F.S. 348.50 Title of law.
This part shall be known and may be cited as the “Tampa-Hillsborough County Expressway Authority Law.”
EXPRESSWAY AND BRIDGE AUTHORITIES
F.S. Ch. 348
in effectF.S. 348.51 Definitions.
The following terms whenever used or referred to in this part shall have the following meanings, except in those instances where the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(1)
“Agency of the state” means and includes the state and any department of, or corporation, agency, or instrumentality heretofore or hereafter created, designated, or established by, the state.
(2)
“Authority” means the body politic, corporate, and agency of the state created by this part.
(3)
“Bonds” means and includes the notes, bonds, refunding bonds, or other evidences of indebtedness or obligations, in either temporary or definitive form, which the authority is authorized to issue pursuant to this part.
(4)
“City” means the City of Tampa.
(5)
“County” means the County of Hillsborough.
(6)
“Department” means the Department of Transportation of Florida and any successor thereto.
(7)
“Expressway system” or “system” means, generally, a modern highway system of roads, bridges, causeways, and tunnels in the metropolitan area of the city, or within any area of the county, with access limited or unlimited as the authority may determine, and such buildings and structures and appurtenances and facilities related thereto, including all approaches, streets, roads, bridges, and avenues of access for such system.
(8)
“Federal agency” means and includes the United States, the President of the United States, and any department of, or bureau, corporation, agency, or instrumentality heretofore or hereafter created, designated, or established by, the United States.
(9)
“Hillsborough County gasoline tax funds” means all the 80-percent surplus gasoline tax funds or 20-percent surplus gasoline tax funds accruing in each year to the Department of Transportation or the county, as the case may be, for use in Hillsborough County under the provisions of s. 9, Art. XII of the State Constitution, after deduction, if and only to the extent necessary, of any amounts of said gasoline tax funds heretofore pledged by the Department of Transportation or the county for outstanding obligations.
(10)
“Lease-purchase agreement” or “lease-purchase agreements” means the lease-purchase agreement or agreements which the authority is authorized pursuant to this part to execute.
(11)
“Members” means the governing body of the authority, and the term “member” means one of the individuals constituting such governing body.
(12)
“Revenues” means all tolls, revenues, rates, fees, charges, receipts, rentals, contributions, and other income derived from or in connection with the operation or ownership of the expressway system, including the proceeds of any use and occupancy insurance on any portion of the system but excluding any Hillsborough County gasoline tax funds.
(13)
Words importing singular number include the plural number in each case and vice versa, and words importing persons include firms and corporations.
F.S. 348.52 Tampa-Hillsborough County Expressway Authority.
(1)
There is hereby created and established a body politic and corporate, an agency of the state, to be known as the “Tampa-Hillsborough County Expressway Authority.”
(2)
The governing body of the authority shall consist of a board of seven members.
(a)
Four of the members shall be appointed by the Governor subject to confirmation by the Senate at the next regular session of the Legislature. Refusal or failure of the Senate to confirm an appointment shall create a vacancy.
1.
Each such member’s term of office shall be for 4 years or until his or her successor shall have been appointed and qualified.
2.
Vacancies occurring in the governing body for any such members prior to the expiration of the affected term shall be filled for the unexpired term.
3.
The Governor shall have the authority to remove from office any such member of the governing body in the manner and for cause defined by the laws of this state.
4.
Each such member, before entering upon his or her official duties, shall take and subscribe to an oath before some official authorized by law to administer oaths that he or she will honestly, faithfully, and impartially perform the duties devolving upon him or her in office as a member of the governing body of the authority and that he or she will not neglect any duties imposed upon him or her by this part.
(b)
One member shall be the mayor, or the mayor’s designate, who shall be the chair of the city council of the city in Hillsborough County having the largest population, according to the latest decennial census, who shall serve as a member ex officio.
(c)
One member shall be a member of the Board of County Commissioners of Hillsborough County, selected by such board, who shall serve as a member ex officio.
(d)
One member shall be the district secretary of the Department of Transportation serving in the district that contains Hillsborough County, who shall serve ex officio.
(3)
The authority shall designate one of its members as chair. The members of the authority shall not be entitled to compensation but shall be entitled to receive their travel and other necessary expenses as provided in s. 112.061. A majority of the members of the authority shall constitute a quorum, and resolutions enacted or adopted by a vote of a majority of the members present and voting at any meeting shall become effective without publication or posting or any further action of the authority.
(4)
The authority may employ a secretary and executive director, its own counsel and legal staff, and such legal, financial, and other professional consultants, technical experts, engineers, and employees, permanent or temporary, as it may require and may determine the qualifications and fix the compensation of such persons, firms, or corporations. The authority may contract with the Division of Bond Finance of the State Board of Administration for any financial services authorized herein.
(5)
The authority may delegate to one or more of its officers or employees such of its powers as it shall deem necessary to carry out the purposes of this part, subject always to the supervision and control of the authority. Members of the authority may be removed from their office by the Governor for misconduct, malfeasance, misfeasance, and nonfeasance in office.
F.S. 348.53 Purposes of the authority.
The authority is created for the purposes and shall have power to construct, reconstruct, improve, extend, repair, maintain and operate the expressway system. It is hereby found and declared that such purposes are in all respects for the benefit of the people of the State of Florida, the City of Tampa, and the County of Hillsborough for the increase of their pleasure, convenience, and welfare; for the improvement of their health; and to facilitate transportation, including managed lanes and other transit supporting facilities, for their recreation and commerce and for the common defense. The authority is performing a public purpose and a governmental function in carrying out its corporate purpose and in exercising the powers granted herein.
F.S. 348.54 Powers of the authority.
Except as otherwise limited herein, the authority shall have the power:
(1)
To sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, complain and defend in all courts.
(2)
To adopt, use and alter at will, a seal.
(3)
To acquire, purchase, hold, lease as lessee and use any franchise, property, real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible, or any interest therein, necessary or desirable for carrying out the purposes of the authority, and to sell, lease as lessor, transfer and dispose of any property or interest therein at any time acquired by it.
(4)
To construct, reconstruct or improve on or along the system suitable facilities for gas stations, restaurants and other facilities for the public; such facilities may be publicly offered for leasing for operation under rules and regulations to be established by the authority.
(5)
To enter into and make lease-purchase agreements as provided in s. 348.60 for terms not exceeding 40 years, or until all bonds secured by a pledge thereunder, and all refundings thereof, are fully paid as to both principal and interest, whichever is longer.
(6)
To fix, alter, charge, establish and collect tolls, rates, fees, rentals and other charges for the services and facilities of the expressway system, which tolls, rates, fees, rentals and other charges shall always be sufficient to comply with any covenants made with the holders of any bonds; provided, however, that such right and power, or any part thereof may be assigned or delegated, by the authority, to the lessee under a lease-purchase agreement.
(7)
To borrow money and to make and issue negotiable bonds, notes, refunding bonds, and other evidences of indebtedness or obligations, either in temporary or definitive form, hereinafter in this chapter referred to as “bonds of the authority,” for the purpose of financing all or part of the improvement or extension of the expressway system and appurtenant facilities, including all approaches, streets, roads, bridges, and avenues of access for the expressway system, and for any other purpose authorized by this part, and to provide for the rights of the holders thereof.
(8)
To secure the payment of bonds by a pledge of all or any portion of the revenues or such other moneys legally available therefor and of all or any portion of the Hillsborough County gasoline tax funds in the manner provided by this part; and in general to provide for the security of the bonds and the rights and remedies of the holders thereof. Interest upon the amount of gasoline tax funds to be repaid to the county pursuant to s. 348.60 shall be payable, at the highest rate applicable to any outstanding bonds of the authority, out of revenues and other available moneys not required to meet the authority’s obligations to its bondholders. The authority shall have no power at any time or in any manner to pledge the credit or taxing power of the state or any political subdivision or agency thereof, including the city and the county, nor shall any of the authority’s obligations be deemed to be obligations of the state or of any political subdivision or agency thereof, nor shall the state or any political subdivision or agency thereof, except the authority, be liable for the payment of the principal of or interest on such obligations.
(9)
To make contracts of every name and nature and to execute all instruments necessary or convenient for the carrying on of its business.
(10)
Without limitation of the foregoing, to borrow money and accept gifts or grants from, and to enter into contracts, leases or other transactions with any federal agency, the state, any agency of the state, the county, the city or with any other public body of the state or any other person and to comply with the terms and conditions thereof.
(11)
To have the power of eminent domain.
(12)
To construct and maintain over, under, along, or across the system, telephone, telegraph, television, electric power and other wires or cables, pipelines, water mains and other conduits and mechanical equipment, not inconsistent with the appropriate use of the system, or to contract for such construction; and upon such terms and conditions as the authority shall determine, to lease all or any part of such property and facilities or the right to use the same whether such facilities are constructed by the authority or under a contract for such construction, for a period of not more than 20 years from the date when such lease is made.
(13)
To do all acts and things necessary or convenient for the conduct of its business and the general welfare of the authority, in order to carry out the powers granted to it by this part or any other law.
(14)
Prior to entering into any sale, lease, transfer or disposition of its real properties pursuant to subsection (3), leasing any of its facilities pursuant to subsection (4), or taking final action under subsection (7), the authority shall give notice thereof by publication on at least 5 separate days, in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. Such notice shall state the place and time, not less than 14 days following the first such publication, when objections may be filed with and heard by the authority.
(15)
With the consent of the county within whose jurisdiction the activities occur, to construct, operate, and maintain roads, bridges, avenues of access, thoroughfares, and boulevards and managed lanes and other transit supporting facilities outside of the jurisdictional boundaries of Hillsborough County and within the jurisdictional boundaries of counties contiguous to Hillsborough County, together with the right to construct, repair, replace, operate, install, and maintain such facilities and electronic toll payment systems thereon or incidental thereto, with all necessary and incidental powers to accomplish the foregoing.
F.S. 348.56 Bonds of the authority.
(1)(a)
Bonds may be issued on behalf of the authority pursuant to the State Bond Act.
(b)
Alternatively, the authority shall have the power and is hereby authorized from time to time to issue bonds in such principal amount as, in the opinion of the authority, shall be necessary to provide sufficient moneys for achieving its corporate purposes, including construction, reconstruction, improvement, extension, repair, maintenance and operation of the expressway system, the cost of acquisition of all real property, interest on bonds during construction and for a reasonable period thereafter, establishment of reserves to secure bonds, and all other expenditures of the authority incident to and necessary or convenient to carry out its corporate purposes and powers.
(2)(a)
Bonds issued by the authority pursuant to paragraph (1)(a) or paragraph (1)(b) shall be authorized by resolution of the members of the authority and shall bear such date or dates, mature at such time or times, not exceeding 40 years from their respective dates, bear interest at such rate or rates, not exceeding the maximum rate fixed by general law for authorities, be in such denominations, be in such form, either coupon or fully registered, carry such registration, exchangeability and interchangeability privileges, be payable in such medium of payment and at such place or places, be subject to such terms of redemption and be entitled to such priorities of lien on the revenues, other available moneys, and the Hillsborough County gasoline tax funds as such resolution or any resolution subsequent thereto may provide. The bonds shall be executed either by manual or facsimile signature by such officers as the authority shall determine, provided that such bonds shall bear at least one signature which is manually executed thereon. The coupons attached to such bonds shall bear the facsimile signature or signatures of such officer or officers as shall be designated by the authority. Such bonds shall have the seal of the authority affixed, imprinted, reproduced, or lithographed thereon.
(b)
The bonds issued pursuant to paragraph (1)(a) or paragraph (1)(b) shall be sold at public sale in the same manner provided in the State Bond Act. However, if the authority determines, by official action at a public meeting, that a negotiated sale of such bonds is in the best interest of the authority, the authority may negotiate the sale of such bonds with the underwriter or underwriters designated by the authority and the Division of Bond Finance within the State Board of Administration with respect to bonds issued pursuant to paragraph (1)(a) or solely by the authority with respect to bonds issued pursuant to paragraph (1)(b). The authority’s determination to negotiate the sale of such bonds may be based, in part, upon the written advice of the authority’s financial adviser. Pending the preparation of definitive bonds, temporary bonds or interim certificates may be issued to the purchaser or purchasers of such bonds and may contain such terms and conditions as the authority may determine.
(3)
Any such resolution or resolutions authorizing any bonds may contain provisions which shall be part of the contract with the holders of such bonds, as to:
(a)
The pledging of all or any part of the revenues, the Hillsborough County gasoline tax funds, or other moneys lawfully available therefor.
(b)
The construction, reconstruction, improvement, extension, repair, maintenance, operation, lease or lease-purchase of the expressway system, or any part or parts thereof, and the duties and obligations of the authority and others, including the department, with reference thereto.
(c)
Limitations on the purposes to which the proceeds of the bonds, then or thereafter to be issued, or of any loan or grant by any federal agency or the state or any political subdivision thereof may be applied.
(d)
The fixing, charging, establishing, revising, increasing, reducing and collecting of tolls, rates, fees, rentals, or other charges for use of the services and facilities of the expressway system or any part thereof.
(e)
The setting aside of reserves or of sinking funds and the regulation and disposition thereof.
(f)
Limitations on the issuance of additional bonds.
(g)
The terms and provisions of any lease-purchase agreement, deed of trust or indenture securing the bonds, or under which same may be issued.
(h)
Any other or additional matters, of like or different character, which in any way affect the security or protection of the bonds.
(4)
The authority may enter into any deeds of trust, indentures or other agreements with any bank or trust company within or without the state, as security for such bonds, and may, under such agreements, assign and pledge all or any of the revenues and other available moneys, including all or any portion of the Hillsborough County gasoline tax funds, pursuant to the terms of this part. Such deed of trust, indenture or other agreement, may contain such provisions as are customary in such instruments or as the authority may authorize, including, but without limitation, provisions as to:
(a)
The pledging of all or any part of the revenues, the Hillsborough County gasoline tax funds, or other moneys lawfully available therefor.
(b)
The application of funds and the safeguarding of funds on hand or on deposit.
(c)
The rights and remedies of the trustee and the holders of the bonds.
(d)
The terms and provisions of the bonds or the resolutions authorizing the issuance of the same.
(e)
Any other or additional matters, of like or different character, which in any way affect the security or protection of the bonds.
(5)
Any of the bonds issued pursuant to this part are, and are hereby declared to be, negotiable instruments, and shall have all the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments under the law merchant and the negotiable instruments law of the state.
(6)
It is the intention hereof that any pledge made by the authority shall be valid and binding from the time when the pledge is made; that the moneys so pledged and thereafter received by the authority shall immediately be subject to the lien of such pledge without any physical delivery thereof or further act, and that the lien of any such pledge shall be valid and binding as against all parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract or otherwise against the authority irrespective of whether such parties have notice thereof. Neither the resolution nor any other instrument by which a pledge is created need be recorded.
(7)
Neither the members nor any person executing the bonds shall be liable personally on the bonds or be subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of the issuance thereof.
(8)
The authority shall have power out of any funds available therefor to purchase bonds, which shall thereupon be canceled, at a price not exceeding, if the bonds are then redeemable, the redemption price then applicable plus accrued interest to the next date of redemption thereof, or if the bonds are not then redeemable, the redemption price applicable on the first date after such purchase upon which the bonds become subject to redemption plus accrued interest to said date.
F.S. 348.57 Refunding bonds.
(1)
Subject to public notice as provided in s. 348.54, the authority is authorized to provide by resolution for the issuance from time to time of bonds pursuant to s. 348.56(1)(b) for the purpose of refunding any bonds then outstanding regardless of whether the bonds being refunded were issued by the authority pursuant to this chapter or on behalf of the authority pursuant to the State Bond Act. The authority is further authorized to provide by resolution for the issuance of bonds for the combined purpose of:
(a)
Paying the cost of constructing, reconstructing, improving, extending, repairing, maintaining and operating the expressway system.
(b)
Refunding bonds then outstanding. The authorization, sale and issuance of such obligations, the maturities and other details thereof, the rights and remedies of the holders thereof, and the rights, powers, privileges, duties and obligations of the authority with respect to the same shall be governed by the foregoing provisions of this part insofar as the same may be applicable.
(2)
In the event that the authority shall determine to issue bonds for the purpose of refunding any outstanding bonds prior to the maturity thereof, the proceeds of such refunding bonds may, pending the redemption of the bonds to be refunded, be invested in direct obligations of the United States. It is the express intention of this part that outstanding bonds may be refunded and retired by and upon the issuance of bonds notwithstanding that all or a portion of such outstanding bonds will not mature or become redeemable until after the date of issuance of such refunding bonds.
F.S. 348.58 Remedies.
(1)
The rights and the remedies herein conferred upon or granted to the bondholders shall be in addition to and not in limitation of any rights and remedies lawfully granted to such bondholders by the resolution or resolutions or indenture providing for the issuance of bonds, or by any lease-purchase agreement, deed of trust, indenture or other agreement under which the bonds may be issued or secured. In the event that the authority shall default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any of the bonds issued pursuant to the provisions of this part after such principal of or interest on the bonds shall have become due, whether at maturity or upon call for redemption, as provided in said resolution or indenture, or the lessee shall default in any payments under, or covenants made in, any lease-purchase agreement and such default shall continue for a period of 30 days, or in the event that the authority or the lessee shall fail or refuse to comply with the provisions of this part or any agreement made with, or for the benefit of, the holders of the bonds, the holders of 25 percent in aggregate principal amount of the bonds then outstanding shall be entitled as of right to the appointment of a trustee to represent such bondholders for the purposes hereof; provided, however, that such holders of 25 percent in aggregate principal amount of the bonds then outstanding shall have first given written notice of their intention to appoint a trustee, to the authority and to such lessee.
(2)
Such trustee, and any trustee under any deed of trust, indenture or other agreement, may, and upon written request of the holders of 25 percent, or such other percentages as may be specified in any deed of trust, indenture or other agreement aforesaid, in principal amount of the bonds then outstanding, shall, in any court of competent jurisdiction, in his, her, or its own name:
(a)
By mandamus or other suit, action or proceeding at law, or in equity, enforce all rights of the bondholders, including the right to require the authority to fix, establish, maintain, collect and charge rates, fees, rentals, and other charges, adequate to carry out any agreement as to, or pledge of, the revenues, and to require the authority to carry out any other covenants and agreements with or for the benefit of the bondholders, and to perform its and their duties under this part.
(b)
By mandamus or other suit, action or proceeding at law, or in equity, enforce all rights of the bondholders under or pursuant to any lease-purchase agreement, including the right to require the lessee to make all rental payments required to be made by it under the provisions of any such lease-purchase agreement, whether from the Hillsborough County gasoline tax funds or other funds so agreed to be paid and to require the lessee to carry out any other covenants and agreements with or for the benefit of the bondholders and to perform its and their duties under this part.
(c)
Bring suit upon the bonds.
(d)
By action or suit in equity require the authority or any lessee under any lease-purchase agreement to account as if it were the trustee of an express trust for the bondholders.
(e)
By action or suit in equity enjoin any acts or things which may be unlawful or in violation of the rights of the bondholders.
(3)
Any trustee when appointed as aforesaid, or acting under a deed of trust, indenture or other agreement, and whether or not all bonds have been declared due and payable, shall be entitled as of right to the appointment of a receiver, who may enter upon and take possession of the system or the facilities or any part or parts thereof, the revenues and other pledged moneys and, subject to and in compliance with the provisions of any lease-purchase agreement, operate and maintain the same, for and on behalf of and in the name of, the authority, the lessee and the bondholders, and collect and receive all revenues and other pledged moneys in the same manner as the authority or the lessee might do, and shall deposit all such revenues and moneys in a separate account and apply the same in such manner as the court shall direct. In any suit, action or proceeding by the trustee, the fees, counsel fees, and expenses of the trustee, and said receiver, if any, and all costs and disbursements allowed by the court shall be a first charge on any revenues. Such trustee shall, in addition to the foregoing, have and possess all of the powers necessary or appropriate for the exercise of any functions specifically set forth herein or incident to the representation of the bondholders in the enforcement and protection of their rights.
(4)
Nothing in this section or any other section of this part shall authorize any receiver appointed pursuant hereto for the purpose, subject to and in compliance with the provisions of any lease-purchase agreement, of operating and maintaining the system or any facilities or part or parts thereof, to sell, assign, mortgage or otherwise dispose of any of the assets of whatever kind and character belonging to the authority. It is the intention of this part to limit the powers of such receiver, subject to and in compliance with the provisions of any lease-purchase agreement, to the operation and maintenance of the system, or any facility or part or parts thereof, as the court may direct, in the name and for and on behalf of the authority, the lessee and the bondholders, and no holder of bonds nor any trustee, shall ever have the right in any suit, action or proceeding at law, or in equity, to compel a receiver, nor shall any receiver be authorized or any court be empowered to direct the receiver, to sell, assign, mortgage or otherwise dispose of any assets of whatever kind or character belonging to the authority.
F.S. 348.59 Traffic control.
(1)
In addition to the powers conferred by the statutes of the state and the ordinances of the city, the authority is hereby authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations for the use and occupancy of the expressway system as may be necessary and proper for the public safety and convenience, for the preservation of its property and for the collection of tolls.
(2)
The enforcement of the rules and regulations of the authority and of those provisions of the statutes and ordinances applicable to the expressway system may be by the city police department and sheriff of Hillsborough County; provided, however, that at the request of the authority, such enforcement shall also be the duty of the Florida Highway Patrol. Violators shall be apprehended and prosecuted in the same manner as provided for the apprehension and prosecution of violators of such statutes and ordinances who commit violations thereof upon streets, roads and thoroughfares in the state.
F.S. 348.60 Lease-purchase agreements.
(1)
In order to effectuate the purposes of this part, the authority may enter into lease-purchase agreements with the city, the county, the state or any agency thereof, including the department, and any federal agency relating to and covering the expressway system or any portion thereof.
(2)
Such lease-purchase agreements may provide for the leasing of the expressway system or any portion thereof by the authority as lessor to any one or more of the aforementioned governmental entities or agencies as lessee, shall prescribe the term of such lease and the rentals to be paid thereunder, and may provide that upon the completion of the faithful performance thereunder and the termination of such lease-purchase agreements, title in fee simple absolute to the expressway system, as then constituted, shall be transferred in accordance with law by the authority to such lessee or otherwise as provided in such agreements. In the event of such transfer to the lessee, the authority shall deliver to such lessee such deeds and conveyances as shall be necessary or convenient to vest title in fee simple absolute in such lessee.
(3)
The lease-purchase agreements may include such other provisions, agreements and covenants as the authority and the lessee deem advisable or necessary, including but not limited to provisions with respect to bonds, the construction, reconstruction, extension, improvements, operation, repair, and maintenance of the expressway system, the expenses and costs of operation of the system and of the authority, the charging and collecting of tolls, rates, fees and other charges for the use of the services and facilities thereof, the application of federal, state or other grants or aid which may be made or given to assist the authority, the enforcement of payment and collection of rentals and any other terms, provisions or covenants necessary, incidental or convenient to the making of and full performance under such lease-purchase agreements.
(a)
In the event the department is a lessee under any such lease-purchase agreement, it is authorized to pay as rentals thereunder in addition to the revenues accruing thereto from the operation of the expressway system, all or any portion of the Hillsborough County gasoline tax funds and may also pay as rentals any appropriations received by the department pursuant to any act of the Legislature heretofore or hereafter enacted; provided, however, that nothing herein nor in such lease-purchase agreement shall be construed to require the Legislature to make or continue such appropriations nor shall any holder of bonds ever have any right to require the Legislature to make or continue such appropriations.
(b)
In the event the county is a lessee under any such lease-purchase agreement, it shall be authorized to pay as rentals thereunder in addition to the revenues accruing to the county from the operation of the expressway system all or any part of the 20-percent surplus gasoline tax funds accruing to Hillsborough County.
(4)
No pledge of either the 80-percent surplus gasoline tax funds or the 20-percent surplus gasoline tax funds under any such lease-purchase agreement shall be made without the consent of the county evidenced by a resolution duly adopted by its board of county commissioners, nor unless the revenues pledged under any such lease-purchase agreements are estimated by the authority to aggregate during the term of such lease-purchase agreements not less than the principal amount of the bonds secured thereunder plus interest thereon. Such resolution, among other things shall provide that any excess of such pledge of the Hillsborough County gasoline tax funds which is not required for debt service or reserves for such debt service for any bonds shall be returned annually to the appropriate board or agency for distribution to the county as provided by law; and shall provide, further, that any Hillsborough County gasoline tax funds actually expended for such debt service, shall be repaid with interest out of revenues and other available moneys not required to meet the authority’s obligations to its bondholders, as determined by the authority.
(5)
Any lessee under such lease-purchase agreements shall have power to covenant therein that it will pay all or any part of the cost of the operation, maintenance, repair, renewal and replacement of the expressway system, and any part of the cost of completing such system, to the extent that the proceeds of bonds issued therefor are insufficient, from sources other than revenues and Hillsborough County gasoline tax funds. Any such lessee may also agree to make such other payments from moneys available to the county, the city, the authority or the department in connection with the construction or completion of such system as shall be deemed by such lessee to be fair and proper under any such covenants heretofore or hereafter entered into.
(6)
The system shall be a part of the state road system. The department is hereby authorized, upon request of the authority, to expend out of any funds available for the purpose, such moneys, and to use such of its engineering or other forces, as may be necessary and desirable in the judgment of the department, for the operation of the authority and for traffic surveys, borings, surveys, preparation of plans and specifications, estimates of costs, preliminary engineering and other studies.
F.S. 348.61 Department may be appointed agent of authority for construction.
The department may be appointed by the authority as its agent for the purpose of constructing, reconstructing, improving, extending or repairing the expressway system. In such event, the authority shall provide the department with complete copies of all documents, agreements, resolutions, contracts and instruments relating thereto and shall request the department to do such construction work including the planning, surveying and actual construction involved and shall transfer to the credit of an account of the department in the Treasury of the state the necessary funds therefor. The department shall thereupon be authorized, empowered and directed to proceed with such construction work and to use the said funds for such purpose and in the same manner that it is now authorized to use the funds otherwise authorized by law for its use in construction of roads and bridges.
F.S. 348.62 Acquisition of lands and property.
(1)
For the purpose of this part, the authority may acquire private or public property and property rights including rights of access, air, view and light by gift, devise, purchase or condemnation by eminent domain proceedings, as the authority may deem necessary for any of the purposes of this part. The right of eminent domain herein conferred shall be exercised by the authority in the manner provided by law, in particular chapter 74.
(2)
The authority may acquire such rights, title, interest or easements in such lands and property as it may deem necessary for any of the purposes of this part.
(3)
In connection with the acquisition of property or property rights as herein provided, the authority may in its discretion, acquire an entire lot, block, parcel or tract of land, if by so doing the interest of the public will be best served, even though such entire lot, block, parcel or tract is not immediately needed for the right-of-way proper.
F.S. 348.63 Cooperation with other units, boards, agencies and individuals.
Express authority and power is hereby given and granted any county, municipality, drainage district, road and bridge district, school district or any other political subdivision, board, authority, corporation or individual in or of the state to make and enter into with the authority, contracts, leases, conveyances or other agreements within the provisions and purposes of this part. The authority is hereby expressly authorized to make and enter into contracts, leases, conveyances and other agreements with any political subdivision, agency or instrumentality of the state and any and all federal agencies, corporations and individuals for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this part.
F.S. 348.64 Covenant of the state.
The state does hereby pledge to and agree with the holders from time to time of the bonds that the state will not limit or alter the rights hereby vested in the authority, the department, the county and the city to collect revenues and Hillsborough County gasoline tax funds and to fulfill the terms of any agreements made with the holders of bonds or to in any way impair the rights and remedies of such holders until such bonds and the interest due thereon have been paid. The state does further pledge to and agree with the United States and any federal agency that in the event any federal agency shall construct or contribute funds for the construction, reconstruction, extension or improvement of the system or any part thereof the state will not alter or limit the rights of the authority, the department, the county or the city in any manner which would be inconsistent with the continued maintenance or operation of the system or the construction, reconstruction, extension or improvement thereof and which would be inconsistent with the due performance of any agreements between the authority and any such federal agency. The authority, the department, the county and the city shall continue to have and may exercise all powers herein granted so long as the same shall be necessary or desirable for the carrying out of the purposes of this part.
F.S. 348.65 Exemption from taxation.
The effectuation of the authorized purposes of the authority created under this part is, shall and will be in all respects for the benefit of the people of the state for the increase of their commerce, prosperity and for the improvement of their health and living conditions. Since the authority will perform essential governmental functions in effectuating such purpose, the authority shall not be required to pay any taxes or assessments of any kind or nature whatsoever upon any property acquired or used by it for such purposes or upon any revenues at any time received by it. The bonds, their transfer and the income therefrom, including any profits made on the sale thereof, shall at all times be free from taxation of any kind by the state or by any political subdivision or other taxing agency or instrumentality thereof. The exemption granted by this section shall not be applicable to any tax imposed by chapter 220 on interest, income, or profits on debt obligations owned by corporations.
F.S. 348.66 Eligibility for investments and security.
The bonds shall be and constitute legal investments for banks, savings banks, trustees, executors, administrators and all other fiduciaries and for all state, municipal and other public funds and shall also be and constitute securities eligible for deposit as security for all state, municipal or other public funds notwithstanding the provisions of any other law or laws to the contrary.
F.S. 348.67 Pledges enforceable for bondholders.
It is the express intention of this part that any pledge of revenues, Hillsborough County gasoline tax funds or other funds either as rentals to the authority or for the payment of the principal of and interest on bonds, or any covenant or agreement relative thereto may be enforceable in any court of competent jurisdiction against the authority or directly against the department, the county or the city, as may be appropriate.
F.S. 348.68 Consultation with Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission.
In determining the route or routes, and the design and type of construction in connection with constructing the expressway system or any extension thereof, consideration shall be given by the authority to the comprehensive plans and the economic needs of the city and county and the usage for which the properties abutting thereon is best suited. In the furtherance of this purpose, the authority shall consult with the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission, hereinafter referred to as the commission. The authority may employ a firm of nationally recognized consultants and traffic engineers and the traffic engineers of the Florida Department of Transportation. In conducting their studies and in preparing surveys and estimates in connection with the location of the route or routes and with such construction, the consultants and traffic engineers shall consult with the commission for the purpose of considering any traffic studies, the comprehensive plan and other pertinent information which the commission may have available. After the studies and recommendations of the authority’s traffic engineers, consulting engineers, and other advisers have been made, the authority shall transmit such studies and recommendations to the commission. The commission, within 45 days after receipt thereof, shall transmit to the authority its written recommendations as to the consistency of such proposed route or routes with the adopted comprehensive plan or element or portion thereof. The authority shall thereafter hold a public hearing, on at least 10 days’ notice which shall be published in a newspaper designated by the authority and of general circulation in Hillsborough County, at which all interested persons may be heard with respect to the recommended route or routes or alternate routes of the expressway system. After such public hearing, the authority shall by resolution determine the route or routes of the expressway system or any extension thereof. However, the commission may request additional review of the approved route or routes for the purpose of commenting on continued consistency with the adopted comprehensive plan, element, or portion thereof if:
(1)
Within 5 years of approval of the route or routes, the authority does not reserve or acquire the proposed rights-of-way within the route or routes as provided by s. 337.27; or
(2)
The authority reserves or acquires rights-of-way under s. 337.27, but fails to comply with the statutory requirements for land acquisition or design commencement or completion.
If an additional review is requested, the commission shall conduct its review and transmit its recommendations within 45 days.
F.S. 348.70 This part complete and additional authority.
(1)
The powers conferred by this part shall be in addition and supplemental to the existing respective powers of the authority, the department, the county, and the city, if any, and this part shall not be construed as repealing any of the provisions of any other law, general, special, or local, but shall be deemed to supersede such other law or laws in the exercise of the powers provided in this part insofar as such other law or laws are inconsistent with the provisions of this part and to provide a complete method for the exercise of the powers granted herein. The construction, reconstruction, improvement, extension, repair, maintenance, and operation of the expressway system, and the issuance of bonds hereunder to finance all or part of the cost thereof, may be accomplished upon compliance with the provisions of this part without regard to or necessity for compliance with the provisions, limitations, or restrictions contained in any other general, special, or local law, including, but not limited to, s. 215.821, and no approval of any bonds issued under this part by the qualified electors or qualified electors who are freeholders in the state or in the county or in the city or in any other political subdivision of the state shall be required for the issuance of such bonds.
(2)
This part does not repeal, rescind, or modify any other law or laws relating to the State Board of Administration, the Department of Transportation, or the Division of Bond Finance of the State Board of Administration, but shall supersede such other law or laws as are inconsistent with the provisions of this part, including, but not limited to, s. 215.821.
F.S. 348.0301 Short title.
This part may be cited as the “Greater Miami Expressway Agency Act of 2023.”
F.S. 348.0303 Definitions.
As used in the this part, the term:
(1)
“Agency” means the body politic, corporate, and agency of the state created by this part.
(2)
“Agency of the state” means and includes the state and any department of, or corporation, agency, or instrumentality created, designated, or established by, the state.
(3)
“Bonds” means and includes the notes, bonds, refunding bonds, or other evidences of indebtedness or obligations, in either temporary or definitive form, which the agency issues pursuant to this part.
(4)
“County gasoline tax funds” means all of the 80-percent surplus gasoline tax funds accruing in each year to the department for use within the geographic boundaries of the agency under s. 9, Art. XII of the State Constitution, after the deduction of any amounts of such gasoline tax funds heretofore pledged by the department or a county for outstanding obligations.
(5)
“Department” means the Department of Transportation.
(6)
“Express written consent” means prior express written consent given in the form of a resolution adopted by a board of county commissioners.
(7)
“Expressway” means a street or highway especially designed for through traffic and over, from, or to which owners or occupants of abutting land or other persons have no right or easement or only a limited right or easement of access, light, air, or view by reason of the fact that their property abuts upon such limited access facility or for any other reason. An expressway may be a facility from which trucks, buses, and other commercial vehicles are excluded or may be a facility open to use by all customary forms of street and highway traffic.
(8)
“Expressway system” means any and all expressways which fall within the geographic boundaries of the agency established pursuant to this act and appurtenant facilities thereto, including but not limited to, all approaches, roads, bridges, and avenues of access for such expressway. The term includes a public transportation facility.
(9)
“Federal agency” means and includes the United States, the President of the United States, and any department of, or corporation, agency, or instrumentality created, designated, or established by, the United States.
(10)
“Members” means the governing body of the agency, and the term “member” means one of the individuals constituting such governing body.
(11)
“Miami-Dade County Expressway Authority” means the state agency previously existing and originally established under the Florida Expressway Authority Act and subsequently dissolved by the Greater Miami Expressway Agency Act.
(12)
“Public transportation facility” means real and personal property, structures, improvements, buildings, personnel, equipment, plants, vehicle parking or other facilities, rights-of-way, or any combination thereof used or useful for the purposes of transporting passengers by means of a street railway, elevated railway or guideway, subway, motor vehicle, motor bus, or any bus or other means of conveyance operating as a common carrier.
F.S. 348.0304 Greater Miami Expressway Agency.
(1)
It is the intent of the Legislature that the Greater Miami Expressway Agency prioritizes the best interests of the toll payors of South Florida.
(2)
There is hereby created and established a body politic and corporate, an agency of the state, to be known as the “Greater Miami Expressway Agency.” The agency shall serve the area within the geographical boundaries of Miami-Dade County and the portion of northeast Monroe County including County Road 94 and the portion of Monroe County bounded on the north and east by the borders of Monroe County and on the south and west by County Road 94.
(3)(a)
The governing body of the agency shall consist of nine voting members. Except for the district secretary of the department, each member must be a permanent resident of a county served by the agency and may not hold, or have held in the previous 2 years, elected or appointed office in such county, except that this paragraph does not apply to any initial appointment under paragraph (b) or to any member who previously served on the governing body of the former Greater Miami Expressway Agency. Each member may only serve two terms of 4 years each, except that there is no restriction on the term of the department’s district secretary. Four members, each of whom must be a permanent resident of Miami-Dade County, shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate at the next regular session of the Legislature. Refusal or failure of the Senate to confirm an appointment shall create a vacancy. Appointments made by the Governor and board of county commissioners of Miami-Dade County shall reflect the state’s interests in the transportation sector and represent the intent, duties, and purpose of the Greater Miami Expressway Agency, and have at least 3 years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas: finance; land use planning; tolling industry; or transportation engineering. Two members, who must be residents of an unincorporated portion of the geographic area described in subsection (1) and residing within 15 miles of an agency toll road, shall be appointed by the board of county commissioners of Miami-Dade County. Two members, who must be residents of incorporated municipalities within a county served by the agency, shall be appointed by the metropolitan planning organization for a county served by the agency. The district secretary of the department serving in the district that contains Miami-Dade County shall serve as an ex officio voting member of the governing body.
(b)
Initial appointments to the governing body of the agency shall be made by July 31, 2019. For the initial appointments:
1.
The Governor shall appoint one member for a term of 1 year, one member for a term of 2 years, one member for a term of 3 years, and one member for a term of 4 years.
2.
The board of county commissioners of Miami-Dade County shall appoint one member for a term of 1 year and one member for a term of 3 years.
3.
The metropolitan planning organization of Miami-Dade County shall appoint one member for a term of 2 years and one member for a term of 4 years.
(c)
Persons who, on or after July 1, 2009, were members of the governing body or employees of the former Miami-Dade County Expressway Authority may not be appointed members of the governing body of the agency. This paragraph does not apply to appointments to the governing body of the agency made by the Governor or to the district secretary of the department serving in an ex officio role pursuant to paragraph (a).
(4)(a)
The governing body of the agency shall elect one of its members as chair and shall elect a secretary and a treasurer who need not be members of the governing body. The chair, secretary, and treasurer shall hold their offices at the will of the governing body. A simple majority of the governing body constitutes a quorum, and the vote of a majority of those members present is necessary for the governing body to take any action. A vacancy shall not impair the right of a quorum of the governing body to exercise all of the rights and perform all of the duties of the governing body.
(b)
Upon the effective date of his or her appointment, or as soon thereafter as practicable, each member of the governing body of the agency shall enter upon his or her duties. The governing body’s initial board meeting must take place within 15 days after the initial appointments.
(c)
Each member of the governing body of the agency, before entering upon his or her official duties, shall take and subscribe to an oath before some official authorized by law to administer oaths that he or she will honestly, faithfully, and impartially perform the duties devolving upon him or her in office as a member of the governing body and that he or she will not neglect any duties imposed upon him or her by this part.
(5)(a)
The governing body of the agency may employ an executive secretary, an executive director, its own counsel and legal staff, technical experts, and such engineers and employees, permanent or temporary, as it may require and shall determine the qualifications and fix the compensation of such persons, firms, or corporations. The governing body may employ a fiscal agent or agents; however, the governing body must solicit sealed proposals from at least three persons, firms, or corporations for the performance of any services as fiscal agents. The governing body may delegate to one or more of its agents or employees such of its power as it deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this act, subject always to the supervision and control of the governing body. Members of the governing body may be removed from office by the Governor for misconduct, malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance in office.
(b)
Employees of the agency shall serve at the pleasure of the governing body of the agency. The governing body of the agency shall review the employment of all employees of the former Miami-Dade County Expressway Authority to determine whether each employee will continue employment with the agency. In the hiring of an executive director of the agency, the governing body of the agency shall conduct a nationwide search in order to identify the most qualified candidate.
(6)
The members of the governing body of the agency shall not be entitled to compensation but shall be entitled to receive per diem and travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061.
F.S. 348.0305 Ethics requirements.
(1)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, members and employees of the agency are subject to part III of chapter 112. As used in this section, the term:
(a)
“Agency” means the Greater Miami Expressway Agency.
(b)
“Lobby” means to seek to influence the agency, on behalf of another person, with respect to a decision of the agency in an area of policy or procurement or to attempt to obtain the goodwill of an officer, employee, or consultant of the agency. The term does not include representing a client in any stage of applying for or seeking approval of any administrative action, or opposition to such action, provided such action does not require legislative discretion and is subject to judicial review by petitioning for writ of certiorari.
(c)
“Lobbyist” means a person who is employed and receives payment, or who contracts for economic consideration, to lobby or a person who is principally employed for governmental affairs by another person or entity to lobby on behalf of such person or entity. The term does not include a person who:
1.
Represents a client in a judicial proceeding or in a formal administrative proceeding before the agency.
2.
Is an officer or employee of any governmental entity acting in the normal course of his or her duties.
3.
Consults under contract with the agency and communicates with the agency regarding issues related to the scope of services in his or her contract.
4.
Is an expert witness who is retained or employed by an employer, principal, or client to provide only scientific, technical, or other specialized information provided in agenda materials or testimony only in public hearings, provided the expert identifies such employer, principal, or client at such hearing.
5.
Seeks to procure a contract that is less than $20,000 or a contract pursuant to s. 287.056.
(d)
“Officer” means a member of the governing body of the agency.
(e)
“Principal” has the same meaning as in s. 112.3215.
(f)
“Relative” has the same meaning as in s. 112.312.
(2)(a)
A lobbyist may not be appointed or serve as a member of the governing body of the agency.
(b)
A person may not be appointed or serve as an officer if that person currently represents or has in the previous 4 years lobbied the agency or the former Miami-Dade County Expressway Authority.
(c)
A person may not be appointed or serve as an officer if that person has in the previous 4 years done business, or been an employee of a person or entity that has done business, with the agency or the former Miami-Dade County Expressway Authority.
(d)
A person may not be appointed or serve as an officer if that person has in the previous 2 years been an employee of the agency.
(3)
An officer, employee, or consultant of the agency or of the former Miami-Dade County Expressway Authority may not, for a period of 4 years after vacation of his or her position with the agency:
(a)
Lobby the agency.
(b)
Have an employment or contractual relationship with a business entity in connection with a contract in which the officer, employee, or consultant personally and substantially participated through decision, approval, disapproval, recommendation, rendering of advice, or investigation while he or she was an officer, employee, or consultant of the agency. When an agency employee’s position is eliminated and his or her former duties are performed by the business entity, this paragraph does not prohibit him or her from employment or a contractual relationship with the business entity if the employee’s participation in the contract was limited to recommendation, rendering of advice, or investigation and if the executive director of the agency determines that the best interests of the agency will be served thereby and provides prior written approval for the particular employee.
(c)
Have or hold any employment or contractual relationship with a business entity in connection with any contract for contractual services which was within his or her responsibility while an officer, employee, or consultant. If an agency employee’s position is eliminated and his or her former duties are performed by the business entity, this paragraph may be waived by the executive director of the agency through prior written approval for the particular employee if the executive director determines that the best interests of the agency will be served thereby.
(4)
Each officer, employee, and consultant of the agency must promptly disclose:
(a)
Every relationship that may create a conflict between his or her private interests and the performance of his or her duties to the agency or that would impede the full and faithful discharge of his or her duties to the agency.
(b)
Any relative and any employment or contractual relationship of such relative which, if held by the officer, employee, or consultant, would violate any provision of s. 112.313.
(c)
Any relative who is a lobbyist and such lobbyist’s principal.
(d)
Any direct or indirect interest in real property and such interest of any relative if such property is located within one-half mile of any actual or prospective agency project. The executive director of the agency shall provide a corridor map and a property ownership list reflecting the ownership of all real property within the disclosure area, or an alignment map with a list of associated owners, to all officers, employees, and consultants.
(5)
The disclosures required under subsection (4) must be filed with the agency general counsel in the manner specified by the general counsel. When the disclosure is filed by the general counsel, a copy must be provided to the executive director of the agency.
(6)
A violation of this section shall be considered a violation of the violator’s official, employment, or contractual duties to the agency.
(7)
Officers, employees, and consultants of the agency shall be adequately informed and trained on the provisions of this section and the state code of ethics and shall receive ongoing ethics training.
(8)
The state code of ethics shall apply to officers, employees, and consultants of the agency, and this section shall be enforced by the Commission on Ethics as part of the state code of ethics.
(9)
For purposes of this section, “consultant” does not include firms or individuals retained by the agency to provide architectural, engineering, landscape architecture, or registered surveying and mapping services as described in s. 287.055.
F.S. 348.0306 Purposes and powers.
(1)(a)
The agency created and established pursuant to this act may acquire, hold, construct, improve, maintain, operate, and own an expressway system.
(b)
The agency, in the construction of an expressway system, may construct expressways. Construction of an expressway system may be completed in segments, phases, or stages in a manner that will permit the expansion of these segments, phases, or stages to the desired expressway configuration. The agency, in the construction of an expressway system, may construct any extensions of, additions to, or improvements to the expressway system or appurtenant facilities, including all necessary approaches, roads, bridges, and avenues of access, with such changes, modifications, or revisions of the project that are deemed desirable and proper. For new capacity projects, the agency shall use the department’s design standards and, to the maximum extent practicable, design facilities such as the department would for high-speed limited access facilities. The agency may only add additional expressways to an expressway system, under the terms and conditions set forth in this act, with the prior express written consent of the board of county commissioners of Miami-Dade County or Monroe County, as applicable, and only if such additional expressways lack adequate committed funding for implementation, are financially feasible, and are compatible with the existing plans, projects, and programs of the agency.
(2)
The agency may exercise all powers necessary, appurtenant, convenient, or incidental to the carrying out of its purposes, including, but not limited to, the following rights and powers:
(a)
To sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, and complain and defend in all courts.
(b)
To adopt, use, and alter at will a corporate seal.
(c)
To acquire, purchase, hold, lease as lessee, and use any franchise or property, real, personal, or mixed, tangible or intangible, or any interest therein necessary or desirable for carrying out the purposes of the agency and to sell, lease as lessor, transfer, and dispose of any property or interest therein at any time acquired by it.
(d)
To enter into and make leases, either as lessee or as lessor, in order to carry out the right to lease as set forth in this act.
(e)
To fix, alter, charge, establish, and collect tolls, rates, fees, rentals, and other charges for the services and facilities system, which tolls, rates, fees, rentals, and other charges must always be sufficient to comply with any covenants made with the holders of any bonds secured by the net revenues of the expressway system, including any additions, extensions, or improvements thereof. However, such right and power may be assigned or delegated by the agency to the department.
1.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the agency may not increase its toll rates until July 1, 2029, including any increase to the extent necessary to adjust for inflation pursuant to the procedure for toll rate adjustments provided in s. 338.165, except:
a.
As may be necessary to comply with covenants in the trust indentures or resolutions adopted in connection with the agency’s bonds secured by the net revenues of the expressway system; or
b.
On or after July 1, 2024, as approved by a supermajority vote of the governing body of the agency.
2.
A toll rate increase must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the members of the governing body of the agency.
3.
The amount of toll revenues used for administrative costs by the agency may not be greater than 10 percent above the annual state average of administrative costs determined as provided in this subparagraph. The Florida Transportation Commission shall determine the annual state average of administrative costs based on the annual administrative costs of all the expressway authorities in this state. For purposes of this subparagraph, administrative costs include, but are not limited to, employee salaries and benefits, small business outreach, insurance, professional service contracts not directly related to the operation and maintenance of the expressway system, and other overhead costs.
4.
There must be a distance of at least 5 miles between main through-lane tolling points. The distance requirement of this subparagraph does not apply to entry and exit ramps. However, the agency may establish toll rates such that the toll rate per mile is equal to the rates in effect on July 1, 2019.
(f)
To borrow money, make and issue negotiable notes, bonds, refund bonds, and other evidence of indebtedness of the agency, which bonds or other evidence of indebtedness may be issued pursuant to the State Bond Act or, in the alternative, pursuant to s. 348.0309(2) to finance or refinance additions, extensions, or improvements to the expressway system within the geographic boundaries of the agency, and to provide for the security of the bonds or other evidence of indebtedness and the rights and remedies of the holders of the bonds or other evidence of indebtedness. Any bonds or other evidence of indebtedness pledging the full faith and credit of the state may only be issued pursuant to the State Bond Act.
1.
The agency shall reimburse the counties in which it exists for any sums expended from any county gasoline tax funds used for payment of such obligations. Any county gasoline tax funds so disbursed shall be repaid in accordance with the terms of any lease-purchase or interlocal agreement with any county or the department together with interest, at the rate agreed to in such agreement. In no event shall any county gasoline tax funds be more than a secondary pledge of revenues for repayment of any obligations issued pursuant to this part.
2.
The agency may refund any bonds previously issued, to the extent allowable by federal tax laws, to finance or refinance an expressway system located within the geographic boundaries of the agency regardless of whether the bonds being refunded were issued by such agency, an agency of the state, or a county.
(g)
To enter contracts and to execute all instruments necessary or convenient for the carrying on of its business. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the agency is subject to the procurement and contracting requirements applicable to the department contained in chapters 287 and 337.
(h)
Without limitation of the foregoing, to borrow money and accept grants from, and to enter into contracts, leases, or other transactions with, any federal agency, the state, any agency of the state, any county, or any other public body of the state.
(i)
To have the power of eminent domain, including the procedural powers granted under chapters 73 and 74.
(j)
To pledge, hypothecate, or otherwise encumber all or any part of the revenues, tolls, rates, fees, rentals, or other charges or receipts of the agency, including all or any portion of county gasoline tax funds received by the agency pursuant to the terms of any lease-purchase agreement between the agency and the department, as security for all or any of the obligations of the agency.
(k)
To do all acts and things necessary or convenient for the conduct of its business and the general welfare of the agency in order to carry out the powers granted to it by law.
(3)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the consent of any municipality is not necessary for any project of the agency, regardless of whether the project lies in whole or in part within the boundaries of the municipality, if the project is consistent with the locally adopted comprehensive plan. However, if a project is inconsistent with the affected municipal comprehensive plan, the project may not proceed without a hearing pursuant to ss. 120.569 and 120.57 at which it is determined that the project is consistent with the adopted metropolitan planning organization transportation improvement plan, if any, and the applicable strategic regional plan, and at which regional interests are determined to clearly override the interests of the municipality.
(4)
The use or pledge of all or any portion of county gasoline tax funds may not be made without the prior express written consent of the board of county commissioners of each county located within the geographic boundaries of the agency.
(5)
The agency shall comply with all statutory requirements of general application which relate to the filing of any report or documentation required by law, including the requirements of ss. 189.015, 189.016, 189.051, and 189.08.
(6)
Notwithstanding subsection (3) or any other provision of law to the contrary, the agency may not undertake any construction that is not consistent with both the metropolitan planning organization’s transportation improvement program and the county’s comprehensive plan in an area served by the agency.
(7)
The agency may finance or refinance the planning, design, acquisition, construction, extension, rehabilitation, equipping, preservation, maintenance, or improvement of a public transportation facility or transportation facilities owned or operated by such county, an intermodal facility or facilities, multimodal corridor or corridors, including, but not limited to, bicycle facilities or greenways that will improve transportation services within the county, or any programs or projects that will improve the levels of service on an expressway system, subject to approval of the governing body of the county after public hearing.
(8)
The governing body of a county served by the agency may enter into an interlocal agreement with the agency pursuant to s. 163.01 for the joint performance or performance by either governmental entity of any corporate function of the county or agency necessary or appropriate to enable the agency to fulfill the powers and purposes of this part and promote the efficient and effective transportation of persons and goods in such county.
(9)
The agency must have an annual financial audit conducted by an independent certified public accountant licensed pursuant to chapter 473, and the audit report must be made available on the agency’s website.
F.S. 348.0307 Greater Miami Toll Rebate Program.
There is created by the agency the Greater Miami Toll Rebate Program.
(1)
The agency shall develop and implement a monthly rebate program for the month beginning January 1, 2020, subject to:
(a)
Compliance with any covenants made with the holders of the agency’s bonds which are in the trust indentures or resolutions adopted in connection with the issuance of the agency’s bonds;
(b)
Consideration of the financial feasibility of such a program as reported by the Auditor General as required by this act; and
(c)
Consideration of the impact of such a program to the financial feasibility of prioritized projects that have been allocated funds for a project development and an environmental study but are not contained in the 5-year work program on July 1, 2019.
(2)
Monthly rebates shall be credited to the account of each SunPass holder who incurs $12.50 or more in tolls on the expressway system each month and whose SunPass is registered to a motor vehicle registered to an address in the county.
(3)
In developing its rebate program, the agency shall have a goal of rebating 25 percent of tolls paid by eligible SunPass holders. Following initiation of the program, the agency, once every 5 years, shall review the amount of the toll rebate and may adjust the amount of the toll rebate.
(4)
The agency may not impose additional requirements for receipt of the toll rebate.
F.S. 348.0308 Public-private partnership.
The Legislature declares that there is a public need for the rapid construction of safe and efficient transportation facilities for traveling within the state and that it is in the public’s interest to provide for public-private partnership agreements to effectuate the construction of additional safe, convenient, and economical transportation facilities.
(1)
The agency may receive or solicit proposals and enter into agreements with private entities, or consortia thereof, for the building, operation, ownership, or financing of agency transportation facilities or new transportation facilities within the jurisdiction of the agency which increase transportation capacity. The agency may not sell or lease any transportation facility owned by the agency without providing the analysis required in s. 334.30(6)(e)2. to the Legislative Budget Commission created pursuant to s. 11.90 for review and approval before awarding a contract on a lease of an existing toll facility. The agency may adopt rules to implement this section and shall, by rule, establish an application fee for the submission of unsolicited proposals under this section. The fee must be sufficient to pay the costs of evaluating the proposals. The agency may engage private consultants to assist in the evaluation. Before approval, the agency must determine that a proposed project:
(a)
Is in the public’s best interest.
(b)
Would not require state funds to be used unless the project is on or provides increased mobility on the State Highway System.
(c)
Would have adequate safeguards to ensure that no additional costs or service disruptions would be realized by the traveling public and residents of the state in the event of default or the cancellation of the agreement by the agency.
(d)
Would have adequate safeguards in place to ensure that the department, the agency, or the private entity has the opportunity to add capacity to the proposed project and other transportation facilities serving similar origins and destinations.
(e)
Would be owned by the agency upon completion or termination of the agreement.
(2)
The agency shall ensure that all reasonable costs to the state which are related to transportation facilities that are not part of the State Highway System are borne by the private entity. The agency shall also ensure that all reasonable costs to the state and substantially affected local governments and utilities related to the private transportation facility are borne by the private entity for transportation facilities that are owned by private entities. For projects on the State Highway System, the department may use state resources to participate in funding and financing the project as provided for under the department’s enabling legislation.
(3)
The agency may request proposals for public-private transportation projects or, if it receives an unsolicited proposal, it must publish a notice in the Florida Administrative Register and, as provided in chapter 50, on a publicly accessible website or by print in a newspaper qualified to publish legal notices in the county in which the project is located at least once a week for 2 weeks stating that it has received the proposal and will accept, for 60 days after the initial date of publication, other proposals for the same project purpose. A copy of the notice must be mailed to each local government in the affected areas. After the public notification period has expired, the agency shall rank the proposals in order of preference. In ranking the proposals, the agency shall consider professional qualifications, general business terms, innovative engineering or cost-reduction terms, finance plans, and the need for state funds to deliver the proposal. If the agency is not satisfied with the results of the negotiations, it may, at its sole discretion, terminate negotiations with the proposer. If these negotiations are unsuccessful, the agency may go to the second and lower-ranked firms, in order, using the same procedure. If only one proposal is received, the agency may negotiate in good faith, and if it is not satisfied with the results, it may, at its sole discretion, terminate negotiations with the proposer. The agency may, at its discretion, reject all proposals at any point in the process up to completion of a contract with the proposer.
(4)
Agreements entered into pursuant to this section may authorize the public-private entity to impose tolls or fares for the use of the facility. However, the amount and use of toll or fare revenues shall be regulated by the agency to avoid unreasonable costs to users of the facility.
(5)
Each public-private transportation facility constructed pursuant to this section shall comply with all requirements of federal, state, and local laws; state, regional, and local comprehensive plans; the agency’s rules, policies, procedures, and standards for transportation facilities; and any other conditions that the agency determines to be in the public’s best interest.
(6)
The agency may exercise any power possessed by it, including eminent domain, to facilitate the development and construction of transportation projects pursuant to this section. The agency may pay all or part of the cost of operating and maintaining the facility or may provide services to the private entity for which it receives full or partial reimbursement for services rendered.
(7)
Except as herein provided, this section is not intended to amend existing laws by granting additional powers to or further restricting the governmental entities from regulating and entering into cooperative arrangements with the private sector for the planning, construction, and operation of transportation facilities.
F.S. 348.0309 Bonds.
(1)
Bonds may be issued on behalf of the agency as provided by the State Bond Act.
(2)(a)
The agency may issue bonds pursuant to this part which do not pledge the full faith and credit of the state in such principal amount as, in the opinion of the agency, is necessary to provide sufficient moneys for achieving its corporate purposes.
(b)
The bonds of the agency issued pursuant to this part, whether on original issuance or refunding, must be authorized by resolution of the agency after approval of the issuance of the bonds at a public hearing and may be either term or serial bonds; shall bear such date or dates; mature at such time or times; bear interest at such rate or rates; be payable semiannually; be in such denominations; be in such form, either coupon or fully registered; shall carry such registration, exchangeability, and interchangeability privileges; be payable in such medium of payment and at such place or places; be subject to such terms of redemption; and be entitled to such priorities on the revenues, rates, fees, rentals, or other charges or receipts of the agency, including any county gasoline tax funds received by the agency pursuant to the terms of any interlocal or lease-purchase agreement between the agency or a county, as such resolution or any resolution subsequent thereto may provide. The bonds must be executed by such officers as the agency determines under s. 279.06.
(c)
Such bonds shall be sold by the agency at public sale by competitive bid. However, if the agency, after receipt of a written recommendation from a financial adviser, determines by official action after public hearing by a two-thirds vote of all voting members of the agency that a negotiated sale of the bonds is in the best interest of the agency, the agency may negotiate for sale of the bonds with the underwriter or underwriters designated by the agency and the counties in which the agency exists. The agency shall provide specific findings in a resolution as to the reasons requiring the negotiated sale, which resolution shall incorporate and have attached thereto the written recommendation of the financial adviser required by this subsection.
(d)
Any such resolution or resolutions authorizing any bonds hereunder which do not pledge the full faith and credit of the state may contain provisions that are part of the contract with the holders of the bonds, as the agency determines proper. In addition, the agency may enter into trust indentures or other agreements with its fiscal agent, or with any bank or trust company within or without the state, as security for such bonds, and may, under the agreements, assign and pledge the revenues, rates, fees, rentals, tolls, or other charges or receipts of the agency, including any county gasoline tax funds received by the agency.
(e)
Any of the bonds issued pursuant to this part are negotiable instruments and have all the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments under the law merchant and the negotiable instruments law of the state.
(f)
Each project, building, or facility that has been or will be financed by the issuance of bonds or other evidence of indebtedness and that does not pledge the full faith and credit of the state under this part and any refinancing thereof is subject to review and approval by the Legislative Budget Commission.
F.S. 348.0311 Acquisition of lands and property.
(1)
For the purposes of this act, the agency may acquire such rights, title, or interest in private or public property and such property rights, including easements, rights of access, air, view, and light, by gift, devise, purchase, or condemnation by eminent domain proceedings, as the agency may deem necessary for any of the purposes of this act, including, but not limited to, any lands reasonably necessary for securing applicable permits, areas necessary for management of access, borrow pits, drainage ditches, water retention areas, rest areas, replacement access for landowners whose access is impaired due to the construction of an expressway system, and replacement rights-of-way for relocated rail and utility facilities; for existing, proposed, or anticipated transportation facilities on the expressway system or in a transportation corridor designated by the agency; or for the purposes of screening, relocation, removal, or disposal of junkyards and scrap metal processing facilities. The agency may also condemn any material and property necessary for such purposes.
(2)
The agency and its authorized agents, contractors, and employees are authorized to enter upon any lands, waters, and premises, upon giving reasonable notice to the landowner, for the purpose of making surveys, soundings, drillings, appraisals, environmental assessments including phase I and phase II environmental surveys, archaeological assessments, and such other examinations as are necessary for the acquisition of private or public property and property rights, including rights of access, air, view, and light, by gift, devise, purchase, or condemnation by eminent domain proceedings or as are necessary for the agency to perform its duties and functions, and any such entry shall not be deemed a trespass or an entry that would constitute a taking in an eminent domain proceeding. The agency shall make reimbursement for any actual damage to such lands, water, and premises as a result of such activities. Any entry authorized by this subsection shall be in compliance with the premises protections and landowner liability provisions contained in s. 472.029.
(3)
The right of eminent domain conferred by this act must be exercised by the agency in the manner provided by law.
(4)
When the agency acquires property for an expressway system or in a transportation corridor as defined in s. 334.03, it is not subject to any liability imposed by chapter 376 or chapter 403 for preexisting soil or groundwater contamination due solely to its ownership. This subsection does not affect the rights or liabilities of any past or future owners of the acquired property, nor does it affect the liability of any governmental entity for the results of its actions which create or exacerbate a pollution source. The agency and the Department of Environmental Protection may enter into interagency agreements for the performance, funding, and reimbursement of the investigative and remedial acts necessary for property acquired by the agency.
F.S. 348.0312 Cooperation with other units, boards, agencies, and individuals.
Express authority and power is given and granted to any county, municipality, drainage district, road and bridge district, school district, or other political subdivision, board, commission, or individual in or of this state to enter into contracts, leases, conveyances, or other agreements within the provisions and purposes of this act with the agency. The agency may enter into contracts, leases, conveyances, and other agreements, to the extent consistent with chapters 334, 335, 338, and 339 and other provisions of the laws of the state and with 23 U.S.C. ss. 101 et seq., with any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality of the state and any and all federal agencies, corporations, and individuals for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this act.
F.S. 348.0313 Covenant of the state.
The state does hereby pledge to, and agrees with, any person, firm, corporation, or federal or state agency subscribing to or acquiring the bonds to be issued by the agency for the purposes of this act that the state will not limit or alter the rights hereby vested in the agency and the department until all bonds at any time issued, together with the interest thereon, are fully paid and discharged, insofar as the same affects the rights of the holders of bonds issued hereunder. The state does further pledge to, and agrees with, the United States that, in the event any federal agency constructs, or contributes any funds for the completion, extension, or improvement of, an expressway system or any part or portion thereof, the state will not alter or limit the rights and powers of the agency and the department in any manner which would be inconsistent with the continued maintenance and operation of the expressway system or the completion, extension, or improvement thereof or which would be inconsistent with the due performance of any agreement between the agency and any such federal agency, and the agency and the department shall continue to have and may exercise all powers granted so long as the same shall be necessary or desirable for carrying out the purposes of this act and the purposes of the United States in the completion, extension, or improvement of the expressway system or any part or portion thereof.
F.S. 348.0314 Exemption from taxation.
The effectuation of the authorized purposes of the agency is in all respects for the benefit of the people of the state, for the increase of their commerce and prosperity, and for the improvement of their health and living conditions. For this reason, the agency is not required to pay any taxes or assessments of any kind or nature whatsoever upon any property acquired by it or used by it for such purposes or upon any revenues at any time received by it. The bonds issued by or on behalf of the agency, their transfer, and the income therefrom, including any profits made on the sale thereof, are exempt from taxation of any kind by the state or by any political subdivision or other taxing agency or instrumentality thereof. The exemption granted by this section does not apply to any tax imposed under chapter 220 on interest, income, or profits on debt obligations owned by corporations.
F.S. 348.0315 Public accountability.
(1)
The agency shall post the following information on its website:
(a)
Audited financial statements and any interim financial reports.
(b)
Board and committee meeting agendas, meeting packets, and minutes.
(c)
Bond covenants for any outstanding bond issues.
(d)
Agency budgets.
(e)
Agency contracts. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “contract” means a written agreement or purchase order issued for the purchase of goods or services or a written agreement for the receipt of state or federal financial assistance.
(f)
Agency expenditure data, which must include the name of the payee, the date of the expenditure, and the amount of the expenditure. Such data must be searchable by name of the payee, name of the paying agency, and fiscal year and must be downloadable in a format that allows offline analysis.
(g)
Information relating to current, recently completed, and future projects on agency facilities.
(2)
Beginning October 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the agency shall submit to the metropolitan planning organization for each county served by the agency a report providing information regarding the amount of tolls collected and how those tolls were used in the agency’s previous fiscal year. The report shall be posted on the agency’s website.
F.S. 348.0316 Eligibility for investments and security.
Any bonds or other obligations issued pursuant to this part shall be and constitute legal investments for banks, savings banks, trustees, executors, administrators, and all other fiduciaries and for all state, municipal, and other public funds and shall also be and constitute securities eligible for deposit as security for all state, municipal, or other public funds, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law or laws to the contrary.
F.S. 348.0317 Pledges enforceable by bondholders.
It is the express intention of this part that any pledge by the department of rates, fees, revenues, county gasoline tax funds, or other funds, as rentals, to the agency, or any covenants or agreements relative thereto, may be enforceable in any court of competent jurisdiction against the agency or directly against the department by any holder of bonds issued by the agency.
F.S. 348.0318 This part complete and additional authority.
(1)
The powers conferred by this part are in addition and supplemental to the existing powers of the department and the governing body of the agency, and this part may not be construed as repealing any of the provisions of any other law, general, special, or local, but to supersede such other laws in the exercise of the powers provided in this part and to provide a complete method for the exercise of the powers granted in this part. The extension and improvement of the expressway system, and the issuance of bonds pursuant to this part to finance all or part of the cost of the system, may be accomplished upon compliance with the provisions of this part without regard to or necessity for compliance with the provisions, limitations, or restrictions contained in any other general, special, or local law, including, but not limited to, s. 215.821, and no approval of any bonds issued under this part by the qualified electors or qualified electors who are freeholders in the state or in Miami-Dade County, in Monroe County, or in any other political subdivision of the state, is required for the issuance of such bonds pursuant to this part, including, but not limited to, s. 215.821.
(2)
This part does not repeal, rescind, or modify any other law relating to the State Board of Administration, the Department of Transportation, or the Division of Bond Finance of the State Board of Administration, but supersedes any law that is inconsistent with the provisions of this part, including, but not limited to, s. 215.821.
F.S. 348.545 Facility improvement; bond financing authority.
Pursuant to s. 11(f), Art. VII of the State Constitution, the Legislature hereby approves for bond financing by the Tampa-Hillsborough County Expressway Authority improvements to toll collection facilities, interchanges to the legislatively approved expressway system, and any other facility appurtenant, necessary, or incidental to the approved system. Subject to terms and conditions of applicable revenue bond resolutions and covenants, such costs may be financed in whole or in part by revenue bonds issued pursuant to s. 348.56(1)(a) or (b), whether currently issued or issued in the future, or by a combination of such bonds.
F.S. 348.565 Revenue bonds for specified projects.
The existing facilities that constitute the Tampa-Hillsborough County Expressway System are hereby approved to be refinanced by revenue bonds issued by the Division of Bond Finance of the State Board of Administration pursuant to s. 11(f), Art. VII of the State Constitution and the State Bond Act or by revenue bonds issued by the authority pursuant to s. 348.56(1)(b). In addition, the following projects of the Tampa-Hillsborough County Expressway Authority are approved to be financed or refinanced by the issuance of revenue bonds in accordance with this part and s. 11(f), Art. VII of the State Constitution:
(1)
Brandon area feeder roads.
(2)
Capital improvements to the expressway system, including safety and operational improvements and toll collection equipment.
(3)
Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway System widening, and any extensions thereof.
(4)
The connector highway linking the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway to Interstate 4.
(5)
Capital projects that the authority is authorized to acquire, construct, reconstruct, equip, operate, and maintain pursuant to this part, including, without limitation, s. 348.54(15), provided that any financing of such projects does not pledge the full faith and credit of the state.
F.S. 348.635 Public-private partnership.
The Legislature declares that there is a public need for the rapid construction of safe and efficient transportation facilities for traveling within the state and that it is in the public’s interest to provide for public-private partnership agreements to effectuate the construction of additional safe, convenient, and economical transportation facilities.
(1)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, the authority may receive or solicit proposals and enter into agreements with private entities, or consortia thereof, for the building, operation, ownership, or financing of authority transportation facilities or new transportation facilities within the jurisdiction of the authority which increase transportation capacity. The authority may not sell or lease any transportation facility owned by the authority without providing the analysis required in s. 334.30(6)(e)2. to the Legislative Budget Commission created pursuant to s. 11.90 for review and approval before awarding a contract on a lease of an existing toll facility. The authority may adopt rules to implement this section and shall, by rule, establish an application fee for the submission of unsolicited proposals under this section. The fee must be sufficient to pay the costs of evaluating the proposals. The authority may engage private consultants to assist in the evaluation. Before approval, the authority must determine that a proposed project:
(a)
Is in the public’s best interest.
(b)
Would not require state funds to be used unless the project is on or provides increased mobility on the State Highway System.
(c)
Would have adequate safeguards to ensure that no additional costs or service disruptions would be realized by the traveling public and residents of the state in the event of default or the cancellation of the agreement by the authority.
(d)
Would have adequate safeguards in place to ensure that the department, the authority, or the private entity has the opportunity to add capacity to the proposed project and other transportation facilities serving similar origins and destinations.
(e)
Would be owned by the authority upon completion or termination of the agreement.
(2)
The authority shall ensure that all reasonable costs to the state which are related to transportation facilities that are not part of the State Highway System are borne by the private entity. The authority shall also ensure that all reasonable costs to the state and substantially affected local governments and utilities related to the private transportation facility are borne by the private entity for transportation facilities that are owned by private entities. For projects on the State Highway System, the department may use state resources to participate in funding and financing the project as provided for under the department’s enabling legislation.
(3)
The authority may request proposals for public-private transportation projects or, if it receives an unsolicited proposal, it must publish a notice in the Florida Administrative Register and, as provided in chapter 50, on a publicly accessible website or by print in a newspaper in the county in which the project is located at least once a week for 2 weeks stating that it has received the proposal and will accept, for 60 days after the initial date of publication, other proposals for the same project purpose. A copy of the notice must be mailed to each local government in the affected areas. After the public notification period has expired, the authority shall rank the proposals in order of preference. In ranking the proposals, the authority shall consider professional qualifications, general business terms, innovative engineering or cost-reduction terms, finance plans, and the need for state funds to deliver the proposal. If the authority is not satisfied with the results of the negotiations, it may, at its sole discretion, terminate negotiations with the proposer. If these negotiations are unsuccessful, the authority may go to the second and lower-ranked firms, in order, using the same procedure. If only one proposal is received, the authority may negotiate in good faith, and if it is not satisfied with the results, it may, at its sole discretion, terminate negotiations with the proposer. The authority may, at its discretion, reject all proposals at any point in the process up to completion of a contract with the proposer.
(4)
Agreements entered into pursuant to this section may authorize the public-private entity to impose tolls or fares for the use of the facility. However, the amount and use of toll or fare revenues shall be regulated by the authority to avoid unreasonable costs to users of the facility.
(5)
Each public-private transportation facility constructed pursuant to this section shall comply with all requirements of federal, state, and local laws; state, regional, and local comprehensive plans; the authority’s rules, policies, procedures, and standards for transportation facilities; and any other conditions that the authority determines to be in the public’s best interest.
(6)
The authority may exercise any power possessed by it, including eminent domain, to facilitate the development and construction of transportation projects pursuant to this section. The authority may pay all or part of the cost of operating and maintaining the facility or may provide services to the private entity for which it receives full or partial reimbursement for services rendered.
(7)
Except as herein provided, this section is not intended to amend existing laws by granting additional powers to or further restricting the governmental entities from regulating and entering into cooperative arrangements with the private sector for the planning, construction, and operation of transportation facilities.
F.S. 348.681 Design standards.
The geometric design standards used in connection with constructing the expressway system or any extension thereof shall as nearly as is practicable follow or be superior to design standards adopted for the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways.
F.S. 348.751 Short title.
This part may be cited as the “Central Florida Expressway Authority Law.”
F.S. 348.752 Definitions.
As used in this part:
(1)
The term “agency of the state” means the state and any department of, or corporation, agency, or instrumentality created, designated, or established by, the state.
(2)
The term “authority” means the body politic and corporate, and agency of the state created by this part.
(3)
The term “bonds” means the notes, bonds, refunding bonds, or other evidences of indebtedness or obligations, in either temporary or definitive form, which the authority is authorized to issue pursuant to this part.
(4)
The term “Central Florida Expressway Authority” means the body politic and corporate, and agency of the state created by this part.
(5)
The term “Central Florida Expressway System” means any expressway and appurtenant facilities, including all approaches, roads, bridges, and avenues for the expressway and any rapid transit, trams, or fixed guideways located within the right-of-way of an expressway.
(6)
The term “department” means the Department of Transportation.
(7)
The term “expressway” has the same meaning as limited access expressway.
(8)
The term “federal agency” means and includes the United States, the President of the United States, and any department of, or corporation, agency, or instrumentality created, designated, or established by, the United States.
(9)
The term “lease-purchase agreement” means the lease-purchase agreements that the authority is authorized to enter into with the Department of Transportation pursuant to this part.
(10)
The term “limited access expressway” means a street or highway specifically designed for through traffic, and over, from, or to which, a person does not have the right of easement, use, or access except in accordance with the rules of the authority governing its use. Such highways or streets may be parkways that do not allow traffic by trucks, buses, and other commercial vehicles, or freeways open to use by all customary forms of street and highway traffic.
(11)
The term “member” means an individual who serves on the governing body of the authority.
(12)
The term “Orange County gasoline tax funds” means the revenue derived from the 80-percent surplus gasoline tax funds accruing in each year to the Department of Transportation for use in Orange County under s. 9, Art. XII of the State Constitution, after deducting any amounts of said gasoline tax funds previously pledged by the department or the county for outstanding obligations.
(13)
The term “State Board of Administration” means the body corporate existing under the provisions of s. 4, Art. IV of the State Constitution, or any successor.
(14)
The term “transportation facilities” means and includes the mobile and fixed assets, and the associated real or personal property or rights, used in the transportation of persons or property by any means of conveyance, and all appurtenances, such as, but not limited to, highways; limited or controlled access lanes, avenues of access, and facilities; vehicles; fixed guideway facilities, including maintenance facilities; and administrative and other office space for the exercise by the authority of the powers and obligations granted in this part.
F.S. 348.753 Central Florida Expressway Authority.
(1)
There is created and established a body politic and corporate, an agency of the state, to be known as the Central Florida Expressway Authority.
(2)(a)
Immediately on June 20, 2014, the Central Florida Expressway Authority shall assume the governance and control of the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority System, including its assets, personnel, contracts, obligations, liabilities, facilities, and tangible and intangible property. Any rights in such property, and other legal rights of the authority, are transferred to the Central Florida Expressway Authority. The Central Florida Expressway Authority shall immediately succeed to and assume the powers, responsibilities, and obligations of the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority.
(b)
It is the intent of the Legislature that the Central Florida Expressway Authority, upon its formation, be the successor party to the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority under the land acquisition contract dated November 11, 2013, and be subject to all terms and provisions, including conditions precedent and rights of termination, stated in the contract.
(c)
The transfer pursuant to this subsection is subject to the terms and covenants provided for the protection of the holders of the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority bonds in the lease-purchase agreement and the resolutions adopted in connection with the issuance of the bonds. Further, the transfer does not impair the terms of the contract between the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority and the bondholders, does not act to the detriment of the bondholders, and does not diminish the security for the bonds. After the transfer, the Central Florida Expressway Authority shall operate and maintain the expressway system and any other facilities of the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority in accordance with the terms, conditions, and covenants contained in the bond resolutions and lease-purchase agreement securing the bonds of the authority. The Central Florida Expressway Authority shall collect toll revenues and apply them to the payment of debt service as provided in the bond resolution securing the bonds and shall expressly assume all obligations relating to the bonds to ensure that the transfer will have no adverse impact on the security for the bonds. The transfer does not make the obligation to pay the principal and interest on the bonds a general liability of the Central Florida Expressway Authority or pledge additional expressway system revenues to payment of the bonds. Revenues that are generated by the expressway system and other facilities of the Central Florida Expressway Authority which were pledged by the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority to payment of the bonds will remain subject to the pledge for the benefit of the bondholders. The transfer does not modify or eliminate any prior obligation of the department to pay certain costs of the expressway system from sources other than revenues of the expressway system.
(3)
The governing body of the authority shall consist of ten members. The chairs of the boards of the county commissions of Seminole, Lake, Brevard, and Osceola Counties shall each appoint one member from his or her respective county, who must be a commission member or chair or the county mayor. The Mayor of Orange County shall appoint a member from the Orange County Commission. Subject to confirmation by the Senate during the next regular session of the Legislature, the Governor shall appoint three citizen members, each of whom must be a resident of either Orange County, Seminole County, Lake County, Brevard County, or Osceola County. Refusal or failure of the Senate to confirm an appointment shall create a vacancy. The Mayor of Orange County and the Mayor of the City of Orlando shall also serve as members. The executive director of the Florida Turnpike Enterprise shall serve as a nonvoting advisor to the governing body of the authority. Each member appointed by the Governor shall serve for 4 years, with his or her term ending on December 31 of his or her last year of service. Each county-appointed member shall serve for 2 years. Each appointed member shall hold office until his or her successor has been appointed and has qualified. A vacancy occurring during a term must be filled only for the balance of the unexpired term. Each appointed member of the authority must be a person of outstanding reputation for integrity, responsibility, and business ability, but, except as provided in this subsection, a person who is an officer or employee of a municipality or county may not be an appointed member of the authority. Any member of the authority is eligible for reappointment.
(4)(a)
The authority shall elect one of its members as the chair of the authority, one of its members as vice chair, and one of its members as treasurer. The chair, vice chair, and treasurer shall hold such offices at the will of the authority. Six members of the authority constitute a quorum, and the vote of six members is required for any action taken by the authority. A vacancy in the authority does not impair the right of a quorum of the authority to exercise all of the rights and perform all of the duties of the authority.
(b)
Upon the effective date of his or her appointment, or as soon thereafter as practicable, each appointed member of the authority shall enter upon his or her duties. Members of the authority may be removed from office by the Governor for misconduct, malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance in office.
(c)
Members of the authority are entitled to receive reimbursement from the authority for travel and other necessary expenses incurred in connection with the business of the authority as provided in s. 112.061, but may not draw salaries or other compensation.
(5)
The authority may employ an executive secretary, an executive director, its own counsel and legal staff, technical experts, and the engineers and employees that it requires. The authority may determine the qualifications and fix the compensation of such persons, firms, or corporations, and may employ a fiscal agent or agents; however, the authority shall solicit sealed proposals from at least three persons, firms, or corporations for the performance of any services as fiscal agents. The authority may delegate to one or more of its agents or employees the power it deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this part.
(6)
A member or the executive director of the authority may not:
(a)
Personally represent another person or entity for compensation before the authority for a period of 2 years following vacation of his or her position.
(b)
After retirement or termination, have an employment or contractual relationship with a business entity other than an agency as defined in s. 112.312, in connection with a contract in which the member or executive director personally and substantially participated in through decision, approval, disapproval, recommendation, rendering of advice, or investigation while he or she was a member or employee of the authority.
(7)
The authority’s general counsel shall serve as the authority’s ethics officer.
(8)
Authority board members, employees, and consultants who hold positions that may influence authority decisions shall refrain from engaging in any relationship that may adversely affect their judgment in carrying out authority business. To prevent such conflicts of interest and preserve the integrity and transparency of the authority to the public, the following disclosures must be made annually on a disclosure form:
(a)
Any relationship a board member, employee, or consultant has which affords a current or future financial benefit to such board member, employee, or consultant, or to a relative or business associate of such board member, employee, or consultant, and which a reasonable person would conclude has the potential to create a prohibited conflict of interest. As used in this subsection, the term “relative” has the same meaning as in s. 112.312.
(b)
Whether a relative of a board member, employee, or consultant is a registered lobbyist, and if so, the names of the lobbyist’s clients. Such names shall be provided in writing to the ethics officer.
(c)
Any and all interests in real property that a board member, employee, or consultant has, or that a relative, principal, client, or business associate of such board member, employee, or consultant has, if such real property is located within, or within a one-half mile radius of, any actual or prospective authority roadway project. The executive director shall provide a corridor map and a property ownership list reflecting the ownership of all real property within the disclosure area, or an alignment map with a list of associated owners, to all board members, employees, and consultants.
(9)
The disclosure forms required under subsection (8) must be reviewed by the ethics officer or, if a form is filed by the general counsel, by the executive director.
(10)
The conflict of interest process shall be outlined in the authority’s code of ethics.
(11)
Authority employees and consultants are prohibited from serving on the governing body of the authority while employed by or under contract with the authority.
(12)
The code of ethics policy shall be reviewed and updated by the ethics officer and presented for board approval at a minimum of once every 2 years.
(13)
Employees shall be adequately informed and trained on the code of ethics and shall continually participate in ongoing ethics education.
(14)
The requirements in subsections (6)-(13) are in addition to the requirements that the members and the executive director of the authority are required to follow under chapter 112.
(15)
Violations of subsections (6), (8), and (11) are punishable in accordance with s. 112.317.
F.S. 348.754 Purposes and powers.
(1)(a)
The authority created and established under this part is granted and has the right to acquire, hold, construct, improve, maintain, operate, own, and lease in the capacity of lessor the Central Florida Expressway System, hereinafter referred to as “system.” Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, including paragraph (2)(n), the area served by the authority shall be within the geographical boundaries of Orange, Seminole, Lake, Brevard, and Osceola Counties.
(b)
In the construction of the Central Florida Expressway System, the authority may construct any extensions, additions, or improvements to the system or appurtenant facilities, including all necessary approaches, roads, bridges, avenues of access, rapid transit, trams, fixed guideways, thoroughfares, and boulevards with any changes, modifications, or revisions of the project which are deemed desirable and proper.
(c)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section to the contrary, to ensure the continued financial feasibility of the portion of the Wekiva Parkway to be constructed by the department, the authority may not, without prior consultation with the secretary of the department, construct any extensions, additions, or improvements to the expressway system in Lake County.
(2)
The authority may exercise all powers necessary, appurtenant, convenient, or incidental to the implementation of the stated purposes, including, but not limited to, the following rights and powers:
(a)
To sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, complain and defend in all courts.
(b)
To adopt, use, and alter at will a corporate seal.
(c)
To acquire by donation or otherwise, purchase, hold, lease as lessee, and use any franchise or any property, real, personal, mixed, or tangible or intangible, or any options in its own name or in conjunction with others, or interest in those options, necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of the authority, and to sell, lease as lessor, transfer, and dispose of any property or interest in the property at any time acquired by it.
(d)
To enter into and make leases for terms not exceeding 99 years, as lessee or lessor, in order to carry out the right to lease as specified in this part.
(e)
To enter into and make lease-purchase agreements with the department for terms not exceeding 99 years, or until any bonds secured by a pledge of rentals pursuant to the agreement, and any refundings pursuant to the agreement, are fully paid as to both principal and interest, whichever is longer. The authority is a party to a lease-purchase agreement between the department and the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority dated December 23, 1985, as supplemented by a first supplement to the lease-purchase agreement dated November 25, 1986, and a second supplement to the lease-purchase agreement dated October 27, 1988. The authority may not enter into other lease-purchase agreements with the department and may not amend the existing agreement in a manner that expands or increases the department’s obligations unless the department determines that the agreement or amendment is necessary to permit the refunding of bonds issued before July 1, 2013.
(f)
To fix, alter, charge, establish, and collect rates, fees, rentals, and other charges for the services and facilities of the Central Florida Expressway System which must always be sufficient to comply with any covenants made with the holders of any bonds issued pursuant to this part; however, such right and power may be assigned or delegated by the authority to the department. Toll revenues attributable to an increase in the toll rates charged on or after June 20, 2014, for the use of a portion of the system may not be used to construct or expand a different portion of the system unless a two-thirds majority of the members of the authority votes to approve such use. This requirement does not apply if, and to the extent that:
1.
Application of the requirement would violate any covenant established in a resolution or trust indenture under which bonds were issued by the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority on or before June 20, 2014; or
2.
Application of the requirement would cause the authority to be unable to meet its obligations under the terms of the memorandum of understanding between the authority and the department as ratified by the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority board on February 22, 2012.
Notwithstanding s. 338.165, and except as otherwise prohibited by this part, to the extent revenues of the expressway system exceed amounts required to comply with any covenants made with the holders of bonds issued pursuant to this part, revenues may be used for purposes enumerated in subsection (6), provided the expenditures are consistent with the metropolitan planning organization’s adopted long-range plan.
(g)
To borrow money, make and issue negotiable notes, bonds, refunding bonds, and other evidences of indebtedness or obligations, either in temporary or definitive form, for the purpose of financing all or part of the improvement or extension of the Central Florida Expressway System, and appurtenant facilities, including all approaches, streets, roads, bridges, and avenues of access for the Central Florida Expressway System and for any other purpose authorized by this part, and to secure the payment of such bonds or any part thereof by a pledge of any or all of its revenues, rates, fees, rentals, or other charges, including all or any portion of the Orange County gasoline tax funds received by the authority pursuant to any lease-purchase agreement between the authority and the department; and in general to provide for the security of the bonds and the rights and remedies of the holders thereof. However, no portion of the Orange County gasoline tax funds may be pledged for the construction of any project for which a toll is to be charged unless the anticipated toll is reasonably estimated by the board of county commissioners, at the date of its resolution pledging the funds, to be sufficient to cover the principal and interest of such obligations during the period when the pledge of funds is in effect. The bonds issued under this paragraph must mature not more than 40 years after their issue date.
1.
The authority shall reimburse Orange County for any sums expended from the gasoline tax funds used for the payment of such obligations. Any gasoline tax funds so disbursed must be repaid when the authority deems it practicable, together with interest at the highest rate applicable to any obligations of the authority.
2.
If, pursuant to this section, the authority funds or refunds any bonds previously issued by the authority or the commission before the bonds mature, the proceeds of such funding or refunding must, pending the prior redemption of these bonds, be invested in direct obligations of the United States.
(h)
To make contracts, including, but not limited to, partnerships providing for participation in ownership and revenues, and to execute all instruments necessary or convenient for conducting its business.
(i)
Notwithstanding paragraphs (a)-(h), to borrow money and accept grants from, and to enter into contracts, leases, or other transactions with any federal agency, the state, any agency of the state, the County of Orange, the City of Orlando, or with any other public body of the state.
(j)
To have the power of eminent domain, including the procedural powers granted under both chapters 73 and 74.
(k)
To pledge, hypothecate, or otherwise encumber any part of the revenues, rates, fees, rentals, or other charges or receipts of the authority, including all or any portion of the Orange County gasoline tax funds received by the authority pursuant to the terms of any lease-purchase agreement between the authority and the department, as security for any of the obligations of the authority.
(l)
To enter into partnership and other agreements respecting ownership and revenue participation in order to facilitate financing and constructing the Western Beltway, or portions thereof.
(m)
To do everything necessary or convenient for the conduct of its business and the general welfare of the authority, in order to comply with this part or any other law.
(n)
With the consent of the county within whose jurisdiction the following activities occur, the authority shall have the right to construct, operate, and maintain roads, bridges, avenues of access, transportation facilities, thoroughfares, and boulevards outside the jurisdictional boundaries of Orange, Seminole, Lake, Brevard, and Osceola Counties, together with the right to construct, repair, replace, operate, install, and maintain electronic toll payment systems thereon.
(3)
The authority does not have the power to pledge the credit or taxing power of the state or any political subdivision or agency thereof, including any city and any county, nor may any of the authority’s obligations be deemed to be obligations of the state or of any political subdivision or agency thereof, nor may the state or any political subdivision or agency thereof, except the authority, be liable for the payment of the principal of or interest on such obligations.
(4)
The authority has no power other than by consent of an affected county or any affected city, to enter into any agreement which would legally prohibit the construction of a road by the respective county or city.
(5)
The authority shall encourage the inclusion of local and small businesses in its procurement and contracting opportunities.
(6)
The authority may, within the right-of-way of the expressway system, finance or refinance the planning, design, acquisition, construction, extension, rehabilitation, equipping, preservation, maintenance, or improvement of an intermodal facility or facilities, a multimodal corridor or corridors, or any programs or projects that will improve the levels of service on the expressway system.
F.S. 348.755 Bonds of the authority.
(1)(a)
Bonds may be issued on behalf of the authority pursuant to the State Bond Act.
(b)
Alternatively, the authority may issue its own bonds pursuant to this part at such times and in such principal amount as, in the opinion of the authority, is necessary to provide sufficient moneys for achieving its purposes; however, such bonds may not pledge the full faith and credit of the state. Bonds issued by the authority pursuant to this paragraph or paragraph (a), whether on original issuance or on refunding, shall be authorized by resolution of the members thereof and may be either term or serial bonds, shall bear such date or dates, mature at such time or times, not exceeding 40 years from their respective dates, bear interest at such rate or rates, payable semiannually, be in such denominations, be in such form, either coupon or fully registered, shall carry such registration, exchangeability and interchangeability privileges, be payable in such medium of payment and at such place or places, be subject to such terms of redemption and be entitled to such priorities on the revenues, rates, fees, rentals or other charges or receipts of the authority including the Orange County gasoline tax funds received by the authority pursuant to the terms of any lease-purchase agreement between the authority and the department, as such resolution or any resolution subsequent thereto may provide. The bonds shall be executed either by manual or facsimile signature by such officers as the authority shall determine, provided that such bonds shall bear at least one signature which is manually executed thereon, and the coupons attached to such bonds shall bear the facsimile signature or signatures of such officer or officers as shall be designated by the authority and shall have the seal of the authority affixed, imprinted, reproduced or lithographed thereon, all as may be prescribed in such resolution or resolutions.
(c)
Bonds issued pursuant to paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) shall be sold at public sale in the same manner provided by the State Bond Act. However, if the authority shall, by official action at a public meeting, determine that a negotiated sale of such bonds is in the best interest of the authority, the authority may negotiate the sale of such bonds with the underwriter or underwriters designated by the authority and the Division of Bond Finance of the State Board of Administration with respect to bonds issued pursuant to paragraph (a) or solely the authority with respect to bonds issued pursuant to paragraph (b). The authority’s determination to negotiate the sale of such bonds may be based, in part, upon the written advice of the authority’s financial adviser. Pending the preparation of definitive bonds, interim certificates may be issued to the purchaser or purchasers of such bonds and may contain such terms and conditions as the authority may determine.
(d)
The authority may issue bonds pursuant to paragraph (b) to refund any bonds previously issued regardless of whether the bonds being refunded were issued by the authority pursuant to this chapter or on behalf of the authority pursuant to the State Bond Act.
(2)
Any resolution that authorizes any bonds issued under this section may contain provisions that must be part of the contract with the holders of such bonds, relating to:
(a)
The pledging of any part of the revenues, rates, fees, rentals, including any portion of the Orange County gasoline tax funds received by the authority pursuant to the terms of any lease-purchase agreement between the authority and the department, or any part thereof, or other charges or receipts of the authority, derived by the authority, from the Central Florida Expressway System.
(b)
The completion, improvement, operation, extension, maintenance, repair, lease or lease-purchase agreement of the system, and the duties of the authority and others, including the department.
(c)
Limitations on the purposes to which the proceeds of the bonds, then or thereafter to be issued, or of any loan or grant by the United States or the state may be applied.
(d)
The fixing, charging, establishing, and collecting of rates, fees, rentals, or other charges for use of the services and facilities of the Central Florida Expressway System or any part thereof.
(e)
The setting aside of reserves or sinking funds or repair and replacement funds and the regulation and disposition thereof.
(f)
Limitations on the issuance of additional bonds.
(g)
The terms and provisions of any lease-purchase agreement, deed of trust or indenture securing the bonds, or under which the same may be issued.
(h)
Any other or additional agreements with the holders of the bonds which the authority may deem desirable and proper.
(3)
The authority may employ fiscal agents as provided by this part or the State Board of Administration of Florida may upon request of the authority act as fiscal agent for the authority in the issuance of any bonds that may be issued pursuant to this part, and the State Board of Administration may upon request of the authority take over the management, control, administration, custody, and payment of any debt services or funds or assets now or hereafter available for any bonds issued pursuant to this part. The authority may enter into any deeds of trust, indentures or other agreements with its fiscal agent, or with any bank or trust company within or without the state, as security for such bonds, and may, under such agreements, sign and pledge any of the revenues, rates, fees, rentals or other charges or receipts of the authority, including any portion of the Orange County gasoline tax funds received by the authority pursuant to the terms of any lease-purchase agreement between the authority and the department. Such deed of trust, indenture, or other agreement may contain such provisions as are customary in such instruments, or, as the authority may authorize, including but without limitation, provisions as to:
(a)
The completion, improvement, operation, extension, maintenance, repair, and lease of, or lease-purchase agreement relating to the Central Florida Expressway System, and the duties of the authority and others including the department, with reference thereto.
(b)
The application of funds and the safeguarding of funds on hand or on deposit.
(c)
The rights and remedies of the trustee and the holders of the bonds.
(d)
The terms and provisions of the bonds or the resolutions authorizing the issuance of same.
(4)
Any of the bonds issued pursuant to this part are, and are hereby declared to be, negotiable instruments, and shall have all the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments under the law merchant and the negotiable instruments law of the state.
(5)
Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this part, each project, building, or facility which has been financed by the issuance of bonds or other evidence of indebtedness under this part and any refinancing thereof is hereby approved as provided for in s. 11(f), Art. VII of the State Constitution.
(6)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, on and after July 1, 2012, the authority may not issue any bonds except as permitted under the terms of the memorandum of understanding between the authority and the department as ratified by the authority board on February 22, 2012.
F.S. 348.756 Remedies of the bondholders.
(1)
The rights and the remedies herein conferred upon or granted to the bondholders shall be in addition to and not in limitation of any rights and remedies lawfully granted to such bondholders by the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of bonds, or by a lease-purchase agreement, deed of trust, indenture or other agreement under which the bonds may be issued or secured. In the event that the authority shall default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any of the bonds issued pursuant to the provisions of this part after such principal of or interest on said bonds shall have become due, whether at maturity or upon call for redemption, or the department shall default in any payments under, or covenants made in, any lease-purchase agreement between the authority and the department, and such default shall continue for a period of 30 days, or in the event that the authority or the department shall fail or refuse to comply with the provisions of this part or any agreement made with, or for the benefit of, the holders of the bonds, the holders of 25 percent in aggregate principal amount of the bonds then outstanding shall be entitled as of right to the appointment of a trustee to represent such bondholders for the purposes hereof; provided, however, that such holders of 25 percent in aggregate principal amount of the bonds then outstanding shall have first given notice of their intention to appoint a trustee, to the authority and to the department. Such notice shall be deemed to have been given if given in writing, and deposited in a securely sealed postpaid wrapper, mailed at a regularly maintained United States post office box or station and addressed, respectively, to the chair of the authority and to the secretary of the Department of Transportation at the principal office of the department.
(2)
Such trustee, and any trustee under any deed of trust, indenture or other agreement, may, and upon written request of the holders of 25 percent, or such other percentages as may be specified in any deed of trust, indenture or other agreement aforesaid, in principal amount of the bonds then outstanding, shall, in any court of competent jurisdiction, in his, her, or its own name:
(a)
By mandamus or other suit, action or proceeding at law, or in equity, enforce all rights of the bondholders, including the right to require the authority to fix, establish, maintain, collect and charge rates, fees, rentals, and other charges, adequate to carry out any agreement as to, or pledge of, the revenues or receipts of the authority to carry out any other covenants and agreements with or for the benefit of the bondholders, and to perform its and their duties under this part.
(b)
By mandamus or other suit, action or proceeding at law, or in equity, enforce all rights of the bondholders under or pursuant to any lease-purchase agreement between the authority and the department, including the right to require the department to make all rental payments required to be made by it under the provisions of any such lease-purchase agreement, whether from the Orange County gasoline tax funds or other funds of the department so agreed to be paid and to require the department to carry out any other covenants and agreements with or for the benefit of the bondholders, and to perform its and their duties under this part.
(c)
Bring suit upon the bonds.
(d)
By action or suit in equity require the authority or the department to account as if it were the trustee of an express trust for the bondholders.
(e)
By action or suit in equity enjoin any acts or things which may be unlawful or in violation of the rights of the bondholders.
(3)
When a trustee is appointed pursuant to subsection (1), or is acting under a deed of trust, indenture, or other agreement, and whether or not all bonds have been declared due and payable, the trustee is entitled to the appointment of a receiver, who may enter upon and take possession of the Central Florida Expressway System or the facilities or any part of the system or facilities, the rates, fees, rentals, or other revenues, charges, or receipts that are, or may be, applicable to the payment of the bonds so in default, and subject to and in compliance with the provisions of any lease-purchase agreement between the authority and the department operate and maintain the same, for and on behalf of and in the name of, the authority, the department, and the bondholders, and collect and receive all rates, fees, rentals, and other charges or receipts or revenues arising therefrom in the same manner as the authority or the department might do, and shall deposit all such moneys in a separate account and apply the same in such manner as the court directs. In any suit, action, or proceeding by the trustee, the fees, counsel fees, and expenses of the trustee, and the receiver, if any, and all costs and disbursements allowed by the court must be a first charge on any rates, fees, rentals, or other charges, revenues, or receipts, derived from the Central Florida Expressway System, or the facilities or services or any part of the system or facilities, including payments under any such lease-purchase agreement which rates, fees, rentals, or other charges, revenues, or receipts may be applicable to the payment of the bonds that are in default. The trustee has all of the powers necessary or appropriate for the exercise of any functions specifically set forth in this section or incident to the representation of the bondholders in the enforcement and protection of their rights.
(4)
This section or any other section of this part does not authorize any receiver appointed for the purpose, subject to and in compliance with the provisions of any lease-purchase agreement between the authority and the department, of operating and maintaining the Central Florida Expressway System or any facilities or part of the system or facilities, to sell, assign, mortgage, or otherwise dispose of any of the assets of whatever kind and character belonging to the authority. The powers of the receiver, subject to and in compliance with the provisions of any lease-purchase agreement between the authority and the department, are limited to the operation and maintenance of the Central Florida Expressway System, or any facility, or part thereof, as the court may direct, in the name and for and on behalf of the authority, the department, and the bondholders, and no holder of bonds on the authority nor any trustee, has the right in any suit, action, or proceeding at law or in equity, to compel a receiver, nor may any receiver be authorized or any court be empowered to direct the receiver to sell, assign, mortgage, or otherwise dispose of any assets belonging to the authority.
F.S. 348.757 Lease-purchase agreement.
(1)
The authority may enter into a lease-purchase agreement with the department relating to and covering the former Orlando-Orange County Expressway System.
(2)
The lease-purchase agreement must provide for the leasing of the former Orlando-Orange County Expressway System, by the authority, as lessor, to the department, as lessee, and must prescribe the term of such lease and the rentals to be paid.
(3)
The lease-purchase agreement may include other provisions, agreements, and covenants that the authority and the department deem advisable or required, including, but not limited to, provisions as to the bonds to be issued under, and for the purposes of, this part, the completion, extension, improvement, operation, and maintenance of the former Orlando-Orange County Expressway System and the expenses and the cost of operation of the authority, the charging and collection of tolls, rates, fees, and other charges for the use of the services and facilities of the system, the application of federal or state grants or aid that may be made or given to assist the authority in the completion, extension, improvement, operation, and maintenance of the former Orlando-Orange County Expressway System, which the authority is authorized to accept and apply to such purposes, the enforcement of payment and collection of rentals and any other terms, provisions, or covenants necessary, incidental, or appurtenant to the making of and full performance under the lease-purchase agreement.
(4)
The department as lessee under the lease-purchase agreement may pay as rentals under the agreement any rates, fees, charges, funds, moneys, receipts, or income accruing to the department from the operation of the former Orlando-Orange County Expressway System and the Orange County gasoline tax funds and may also pay as rentals any appropriations received by the department pursuant to any act of the Legislature of the state heretofore or hereafter enacted; however, this part or the lease-purchase agreement is not intended to and does not require the making or continuance of such appropriations, and any holder of bonds issued pursuant to this part does not have any right to compel the making or continuance of such appropriations.
(5)
A pledge of the Orange County gasoline tax funds as rentals under a lease-purchase agreement may not be made without the consent of the County of Orange evidenced by a resolution duly adopted by the board of county commissioners of said county at a public hearing held pursuant to due notice thereof published at least once a week for 3 consecutive weeks before the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in Orange County. The resolution, among other things, must provide that any excess of the pledged gasoline tax funds which is not required for debt service or reserves for the debt service for any bonds issued by the authority shall be returned annually to the department for distribution to Orange County as provided by law. Before making any application for a pledge of gasoline tax funds, the authority shall present the plan of its proposed project to the Orange County planning and zoning commission for its comments and recommendations.
(6)
The department may covenant in any lease-purchase agreement that it will pay all or any part of the cost of the operation, maintenance, repair, renewal, and replacement of the system, and any part of the cost of completing the system to the extent that the proceeds of bonds issued are insufficient, from sources other than the revenues derived from the operation of the system and the Orange County gasoline tax funds. The department may also agree to make such other payments from any moneys available to the commission, the county, or the city in connection with the construction or completion of the system as shall be deemed by the department to be fair and proper under any covenants entered into.
(7)
The system must be a part of the state road system and the department may, upon the request of the authority, expend out of any funds available for the purpose the moneys, and use its engineering and other forces, as may be necessary, for the operation of the authority and for traffic surveys, borings, surveys, preparation of plans and specifications, estimates of cost, and other preliminary engineering and other studies; provided, however, that the aggregate amount of moneys expended for the purposes by the department do not exceed the sum of $375,000.
(8)
The only lease-purchase agreement authorized by this section is the lease-purchase agreement between the department and the authority dated December 23, 1985, as supplemented by a first supplement to the lease-purchase agreement dated November 25, 1986, and a second supplement to the lease-purchase agreement dated October 27, 1988.
(9)
Upon the earlier of the defeasance, redemption, or payment in full of the authority bonds issued before July 1, 2012, or the earlier date to which the purchasers of the authority bonds have consented:
(a)
The obligations of the department under the lease-purchase agreement with the authority, including any obligation to pay any cost of operation, maintenance, repair, or rehabilitation of the expressway system, terminate;
(b)
The lease-purchase agreement terminates;
(c)
The expressway system remains the property of the authority and may not be transferred to the department; and
(d)
The authority remains obligated to reimburse the department in accordance with the terms of the memorandum of understanding between the authority and the department as ratified by the authority board on February 22, 2012.
F.S. 348.758 Appointment of department as agent of authority for construction.
The department may be appointed by the authority as its agent for the purpose of constructing improvements and extensions to the Central Florida Expressway System and for its completion. In such event, the authority shall provide the department with complete copies of all documents, agreements, resolutions, contracts, and instruments relating thereto and shall request the department to do such construction work, including the planning, surveying, and actual construction of the completion, extensions, and improvements to the Central Florida Expressway System and shall transfer to the credit of an account of the department in the State Treasury the necessary funds, and the department may proceed with such construction and use the funds for such purpose in the same manner that it is authorized to use the funds for the construction of roads and bridges.
F.S. 348.759 Acquisition of lands and property.
(1)
For the purposes of this part, the Central Florida Expressway Authority may acquire private or public property and property rights, including rights of access, air, view, and light, by gift, devise, purchase, or condemnation by eminent domain proceedings, as the authority deems necessary for any of the purposes of this part, including, but not limited to, any lands reasonably necessary for securing applicable permits, areas necessary for management of access, borrow pits, drainage ditches, water retention areas, rest areas, replacement access for landowners whose access is impaired due to the construction of a facility, and replacement rights-of-way for relocated rail and utility facilities; for existing, proposed, or anticipated transportation facilities on the Central Florida Expressway System or in a transportation corridor designated by the authority; or for the purposes of screening, relocation, removal, or disposal of junkyards and scrap metal processing facilities. The authority may condemn any material and property necessary for such purposes.
(2)
The authority shall exercise the right of eminent domain in the manner provided by law.
(3)
When the authority acquires property for a transportation facility or in a transportation corridor, it is not subject to any liability imposed by chapter 376 or chapter 403 for preexisting soil or groundwater contamination due solely to its ownership. This section does not affect the rights or liabilities of any past or future owners of the acquired property and does not affect the liability of any governmental entity for the results of its actions which create or exacerbate a pollution source. The authority and the Department of Environmental Protection may enter into interagency agreements for the performance, funding, and reimbursement of the investigative and remedial acts necessary for property acquired by the authority.
F.S. 348.760 Cooperation with other units, boards, agencies, and individuals.
A county, municipality, drainage district, road and bridge district, school district or any other political subdivision, board, commission, or individual in, or of, the state may make and enter into with the authority, contracts, leases, conveyances, partnerships, or other agreements pursuant to this part. The authority may make and enter into contracts, leases, conveyances, partnerships, and other agreements with any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality of the state and any federal agencies, corporations, and individuals, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this part.
F.S. 348.761 Covenant of the state.
The state pledges to, and agrees, with any person, firm or corporation, or federal or state agency subscribing to, or acquiring the bonds to be issued by the authority for the purposes of this part that the state will not limit or alter the rights that are vested in the authority and the department until all issued bonds and interest are fully paid and discharged insofar as the pledge affects the rights of the holders of bonds issued pursuant to this part. The state does further pledge to, and agree, with the United States that in the event any federal agency constructs or contributes any funds for the completion, extension, or improvement of the Central Florida Expressway System, or any part or portion of the system, the state will not alter or limit the rights and powers of the authority and the department in any manner that would be inconsistent with the continued maintenance and operation of the Central Florida Expressway System or the completion, extension, or improvement of the system, or that would be inconsistent with the due performance of any agreements between the authority and any such federal agency, and the authority and the department shall continue to have and may exercise all powers granted in this part, so long as the powers are necessary or desirable for the carrying out of the purposes of this part and the purposes of the United States in the completion, extension, or improvement of the Central Florida Expressway System, or any part of the system.
F.S. 348.762 Exemption from taxation.
The effectuation of the authorized purposes of the authority created under this part is, shall and will be, in all respects for the benefit of the people of the state, for the increase of their commerce and prosperity, and for the improvement of their health and living conditions, and since such authority will be performing essential governmental functions in effectuating such purposes, such authority shall not be required to pay any taxes or assessments of any kind or nature whatsoever upon any property acquired or used by it for such purposes, or upon any rates, fees, rentals, receipts, income or charges at any time received by it, and the bonds issued by the authority, their transfer and the income therefrom, including any profits made on the sale thereof shall at all times be free from taxation of any kind by the state, or by any political subdivision, or taxing agency or instrumentality thereof. The exemption granted by this section shall not be applicable to any tax imposed by chapter 220 on interest, income, or profits on debt obligations owned by corporations.
F.S. 348.763 Eligibility for investments and security.
Any bonds or other obligations issued pursuant to this part shall be and constitute legal investments for banks, savings banks, trustees, executors, administrators, and all other fiduciaries, and for all state, municipal and other public funds and shall also be and constitute securities eligible for deposit as security for all state, municipal or other public funds, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law or laws to the contrary.
F.S. 348.764 Pledges enforceable by bondholders.
It is the express intention of this part that any pledge by the department of rates, fees, revenues, Orange County gasoline tax funds or other funds, as rentals, to the authority, or any covenants or agreements relative thereto may be enforceable in any court of competent jurisdiction against the authority or directly against the department by any holder of bonds issued by the authority.
F.S. 348.765 This part complete and additional authority.
(1)
The powers conferred by this part are in addition and supplemental to the existing powers of the board and the department, and this part may not be construed as repealing any of the provisions, of any other law, general, special, or local, but to supersede such other laws in the exercise of the powers provided in this part, and to provide a complete method for the exercise of the powers granted in this part. The extension and improvement of the Central Florida Expressway System, and the issuance of bonds pursuant to this part to finance all or part of the cost of the system, may be accomplished upon compliance with the provisions of this part without regard to or necessity for compliance with the provisions, limitations, or restrictions contained in any other general, special, or local law, including, but not limited to, s. 215.821, and no approval of any bonds issued under this part by the qualified electors or qualified electors who are freeholders in the state or in the County of Orange, or in the City of Orlando, or in any other political subdivision of the state, is required for the issuance of such bonds pursuant to this part.
(2)
This part does not repeal, rescind, or modify any other law relating to the State Board of Administration, the Department of Transportation, or the Division of Bond Finance of the State Board of Administration, but supersedes any law that is inconsistent with the provisions of this part, including, but not limited to, s. 215.821.
F.S. 348.03031 Legislative findings, intent, and declaration.
(1)
The Legislature finds the need to clarify the legal status, ownership, and control of the roads that constitute the expressway system in Miami-Dade County and portions of northeast Monroe County, following Miami-Dade County’s attempt to abolish the Greater Miami Expressway Agency in Miami-Dade Ordinance 21-35 (May 4, 2021).
(2)
The Legislature recognizes that the original expressway system previously operated by the former Miami-Dade County Expressway Authority is owned by the department. The transfer agreement dated December 10, 1996, entered into by the department and the former Miami-Dade County Expressway Authority, transferred only operational and financial control of the expressways owned by the department.
(3)
The Legislature recognizes the Miami-Dade County Expressway Authority was dissolved by chapter 2019-169, Laws of Florida, and all assets, employees, contracts, rights, and liabilities were purportedly transferred to the Greater Miami Expressway Agency. All assets, employees, contracts, rights, and liabilities previously owned or controlled by the former Miami-Dade County Expressway Authority, including, without limitation, those previously transferred to the Greater Miami Expressway Agency, are transferred back to the reestablished Greater Miami Expressway Agency created in s. 348.0304 on May 11, 2023.
(4)
It is the intent of the Legislature to confirm that the Greater Miami Expressway Agency that was created by chapter 2019-169, Laws of Florida, is hereby reestablished. The Greater Miami Expressway Agency is the state agency that shall govern the expressway system within the geographical boundaries of Miami-Dade County and the portion of northeast Monroe County which includes County Road 94 and the portion of Monroe County bounded on the north and east by the borders of Monroe County and on the south and west by County Road 94. It is further the express intent of the Legislature that the Greater Miami Expressway Agency created by this law is an agency of the state and not subject to any county’s home rule powers.
F.S. 348.03101 Department may be appointed agent of agency for construction.
The department may be appointed by the agency as its agent for the purpose of constructing improvements and extensions to an expressway system and for the completion thereof. In such event, the agency shall provide the department with complete copies of all documents, agreements, resolutions, contracts, and instruments relating thereto; shall request the department to do such construction work, including the planning, surveying, and actual construction of the completion of and extensions and improvements to the expressway system; and shall transfer to the credit of an account of the department in the State Treasury the necessary funds therefor. The department shall thereupon proceed with such construction and use the funds for such purpose in the same manner as it is now authorized to use the funds otherwise provided by law for its use in the construction of roads and bridges.
F.S. 348.7543 Improvements, bond financing authority for.
Pursuant to s. 11(f), Art. VII of the State Constitution, the Legislature approves for bond financing by the Central Florida Expressway Authority improvements to toll collection facilities, interchanges to the legislatively approved expressway system, and any other facility appurtenant, necessary, or incidental to the approved system. Subject to terms and conditions of applicable revenue bond resolutions and covenants, such costs may be financed in whole or in part by revenue bonds issued pursuant to s. 348.755(1)(a) or (b) whether currently issued or issued in the future, or by a combination of such bonds.
F.S. 348.7544 Northwest Beltway Part A, construction authorized; financing.
Notwithstanding s. 338.2275, the Central Florida Expressway Authority may construct, finance, operate, own, and maintain that portion of the Western Beltway known as the Northwest Beltway Part A, extending from Florida’s Turnpike near Ocoee north to U.S. 441 near Apopka, as part of the authority’s 20-year capital projects plan. This project may be financed with any funds available to the authority for such purpose or revenue bonds issued by the Division of Bond Finance of the State Board of Administration on behalf of the authority pursuant to s. 11, Art. VII of the State Constitution and the State Bond Act, ss. 215.57-215.83.
F.S. 348.7545 Western Beltway Part C, construction authorized; financing.
Notwithstanding s. 338.2275, the Central Florida Expressway Authority may exercise its condemnation powers, construct, finance, operate, own, and maintain that portion of the Western Beltway known as the Western Beltway Part C, extending from Florida’s Turnpike near Ocoee in Orange County southerly through Orange and Osceola Counties to an interchange with I-4 near the Osceola-Polk County line, as part of the authority’s 20-year capital projects plan. This project may be financed with any funds available to the authority for such purpose or revenue bonds issued by the Division of Bond Finance of the State Board of Administration on behalf of the authority pursuant to s. 11, Art. VII of the State Constitution and the State Bond Act, ss. 215.57-215.83. This project may be refinanced with bonds issued by the authority pursuant to s. 348.755(1)(d).
F.S. 348.7546 Wekiva Parkway, construction authorized; financing.
(1)
The Central Florida Expressway Authority may exercise its condemnation powers and construct, finance, operate, own, and maintain those portions of the Wekiva Parkway which are identified by agreement between the authority and the department and which are included as part of the authority’s long-range capital improvement plan. The “Wekiva Parkway” means any limited access highway or expressway constructed between State Road 429 and Interstate 4 specifically incorporating the corridor alignment recommended by Recommendation 2 of the Wekiva River Basin Area Task Force final report dated January 15, 2003, and the recommendations of the SR 429 Working Group which were adopted January 16, 2004. This project may be financed with any funds available to the authority for such purpose or revenue bonds issued by the authority under s. 11, Art. VII of the State Constitution and s. 348.755(1)(b). This section does not invalidate the exercise by the authority of its condemnation powers or the acquisition of any property for the Wekiva Parkway before July 1, 2012.
(2)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in order to ensure that funds are available to the department for its portion of the Wekiva Parkway, beginning July 1, 2012, the authority shall repay the expenditures by the department for costs of operation and maintenance of the Central Florida Expressway System in accordance with the terms of the memorandum of understanding between the authority and the department as ratified by the authority board on February 22, 2012, which requires the authority to pay the department $10 million on July 1, 2012, and $20 million on each successive July 1 until the department has been fully reimbursed for all costs of the Central Florida Expressway System which were paid, advanced, or reimbursed to the authority by the department, with a final payment in the amount of the balance remaining. Notwithstanding any other law, the funds paid to the department pursuant to this subsection must be allocated by the department for construction of the Wekiva Parkway.
(3)
The department’s obligation to construct its portions of the Wekiva Parkway is contingent upon the timely payment by the authority of the annual payments required of the authority and receipt of all required environmental permits and approvals by the Federal Government.
F.S. 348.7547 Maitland Boulevard Extension and Northwest Beltway Part A Realignment construction authorized; financing.
Notwithstanding s. 338.2275, the Central Florida Expressway Authority may exercise its condemnation powers, construct, finance, operate, own, and maintain the portion of State Road 414 known as the Maitland Boulevard Extension and the realigned portion of the Northwest Beltway Part A as part of the authority’s long-range capital improvement plan. The Maitland Boulevard Extension extends from the current terminus of State Road 414 at U.S. 441 west to State Road 429 in west Orange County. The realigned portion of the Northwest Beltway Part A runs from the point at or near where the Maitland Boulevard Extension connects with State Road 429 and proceeds to the west and then north resulting in the northern terminus of State Road 429 moving farther west before reconnecting with U.S. 441. However, under no circumstances may the realignment of the Northwest Beltway Part A conflict with or contradict the alignment of the Wekiva Parkway as defined in s. 348.7546. This project may be financed with any funds available to the authority for such purpose or revenue bonds issued by the authority under s. 11, Art. VII of the State Constitution and s. 348.755(1)(b).
F.S. 348.7605 Public-private partnership.
The Legislature declares that there is a public need for the rapid construction of safe and efficient transportation facilities for traveling within the state and that it is in the public’s interest to provide for public-private partnership agreements to effectuate the construction of additional safe, convenient, and economical transportation facilities.
(1)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, the authority may receive or solicit proposals and enter into agreements with private entities, or consortia thereof, for the building, operation, ownership, or financing of authority transportation facilities or new transportation facilities within the jurisdiction of the authority which increase transportation capacity. The authority may not sell or lease any transportation facility owned by the authority without providing the analysis required in s. 334.30(6)(e)2. to the Legislative Budget Commission created pursuant to s. 11.90 for review and approval before awarding a contract on a lease of an existing toll facility. The authority may adopt rules to implement this section and shall, by rule, establish an application fee for the submission of unsolicited proposals under this section. The fee must be sufficient to pay the costs of evaluating the proposals. The authority may engage private consultants to assist in the evaluation. Before approval, the authority must determine that a proposed project:
(a)
Is in the public’s best interest.
(b)
Would not require state funds to be used unless the project is on or provides increased mobility on the State Highway System.
(c)
Would have adequate safeguards to ensure that no additional costs or service disruptions would be realized by the traveling public and residents of the state in the event of default or the cancellation of the agreement by the authority.
(d)
Would have adequate safeguards in place to ensure that the department, the authority, or the private entity has the opportunity to add capacity to the proposed project and other transportation facilities serving similar origins and destinations.
(e)
Would be owned by the authority upon completion or termination of the agreement.
(2)
The authority shall ensure that all reasonable costs to the state which are related to transportation facilities that are not part of the State Highway System are borne by the private entity. The authority shall also ensure that all reasonable costs to the state and substantially affected local governments and utilities related to the private transportation facility are borne by the private entity for transportation facilities that are owned by private entities. For projects on the State Highway System, the department may use state resources to participate in funding and financing the project as provided for under the department’s enabling legislation.
(3)
The authority may request proposals for public-private transportation projects or, if it receives an unsolicited proposal, it must publish a notice in the Florida Administrative Register and, as provided in chapter 50, on a publicly accessible website or by print in a newspaper in the county in which the project is located at least once a week for 2 weeks stating that it has received the proposal and will accept, for 60 days after the initial date of publication, other proposals for the same project purpose. A copy of the notice must be mailed to each local government in the affected areas. After the public notification period has expired, the authority shall rank the proposals in order of preference. In ranking the proposals, the authority shall consider professional qualifications, general business terms, innovative engineering or cost-reduction terms, finance plans, and the need for state funds to deliver the proposal. If the authority is not satisfied with the results of the negotiations, it may, at its sole discretion, terminate negotiations with the proposer. If these negotiations are unsuccessful, the authority may go to the second and lower-ranked firms, in order, using the same procedure. If only one proposal is received, the authority may negotiate in good faith, and if it is not satisfied with the results, it may, at its sole discretion, terminate negotiations with the proposer. The authority may, at its discretion, reject all proposals at any point in the process up to completion of a contract with the proposer.
(4)
Agreements entered into pursuant to this section may authorize the public-private entity to impose tolls or fares for the use of the facility. However, the amount and use of toll or fare revenues shall be regulated by the authority to avoid unreasonable costs to users of the facility.
(5)
Each public-private transportation facility constructed pursuant to this section shall comply with all requirements of federal, state, and local laws; state, regional, and local comprehensive plans; the authority’s rules, policies, procedures, and standards for transportation facilities; and any other conditions that the authority determines to be in the public’s best interest.
(6)
The authority may exercise any power possessed by it, including eminent domain, to facilitate the development and construction of transportation projects pursuant to this section. The authority may pay all or part of the cost of operating and maintaining the facility or may provide services to the private entity for which it receives full or partial reimbursement for services rendered.
(7)
Except as herein provided, this section is not intended to amend existing laws by granting additional powers to or further restricting the governmental entities from regulating and entering into cooperative arrangements with the private sector for the planning, construction, and operation of transportation facilities.
F.S. 348.7645 Exit sign to university.
Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the authority, upon request by a university described in this section, shall erect signage at the most convenient, existing exit directing traffic to a university with at least 6,000 full-time students which is located within 5 miles of a roadway operated by the authority. Any such university shall pay to the authority the actual costs of any signage erected.
Source: FL Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/Chapter348/AllFetched: 7/8/2026