount shall be the lesser for any and all claims arising out of a single occurrence.

(b) For fiscal years beginning July 1, 1997, and thereafter, the annual budget of the Delaware Transit Corporation shall include funding for an insurance program as described in subsection (a) of this section. This insurance program may be provided by either (1) a combination of self-insurance and commercially procured insurance, or (2) entirely commercially procured insurance. The monetary limits of § 1329(a) of this title shall apply to passenger rail carrier operations authorized under § 1332 of this title. For all other operations of the Delaware Transit Corporation, the monetary limits of § 1329(a) of this title shall not apply, and the Corporation shall instead be liable for the amount of its insurance covering the risk or loss; provided, however, that the insurance program shall provide a minimum coverage of $1,000,000 for any and all claims arising out of a single occurrence and $1,000,000 for uninsured and underinsured insurance for any and all claims arising out of single occurrence.

66 Del. Laws, c. 360, §  68;  71 Del. Laws, c. 215, §  1;  72 Del. Laws, c. 160, §  1;  83 Del. Laws, c. 464, § 1; 

No action or claim that is otherwise permitted against the State or an agency or authority of the State to recover any charges, fares, fees, rentals or tolls or other payments erroneously or illegally collected by or paid to the Authority may be commenced or otherwise asserted after expiration of 1 year from the earlier of:

(1) The date of the payment; or

(2) The date the payment was required to be made.

68 Del. Laws, c. 156, §  55(f); 

The provisions of Chapters 51 and 52 of Title 30 and Chapter 29 of Title 6 shall be administered by the Department of Transportation in the Office of Motor Fuel Tax. The Director of the Office of Motor Fuel Tax shall be transferred to the Department of Transportation and, notwithstanding any provision of § 1325 of Title 2 to the contrary shall be deemed to be employees of the State in the classified service with all the benefits accrued as merit employees as of July 1, 1992.

68 Del. Laws, c. 290, §  189;  69 Del. Laws, c. 435, §  32; 

(a) The General Assembly has determined as a matter of public policy that it is in the best interests of the citizens of Delaware to apply a limitation of liability for any passenger rail carrier, not otherwise protected under State law, in order to financially enable the Authority acting through the Delaware Transit Corporation and such rail carriers to provide such service. No legal or equitable action seeking damages for personal injury or death as a result of any operation, service or program shall be permitted, maintained or recovered against the owner and/or operator of passenger rail service within State boundaries which has contracted with the Authority acting through the Delaware Transit Corporation to provide such service except as otherwise indicated herein.

(b) It is the expressed intent of the General Assembly, as a matter of public policy, to extend the immunity of the State to all owners and operators of rail facilities and/or providing such rail operations pursuant to an agreement with the Delaware Transportation Authority acting through the Delaware Transit Corporation specifically referencing this section. Any such waiver of immunity from lawsuit or liability whether by operation of law or contract shall be strictly limited to the terms of this section.

(c) The Delaware Transportation Authority acting through the Delaware Transit Corporation is expressly given authority to contract with 1 or more rail service operators hereinafter referred to as “contractors” to maintain and operate rail service between points in Pennsylvania and Delaware, within Delaware and/or between points in Maryland and Delaware, and to indemnify and save harmless said contractors from any and all liability to the extent such indemnification shall be covered by insurance either through a commercially procured policy or through a self-insurance fund as shall be determined by the Authority acting through the Delaware Transit Corporation and approved by the General Assembly and in conformance with § 1329 of this title. For the purposes of this section, rail service operators shall include but not be limited to SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority), AMTRAK (National Railroad Passenger Corporation), MARC (Mass Transit Administration, Maryland Commuter Rail) and CONRAIL (Consolidated Rail Corporation).

69 Del. Laws, c. 77, §  68;  69 Del. Laws, c. 435, §  33; 

(a) Legislative findings. — The General Assembly finds that the interests of the State are not well served when its ability to obtain a ready supply and competitive prices for critical materials used in its transportation projects, such as asphalt and concrete, is impeded due to the consolidation of ownership of facilities for the processing and/or manufacture of such materials in specific geographic areas. This situation has arisen in Kent and Sussex Counties, and may potentially occur in New Castle County. Therefore, the General Assembly determines that the State should be empowered to enter into appropriate arrangements to reduce the impacts of these consolidations.

(b) Any provision of the Delaware Code notwithstanding, the Department of Transportation is hereby authorized and directed to develop and implement a program to obtain a ready supply of critical road-building materials, including but not limited to asphalt and/or concrete, for its highway construction and reconstruction projects. This program may include the acquisition of land, raw materials, and equipment to operate facilities for the processing and manufacture of road materials. The Department may also contract with private entities for the operation of such facilities, pursuant to Chapter 69 of Title 29.

(c) The provisions of §§ 1309, 1319, 1321, and 1329 of this title shall apply to the Department’s actions pursuant to this section, including any contractual arrangements for these facilities, as if conducted under the auspices of the Delaware Transportation Authority, except that during its planning process the Department shall meet and confer with the land use officials in the county in which such facilities will be located, to obtain their comments on the proposal.

(d) Notwithstanding subsection (c) of this section, the authorities granted to the Department in aforementioned section, the Department shall not contract for any additional capacity with a private firm or firms without first securing the approval of the State Representative and Senator in whose legislative districts the proposed road materials facility would be located.

74 Del. Laws, c. 308, §  109;  76 Del. Laws, c. 288, §  101;  77 Del. Laws, c. 87, §  92;  77 Del. Laws, c. 329, §  100;  78 Del. Laws, c. 76, §  103;  78 Del. Laws, c. 292, §  88;  79 Del. Laws, c. 79, §  98;  79 Del. Laws, c. 292, §  106;  80 Del. Laws, c. 78, §  106;  80 Del. Laws, c. 299, § 96;  81 Del. Laws, c. 59, § 97;  81 Del. Laws, c. 303, § 100;  82 Del. Laws, c. 86, § 96;  82 Del. Laws, c. 244, § 103;  83 Del. Laws, c. 56, § 114;  83 Del. Laws, c. 340, § 112;  84 Del. Laws, c. 83, § 111;