2006 New York Code - Mass Transportation Demonstration Projects.

 
    § 31. Mass  transportation  demonstration  projects.  The commissioner
  shall have power to sponsor, conduct and undertake  mass  transportation
  demonstration   projects   which  will  assist  in  carrying  out  urban
  transportation plans and research, including  but  not  limited  to  the
  development  of  data  and  information  of general applicability on the
  reduction  of  urban  transportation  needs,  the  improvement  of  mass
  transportation  service,  and  the  contribution  of such service toward
  meeting total  urban  transportation  needs  at  minimum  cost,  and  in
  connection  therewith  to  enter  into contracts and otherwise cooperate
  with the federal government pursuant to section one hundred three (b) of
  the housing act of nineteen hundred forty-nine, as  amended  or  section
  six of the urban mass transportation act of nineteen hundred sixty-four,
  as amended.  For the purposes of this section the commissioner may enter
  into  contracts  or  agreements  with  any  person, firm, corporation or
  governmental agency.
    Any real property which  the  commissioner  deems  necessary  for  the
  purposes  of  this section may be acquired and disposed of by him in the
  name of the people of the state of New York according to  the  procedure
  provided  in  the  highway  law  for  the acquisition and disposition of
  property for state highway purposes. The provisions of the  highway  law
  shall also control the meaning of property as used herein, the manner in
  which  possession of such property may be obtained and the circumstances
  under the procedure by which it  may  be  sold  or  exchanged.  Adjusted
  claims  for  such  acquisition  and awards and judgments of the court of
  claims made in respect thereto shall be paid out of the  state  treasury
  from moneys available for the purposes of this section. The construction
  of  improvements  by the commissioner in connection with a demonstration
  project, and the design of  such  improvements,  shall  be  carried  on,
  generally,  in the same manner and subject to the same provisions of law
  as  apply  to  the  design  and  construction  of  state  highways.  The
  department  of  taxation  and finance is hereby designated to accept and
  receive all grants or advances  from  the  federal  government  for  the
  purposes  of  this section. All monies so accepted and received shall be
  deposited by the department of taxation and finance in  a  special  fund
  for  use  exclusively for the purposes for which such grants or advances
  were made. Payment from the said fund  shall  be  made  upon  audit  and
  warrant  of  the comptroller upon vouchers approved by the commissioner.
  The commissioner is hereby  authorized  to  present  any  claim  to  the
  federal government or any agency or official thereof with respect to the
  funds  made  available  pursuant to section one hundred three (b) of the
  housing act of nineteen hundred forty-nine, as amended or section six of
  the urban mass transportation act of  nineteen  hundred  sixty-four,  as
  amended.