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Chapter 391 — Mass Transportation

2001 EDITION

LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT

391.090 Legislative findings; use of lottery moneys for light rail project; policy and intent. The Legislative Assembly finds that:

(1) The development, acquisition and construction of light rail systems and their attendant rights of way, equipment and facilities in the urban and metropolitan areas of the State of Oregon do and will accomplish the purpose of creating jobs and furthering economic development in Oregon by, among other advantages:

(a) Providing an important element of the public infrastructure that provides the basic framework for continuing and expanding economic activity in this state;

(b) Increasing the economy and efficiency of public transportation, improving the attractiveness of urban and metropolitan areas to new businesses and supporting the operations and prosperity of existing businesses in those areas by making those businesses more accessible to their customers and employees;

(c) Alleviating the inefficiencies of congestion and crowding associated with, and reducing the burdens of expansion and maintenance of, existing public transportation systems and facilities, as well as reducing energy consumption and air pollution fostered by the use of motor vehicles; and

(d) Creating employment opportunities in urban and metropolitan areas through the funding of projects for the development and construction of the light rail systems.

(2) Additionally, the provision of state and local moneys for the proposed Westside corridor light rail project identified in ORS 391.120 (2)(a) will encourage the contribution of otherwise unavailable federal matching grant moneys, the use of which will, for the reasons stated in subsection (1) of this section, forward the purpose of creating jobs and furthering economic development in Oregon.

(3) Based on the legislative findings described in this section, the use of net proceeds from the operation of the state lottery for the support of the Westside corridor light rail project, as provided in ORS 391.130, is an appropriate use of state lottery funds under section 4 (3), Article XV of the Oregon Constitution and ORS 461.510.

(4) It is the intent and policy of the Legislative Assembly to insure the funding and support of the Westside corridor light rail project identified in ORS 391.120 (2)(a) in the manner provided in ORS 391.130 to 391.150, to the extent required for the state to realize the benefit of all federal matching funds made available for that project, and to the extent necessary to complete the project. [1991 c.575 §1]

391.100 Light Rail Construction Fund; purpose; requirements for expenditures from fund. (1) There is created as a fund the Light Rail Construction Fund separate and distinct from the General Fund. The moneys in the fund and the interest earnings of the fund are appropriated continuously to the Department of Transportation for the purpose of financing that part of the Banfield Transitway Project that includes construction of a light rail system from the City of Portland to the City of Gresham to be routed along the corridor in which the Banfield Freeway, Interstate Highway 205 and East Burnside Street are located.

(2) No moneys shall be expended for construction from the fund created by subsection (1) of this section unless the Director of Transportation determines that the following conditions have occurred no later than the last day of June 1983:

(a) The United States Department of Transportation, subject to the appropriations process and to the satisfaction of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means or the Emergency Board, if the Legislative Assembly is not in session, has committed sufficient moneys to complete the Banfield Transitway Project; and

(b) The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District has entered into a binding, enforceable agreement with the State of Oregon in which:

(A) During the construction of the Banfield Transitway Project, the district agrees not to request or accept any state General Fund moneys for the light rail construction portion of that project other than those moneys appropriated to the fund created in this section by the Sixtieth Legislative Assembly;

(B) The district agrees to provide not less than $2,930,000 of the total funding for the light rail construction part of the Banfield Transitway Project; and

(C) In any instance where the actual expenditures for the light rail portion of the Banfield Transitway Project fall short of the estimated expenditures for the project, those moneys, other than federal moneys, that are not required for the project shall remain in the fund established by this section.

(3) The Director of Transportation shall certify the unobligated balance of the fund created by this section and that unobligated balance shall revert to the General Fund in accordance with the following:

(a) If at any time the Director of Transportation determines that the conditions required under subsection (2) of this section will not occur within the required time under that subsection, the director shall certify the unobligated balance of the fund and the unobligated balance shall revert.

(b) If the Director of Transportation determines that the conditions required under subsection (2) of this section have occurred and moneys from the fund are expended on the Banfield Transitway Project, the director shall certify the unobligated balance after the project is accepted by the Director of Transportation and all claims, suits and actions arising out of the project have been resolved. [1979 c.586 §1; 1981 c.262 §1]

391.110 Legislative findings; Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund. (1) The Legislative Assembly finds that economic growth and livability depend on a solid transportation infrastructure to aid in the production and distribution of goods and services and the efficient movement of people.

(2) The Legislative Assembly also finds that an efficient surface transportation system in our metropolitan areas must balance highways and arterial roads with mass transit and light rail facilities. Mass transit and light rail improvements can lessen the cost of highway expansion, reconstruction and maintenance by significantly decreasing traffic flow.

(3) Therefore, the Legislative Assembly shall establish the Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund as a means of facilitating the development of a balanced surface transportation system that includes the appropriate application of highways, light rail and mass transit. [1989 c.868 §2]

391.120 Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund; purpose; requirements for expenditures from fund; reversion of unobligated balance. (1) The Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund, separate and distinct from the General Fund, is established in the State Treasury. All moneys in the fund are appropriated continuously to the Department of Transportation for the purposes specified in this section. Interest received on moneys credited to the Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund shall accrue to and become part of the Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund.

(2) The Department of Transportation may expend moneys in the Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund to finance the preliminary engineering phase, final design phase, advanced right of way acquisition phase or construction and acquisition of equipment and facilities phase of projects for extensions to the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District’s light rail system, as designated in the Regional Transportation Plan adopted by the metropolitan service district in 1989, as amended from time to time. The Director of Transportation may enter into written agreements with the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District that commit the department to pay anticipated funds from the Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund to the district for the purpose of financing such costs of extending the district’s light rail system, including servicing any obligations entered into by the district to finance the costs of extending the district’s light rail system, which written agreements may provide for the remittance of such funds on such periodic basis, in such amounts, over such period of years and with such priority over other commitments of such funds as the director shall specify in the commitment. Any such written agreements or commitments, when executed by the director and accepted by the district, shall be solely conditioned upon actual funds available in the Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund and shall be valid, binding and irrevocable in accordance with its terms, subject only to the requirements of subsection (3) of this section. The extensions to the light rail system for which projects may be authorized and financed from the Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund include:

(a) The Westside corridor.

(b) The Interstate 5 North corridor.

(c) The Interstate 205 corridor.

(d) The Milwaukie corridor.

(e) The Barbur corridor.

(f) The Lake Oswego corridor.

(g) Appropriate branches to the Banfield corridor.

(h) Appropriate branches to the corridors specified in paragraphs (a) to (f) of this subsection.

(3) Notwithstanding any written agreement entered into by the Director of Transportation under subsection (2) of this section, no moneys shall be expended from the Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund for the preliminary engineering phase, final design phase, advanced right of way acquisition phase or construction and acquisition phase of projects unless the Director of Transportation determines:

(a) That all state and local approvals are in place for the phase of the specific project for which funding is being sought;

(b) That assurances are in place for obtaining all moneys, other than moneys for which the determination is being made, necessary to enable completion of the phase of the specific project for which funding is being sought and that the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District has agreed to provide an amount of money equal to that being provided by the Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund for the phase of the specific project for which money is being sought;

(c) With respect to the phase of the specific project for which funding is being sought, that the body of local officials and state agency representatives designated by the metropolitan service district which functions wholly or partially within the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District and known as the Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation has certified that the phase of the specific project is a regional priority; and

(d) With respect to construction phases of any project, the elements of the project that are designated for state participation and an estimated total amount of the state’s funding obligation.

(4) When the actual expenditures for a phase of a specific light rail project fall short of the estimated expenditures for the project, those moneys, other than federal moneys, that are not required for that phase of the project shall remain in the Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund for use in completing other projects described in subsection (2) of this section.

(5) On or before August 31 in each year, the Director of Transportation shall certify to the Governor and the State Treasurer whether or not there existed, as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year, an unobligated balance of moneys in the Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund that was derived from the moneys required to be transferred to the Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund under ORS 391.130. If the Director of Transportation certifies that there existed such an unobligated balance of moneys derived from the moneys required to be transferred to the Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund under ORS 391.130, an amount equal to the unobligated balance as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year shall revert to the Administrative Services Economic Development Fund created by ORS 461.540, and the State Treasurer shall credit such amount to that fund on or before the September 15 next following the date of the certification by the Director of Transportation.

(6) The Director of Transportation shall certify the unobligated balance of the Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund, and that unobligated balance shall revert to the Administrative Services Economic Development Fund created by ORS 461.540 if the Director of Transportation determines that all projects referred to in subsection (2) of this section have been completed and the projects have been accepted by the Director of Transportation and all claims, suits and actions arising out of the projects have been resolved.

(7) For purposes of subsections (5) and (6) of this section, moneys in the Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund derived from the moneys required to be transferred to the Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund under ORS 391.130 shall be obligated to the extent such moneys are needed to fund the amounts committed to be paid in the current or any future fiscal year under any written agreement or commitment entered into by the Director of Transportation under subsection (2) of this section or to pay any amounts owing under or with respect to any revenue bonds issued under ORS 391.140.

(8) The Department of Transportation may deduct from the Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund the costs associated with administering the fund. [1989 c.868 §3; 1991 c.575 §6]

391.125 Regional Light Rail Extension Bond Account; purpose. (1) The Regional Light Rail Extension Bond Account is created as a separate and distinct subaccount in the Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund. In each fiscal year in which any amounts of principal or interest are due and payable on any revenue bonds issued under ORS 391.140, the Director of Transportation shall cause to be transferred from the Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund to the Regional Light Rail Extension Bond Account an amount, which, when added to the moneys on deposit in the account that are available to be used for such purpose, shall be sufficient to pay when due all amounts of principal and interest coming due on such bonds in that fiscal year.

(2) All moneys on deposit from time to time in the Regional Light Rail Extension Bond Account, together with all investment earnings thereon, shall be pledged and are continuously appropriated to the payment of the bonds issued under ORS 391.140. All investment earnings on moneys on deposit from time to time in the Regional Light Rail Extension Bond Account shall be retained in that account and applied to pay the principal of and interest on bonds issued under ORS 391.140. [1991 c.575 §3]

391.130 Allocation of lottery moneys to Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund; authorized expenditures; end of allocations upon certification by Director of Transportation. (1) In each fiscal year beginning with the fiscal year commencing July 1, 1991, there is allocated, from the Administrative Services Economic Development Fund created by ORS 461.540, the amount of $8 million. However, commencing with the first fiscal year next following the fiscal year in which bonds are first issued under ORS 391.140, there shall be allocated from such fund the amount of $10 million in each fiscal year. In each fiscal year after bonds are first issued, the Director of Transportation shall certify any funds allotted in excess of amounts necessary to pay the annual debt service on the outstanding bonds and to fund the amounts committed to be paid in the current or any future fiscal year under any written agreement or commitment entered into by the Director of Transportation pursuant to ORS 391.120 (2). The certified amount shall immediately be returned to the Administrative Services Economic Development Fund. All amounts allocated under this section shall be transferred to the Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund established by ORS 391.120.

(2) The annual amounts required to be transferred to the Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund under subsection (1) of this section, together with all investment earnings on the amounts on deposit from time to time in the Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund, are continuously appropriated only for the purposes of:

(a) Funding the Westside corridor extension of light rail referred to in ORS 391.120; and

(b) Paying the principal and interest on revenue bonds issued under ORS 391.140.

(3) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, and notwithstanding any other provision of law, the annual allocation made by this section shall be satisfied and credited as and when net proceeds from the operation of the state lottery are received and before any other allocation, appropriation or disbursement of the net proceeds from the operation of the state lottery is made in the applicable fiscal year.

(4) For purposes of this section, net proceeds from the operation of the state lottery in each fiscal year include all revenues derived from the operation of the state lottery in each fiscal year less:

(a) The revenues used in that fiscal year for the payment of prizes and the expenses of the state lottery as provided in section 4 (4)(d), Article XV of the Oregon Constitution, ORS 461.500 (2) and 461.510 (3) and (4); and

(b) The revenues required to be applied, distributed or allocated as provided in ORS 461.543.

(5) The transfer of moneys to the Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund authorized by this section shall cease when the Director of Transportation certifies in writing that transfers of moneys under this section are no longer necessary because:

(a) Moneys in the Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund are sufficient for the payment of all amounts committed to be paid under all written agreements or commitments entered into between the Director of Transportation and the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District pursuant to ORS 391.120 with respect to the Westside corridor extension of light rail referred to in ORS 391.120 (2)(a), and to pay all amounts of principal of and interest on the outstanding revenue bonds issued under ORS 391.140; and

(b) The Westside corridor extension of light rail referred to in ORS 391.120 (2)(a) has been completed and such project has been accepted by the Department of Transportation, and all claims, suits and actions arising out of such project that could create a liability payable out of the moneys in the Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund have been resolved.

(6) The Director of Transportation shall deliver a copy of such certification to the Governor and the State Treasurer. Upon receipt of the director’s written certification that transfer of moneys to the Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund under this section is no longer necessary, the State Treasurer shall thereafter credit moneys received by the Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund under this section to the Administrative Services Economic Development Fund created by ORS 461.540. [1991 c.575 §2; 1993 c.18 §92; 1997 c.249 §124]

391.140 Revenue bonds for specified light rail project; amount; purpose; issuance by State Treasurer; pledge of revenues. (1) In accordance with any applicable provisions of ORS 286.010, 286.020, 286.105 to 286.135 and ORS chapter 288, the State Treasurer, at the request of the Director of Transportation, shall issue revenue bonds from time to time in an aggregate amount not to exceed:

(a) The principal sum of $115 million;

(b) The costs incurred in connection with the issuance of the bonds and other administrative expenses of the State Treasurer in connection with the issuance of the bonds; and

(c) The amount of any reserves determined to be necessary or advantageous in connection with the revenue bonds.

(2) The Director of Transportation shall submit to the State Treasurer from time to time written requests to issue the revenue bonds in amounts sufficient to provide in a timely fashion the moneys required to fund the obligations of the Department of Transportation under any written agreements or commitments entered into under ORS 391.120 (2) for the purpose of financing the state share of the costs of the Westside corridor light rail project identified in ORS 391.120 (2)(a).

(3) Moneys received from the issuance of revenue bonds, including any investment earnings thereon, may be expended only for the purpose of financing the costs of development, acquisition and construction of the Westside corridor light rail project identified in ORS 391.120 (2)(a), and to pay the costs of issuing the bonds and other administrative expenses of the State Treasurer in carrying out the provisions of ORS 391.120 and this section, including the funding of any reserves determined to be necessary or advantageous in connection with the revenue bonds.

(4) Notwithstanding ORS 288.825 or any other provision of law, revenue bonds issued under this section, regardless of whether issued in one or more issues, shall be secured equally and ratably by the pledge of moneys described in this subsection and ORS 391.130. The bonds shall be secured by a pledge of, and a lien on, and shall be secured and payable only from, moneys on deposit from time to time in the Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund established by ORS 391.120. The revenue bonds shall not be a general obligation of this state, and shall not be secured by or payable from any funds or assets of this state other than the moneys on deposit from time to time in the Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund.

(5) The moneys in the Regional Light Rail Extension Bond Account shall be used and applied by the Director of Transportation to pay when due the principal of and interest on any revenue bonds issued under this section.

(6) The interest on all revenue bonds issued under this section and on any refunding and advance refunding bonds issued under ORS 286.051 is exempt from personal income taxation imposed by this state under ORS chapter 316.

(7) The proceeds derived from the issuance and sale of the revenue bonds, including any proceeds required to fund any reserves determined to be necessary or advantageous in connection with the revenue bonds, shall be deposited in a special, segregated subaccount of the Regional Light Rail Extension Construction Fund. The moneys on deposit from time to time in the subaccount, including any investment earnings thereon, shall be disbursed as needed for the purposes described in subsection (3) of this section upon the written request of the Director of Transportation. [1991 c.575 §4]

391.150 Joint management of specified light rail project; contracting procedures. (1) The Department of Transportation and the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District shall jointly manage the construction phases of the Westside corridor light rail project. The final project management plans of the managing agencies shall provide that the district shall manage and oversee construction of the light rail right of way and facilities and that the department shall manage and oversee the construction of highway improvements related to the extension of the light rail system. The department and the district shall describe in a memorandum of understanding or grant agreement the functions and responsibilities assigned to each of the managing agencies and shall establish an organizational and management system for the project under which significant actions during the construction phase occur only with the knowledge of both of the managing agencies.

(2) Subject to ORS chapter 279 and any applicable prohibitions against preferences in contracts related to the construction phase of the Westside corridor light rail project, the managing agencies shall develop procedures that afford qualified businesses in Oregon the opportunity to compete for project contracts to the maximum extent feasible and consistent with federal laws and regulations governing Federal Transit Administration grants.

(3) The managing agencies shall seek the cooperation and assistance of contracting and construction associations in this state when establishing the contracting procedures for the Westside corridor light rail project. The managing agencies shall also establish and implement programs to provide contracting and construction businesses with information relating to the project.

(4) The managing agencies, to the maximum extent feasible, shall encourage disadvantaged business enterprises to bid for contracts and to otherwise participate in the Westside corridor light rail project. [1991 c.575 §5; 1993 c.741 §65]

391.160 [1995 s.s. c.3 §1; repealed by 1997 c.800 §23]

391.165 [1995 s.s. c.3 §2; 1997 c.249 §125; repealed by 1997 c.800 §23]

391.170 [1995 s.s. c.3 §3; repealed by 1997 c.800 §23]

391.175 [1995 s.s. c.3 §8; repealed by 1997 c.800 §23]

391.180 [1995 s.s. c.3 §6; repealed by 1997 c.800 §23]

391.185 [1995 s.s. c.3 §4; repealed by 1997 c.800 §23]

391.190 [1995 s.s. c.3 §5; repealed by 1997 c.800 §23]

391.195 [1995 s.s. c.3 §13; repealed by 1997 c.800 §23]

391.200 [1995 s.s. c.3 §7; repealed by 1997 c.800 §23]

391.205 [1995 s.s. c.3 §9; repealed by 1997 c.800 §23]

391.210 [1995 s.s. c.3 §11; repealed by 1997 c.800 §23]

391.215 [1995 s.s. c.3 §11a; repealed by 1997 c.800 §23]

391.220 [1995 s.s. c.3 §12; repealed by 1997 c.800 §23]

391.225 [1995 s.s. c.3 §14; repealed by 1997 c.800 §23]

391.230 [1995 s.s. c.3 §15; repealed by 1997 c.800 §23]

391.235 [1995 s.s. c.3 §16b; repealed by 1997 c.800 §23]

391.300 [1995 s.s. c.3 §32; repealed by 1996 c.13 §4]

COLUMBIA RIVER LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT COMPACT

391.301 Ratification of compact. The Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon hereby adopts and ratifies the Columbia River Light Rail Transit Compact set forth in ORS 391.306, and the provisions of the compact are hereby declared to be the law of this state upon such compact becoming effective as provided in Article XXII of the compact. [1996 c.13 §1]

391.305 [1995 s.s. c.3 §33; repealed by 1996 c.13 §4]

391.306 Columbia River Light Rail Transit Compact. The provisions of the Columbia River Light Rail Transit Compact are as follows:

______________________________________________________________________________

ARTICLE I

Columbia River Light Rail

Transit Authority Established

The States of Oregon and Washington establish by way of this interstate compact an independent, separate regional authority, which is an instrumentality of both of the signatory parties hereto, known as Columbia River Light Rail Transit Authority (hereinafter referred to as the "Authority"). The Authority shall be a body corporate and politic, and shall have only those powers and duties granted by this compact and such additional powers as may hereafter be conferred upon the Authority by the acts of both signatories.

ARTICLE II

Definitions

As used in this compact, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly requires a different meaning:

(1) "C-TRAN" means the Clark County Public Transportation Benefit Authority based in Clark County, Washington, or any successor agency or authority.

(2) "Major feeder system" means all bus or other transit services provided by C-TRAN or Tri-Met that are or are planned to be connected with the South North light rail transit line, to accommodate the transfer of passengers to or from the light rail line and to transport light rail passengers between the light rail station and their trip origin or trip destination.

(3) "Signatory" or "signatory state" means the State of Oregon or the State of Washington.

(4) "South North light rail transit line" means the light rail line directly connecting portions of Clackamas County, Oregon, Portland, Oregon and Clark County, Washington as may be extended from time to time, including any segment thereof, and also including, without limitation, all light rail vehicles, rights-of-way, trackage, electrification, stations, park-and-ride facilities, maintenance facilities, tunnels, bridges and equipment, fixtures, buildings and structures incidental to or required in connection with the performance of light rail service between portions of Clackamas County, Oregon, Portland, Oregon and Clark County, Washington. The South North light rail transit line shall include a system that comprises any future light rail lines and transit facilities that cross the jurisdictional lines of the signatory states.

(5) "Transit facilities" means all real and personal property necessary or useful in rendering transit service by means of rail, bus, water and any other mode of travel including, without limitation, tracks, rights of way, bridges, tunnels, subways, rolling stock for rail, motor vehicles, stations, terminals, areas for parking and all equipment, fixtures, buildings and structures and services incidental to or required in connection with the performance of transit service.

(6) "Transit service" means the transportation of persons and their packages and baggage by C-TRAN, Tri-Met or the Authority by means of transit facilities.

(7) "Tri-Met" means the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District based in Portland, Oregon, or any successor agency or authority.

ARTICLE III

Purpose and Functions

The purpose of the Authority is:

(1) To generally cause the South North light rail transit line to be designed, engineered, financed, constructed and developed consistently with the applicable regional transportation and land use plans and the locally preferred alternative selected pursuant to regulations of the Federal Transit Administration or the regulations of any successor federal agency or authority;

(2) To facilitate the operation and maintenance of the South North light rail transit line;

(3) To coordinate C-TRAN and Tri-Met activities to implement and operate the major feeder system that serves the South North light rail transit line;

(4) To coordinate C-TRAN and Tri-Met activities to implement and operate buses or other transit facilities that serve bi-state trips; and

(5) To serve only such other regional transit purposes and to perform such other regional transit functions as the signatories may authorize.

ARTICLE IV

Powers

The Authority has the power to:

(1) Sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded in all actions, suits or proceedings, brought by or against it.

(2) Adopt suitable rules and regulations not inconsistent with this compact, the Constitution and laws of the United States or the constitutions and laws of the signatories. The Authority may adopt rules and regulations that:

(a) Govern its activities;

(b) Add specificity to its powers and duties;

(c) Interpret legislation that is applicable to the Authority; and

(d) Resolve inconsistencies resulting from the application of the laws and regulations of both signatories.

(3) Acquire, maintain, control, and convey easements, licenses, and other limited property rights for the purpose of constructing the South North light rail transit line. However, the Authority shall not have the power to own real property.

(4) Receive and accept federal, state, regional or local payments, appropriations, grants, gifts, loans, advances, credit enhancements, credit guarantees and other funds, properties and services as may be transferred or made available to the Authority by either signatory, any political subdivision or agency thereof, by the United States, or by any agency thereof, or by any other public or private corporation or individual. Any funds received by the Authority from any source may be commingled and expended to carry out the purposes and functions of the Authority without regard to any law of the signatories that requires expenditure of appropriated funds within the fiscal period for which the appropriation is made.

(5) Disburse funds for its lawful activities and to make grants or loans to C-TRAN or Tri-Met.

(6) Enter into agreements with:

(a) C-TRAN or Tri-Met to provide planning, engineering, design, administration, construction management or other services needed for the development of the South North light rail transit line;

(b) C-TRAN, Tri-Met or, except with regard to matters specified in paragraph (a) of this subsection, private entities for the construction of the South North light rail transit line;

(c) C-TRAN, Tri-Met or, except with regard to matters specified in paragraph (a) of this subsection, private entities for the construction of bridges over or tunnels under navigable streams and bodies of water to be owned individually or jointly by the States of Oregon and Washington;

(d) C-TRAN or Tri-Met for the management, operation, and maintenance of the South North light rail transit line;

(e) C-TRAN or Tri-Met providing for acquisition by C-TRAN, Tri-Met or other public entities of the property rights needed for the South North light rail transit line and related activities;

(f) C-TRAN, Tri-Met or private entities to purchase, lease or otherwise acquire the materials, equipment and vehicles needed for the construction and implementation of the South North light rail transit line; and

(g) C-TRAN or Tri-Met to implement the decisions of the Authority.

(7) Delegate any of its powers and duties to any political subdivision or governmental agency.

(8) Resolve any disputes between C-TRAN and Tri-Met over the operation of the South North light rail transit line or the major feeder system. However, the Authority shall not have the power to require from C-TRAN and Tri-Met capital improvements to the South North light rail transit line or the major feeder system.

(9) To the extent allowed by law, encourage, assist and facilitate public and private development along the South North light rail transit line.

(10) Perform all other necessary and incidental functions.

(11) Exercise such additional powers as shall be conferred on it by Act of the federal Congress or jointly by the signatories.

ARTICLE V

Board Membership

The Authority shall be governed by a board of six directors consisting of three members of the C-TRAN governing body and three members of the Tri-Met governing body. Directors representing C-TRAN and Tri-Met shall be appointed by their respective governing bodies.

ARTICLE VI

Terms of Office

Board members shall serve terms of four years, unless terminated earlier by the governing body of the appointing transit agency.

ARTICLE VII

Compensation of Directors

The directors shall serve without compensation. The directors may be reimbursed for the necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties pursuant to adopted policies of the transit agency that appointed them.

ARTICLE VIII

Organization and Procedure

The board of directors of the Authority shall by rule provide for its own organization and procedure. It shall biennially elect a chairperson from among its directors who shall serve a term of two years subject to earlier removal by a vote of four directors. Meetings of the board shall be held as frequently as the board deems that the proper performance of its duties requires, and the board shall keep minutes of its meetings. The board shall adopt rules and regulations governing its meetings, minutes and transactions.

ARTICLE IX

Staff

The Authority shall not have the power to hire administrative staff. Administrative staff support shall be provided by C-TRAN and Tri-Met by intergovernmental agreement.

ARTICLE X

Quorum and Actions by the Board

Four directors shall constitute a quorum. No action by the board shall be effective unless there is an affirmative vote of a majority of those present.

ARTICLE XI

Conflicts of Interest

(1) No director shall:

(a) Be financially interested, either directly or indirectly, in any contract, sale, purchase, lease or transfer of real or personal property to which the board of directors of the Authority is party;

(b) In connection with services performed within the scope of official duties, solicit or accept money or any other thing of value in addition to the expenses paid to the director by the Authority; or

(c) Offer money or any other thing of value for or in consideration of obtaining an appointment, promotion or privilege in employment with the Authority.

(2) Any director who willfully violates any provision of this section shall, in the discretion of the board, forfeit the office of the director. Any contract or agreement made in contravention of this section may be declared void by the board. Nothing in this section shall be considered to abrogate or limit the applicability of any federal or state law that may be violated by any action proscribed by this section.

ARTICLE XII

Financial Plans and Reports

The board of directors of the authority shall make and publish, as necessary, financial plans and detailed annual budgets for the construction, operation and maintenance of the South North light rail transit line, including a Sources of Funds plan. The board may also prepare, publish and distribute such other public reports and informational materials as it may deem necessary or desirable.

ARTICLE XIII

Operation and Maintenance Costs

(1) The Authority shall annually determine the amount of the South North light rail transit line’s operating and maintenance costs and the Authority’s administrative costs that shall be contributed to the Authority by C-TRAN and Tri-Met. The amount to be collected from C-TRAN and Tri-Met shall be based upon all relevant factors, including but not limited to, ridership origination and destination and relative usage of the South North light rail transit line.

(2) After establishing the amount to be allocated to C-TRAN and Tri-Met, the Authority shall levy an annual assessment on C-TRAN and Tri-Met for the purpose of financing the management, administration, operation, maintenance, repair, expansion, and related activities for facilities, equipment, systems or improvements included in the South North light rail transit line.

ARTICLE XIV

Capital Contributions

(1) The Authority shall enter into a financing plan agreement with C-TRAN, Tri-Met and any private entities providing construction financing for the South North light rail transit line or any segment thereof, which agreement shall establish a financing plan for the construction phases of the South North light rail transit line, including each segment thereof. The financing plan agreement shall specify the obligations of each party to pay a portion of the construction costs of the South North light rail transit line, including the estimated total construction costs, the percentage share of each party of the total construction costs, the estimated schedule for the payment of each party’s percentage share and the planned source of funds from which each party intends to fund its share of the total construction costs. The financing plan agreement, among other matters, may:

(a) Separately specify each party’s obligation for each segment of the South North light rail transit line;

(b) Limit the liability of C-TRAN and Tri-Met to particular funding sources identified in the financing plan agreement;

(c) Make provisions for any interim financing, credit enhancements or guarantees to be provided by C-TRAN, Tri-Met or any other parties in order to supply the funds needed to construct the South North light rail transit line in accordance with the construction schedule established in the financing plan agreement; or

(d) Provide that all or a portion of one party’s obligations shall be satisfied by making payments to another party to the agreement in order to pay or reimburse the construction or financing costs incurred by the payee.

(2) The financing plan agreement shall provide that C-TRAN and Tri-Met shall each retain full power and authority to pledge their respective sources of funds as security for any bonds, notes or other obligations issued thereby, and for any credit enhancements obtained in connection with any such bonds, notes or other obligations, in order to provide interim or permanent financing for the construction costs of the South North light rail transit line. The financing plan agreement shall not in any way or to any extent create a pledge of or a lien or encumbrance on any funds of C-TRAN or Tri-Met.

(3) C-TRAN and Tri-Met singly or together shall enter into one or more Full Funding Grant Agreements with the Federal Transit Administration, or its successor, to establish the federal funding commitment for the South North light rail transit line, or any segments thereof, and the terms and conditions for obtaining the federal funds. The Authority shall cause the South North light rail transit line, and each segment thereof, to be designed, engineered and constructed in a manner consistent with the applicable Full Funding Grant Agreement, applicable state laws and the terms and conditions of the financing plan agreement.

(4) The financing plan agreement may be amended from time to time by the Authority, C-TRAN and Tri-Met to the extent such parties determine any amendment is necessary or beneficial. Any such amendment shall require the consent of any private entity that is a party to the financing plan agreement only if and to the extent such consent is required under the terms of the financing plan agreement.

ARTICLE XV

Indemnification

(1) C-TRAN shall hold Tri-Met and the Authority harmless and indemnify Tri-Met and the Authority for any and all liability, settlements, losses, costs, damages and expenses in connection with any action, suit or claim resulting from C-TRAN’s negligent errors, omissions or acts in carrying out the purposes of this compact.

(2) Tri-Met shall hold C-TRAN and the Authority harmless and indemnify C-TRAN and the Authority for any and all liability, settlements, losses, costs, damages and expenses in connection with any action, suit or claim resulting from Tri-Met’s negligent errors, omissions or acts in carrying out the purposes of this compact.

(3) The Authority shall hold C-TRAN and Tri-Met harmless and indemnify C-TRAN and Tri-Met for any and all liability, settlements, losses, costs, damages and expenses in connection with any action, suit or claim resulting from the Authority’s negligent errors, omissions or acts in carrying out the purposes of this compact.

ARTICLE XVI

Fares

Fares will be established and collected by C-TRAN and Tri-Met for trips originating within their respective districts. Payment of those fares will be honored by the Authority as payment for passage on the South North light rail transit line.

ARTICLE XVII

Insurance

The board of directors of the Authority may self-insure or purchase insurance and pay the premiums therefor against loss or damage, against liability for injury to persons or property and against loss of revenue from any cause whatsoever. Such insurance coverage shall be in such form and amount as the board may determine, subject to the requirements of any agreement or other obligations of the Authority.

ARTICLE XVIII

Tax Exemption

(1) It is hereby declared that the creation of the Authority and the carrying out of the purposes of the Authority is in all respects for the benefit of all people of the signatory states. It is further declared that the Authority and the board of directors are performing a public purpose and an essential government function, including, without limitation, proprietary, governmental and other functions, in the exercise of the powers conferred by this compact. Therefore, the Authority and the board of directors shall not be required to pay taxes or assessments upon any of the property under its jurisdiction, control, possession or supervision or upon its activities in the operation and maintenance of the South North light rail transit line or upon any revenues therefrom.

(2) When C-TRAN or Tri-Met, acting under an agreement with the Authority pursuant to Article IV of this compact, possesses or controls property or conducts activities in the operation and maintenance of the South North light rail transit line:

(a) C-TRAN and Tri-Met shall remain subject to the tax laws of their respective states with respect to such property located, or activities conducted, within their respective states;

(b) C-TRAN shall be subject to the tax laws of the State of Oregon with respect to such property located, or activities conducted, in Oregon only to the extent Tri-Met would be subject to those laws if Tri-Met rather than C-TRAN possessed or controlled the property or conducted the activity; and

(c) Tri-Met shall be subject to the tax laws of the State of Washington with respect to such property located, or activities conducted, in Washington only to the extent C-TRAN would be subject to those laws if C-TRAN rather than Tri-Met possessed or controlled the property or conducted the activity.

ARTICLE XIX

Applicable Laws

The Authority shall be both subject to and exempt from certain laws of the States of Oregon and Washington as concurred in by the legislature of each state, respectively. Where the laws of the States of Oregon and Washington are not made inapplicable to the Authority by legislative action, the laws of the respective states will continue to apply to activities occurring within each state’s geographical boundaries. However, the following laws shall apply generally to the Authority regardless of the state in which the activities governed by the laws occur. The following laws shall govern exclusively the matters they address, and the provisions of corresponding or analogous laws of either signatory shall have no effect:

(1) Federal Administrative Procedures Act (5 U.S.C. 500 et seq.), as amended from time to time, or any successor legislation;

(2) Federal Miller Act (40 U.S.C. 270a et seq.), as amended from time to time, or any successor legislation;

(3) Federal prevailing wage law (40 U.S.C. 276a et seq.), as amended from time to time, or any successor legislation;

(4) Federal rules on disadvantaged business enterprises (49 C.F.R. Part 23), as amended from time to time, or any successor legislation;

(5) Federal competitive bidding laws (41 U.S.C. 251 et seq.), as amended from time to time, or any successor legislation; and

(6) ORS 30.260 to 30.300 (1993 Edition).

ARTICLE XX

Jurisdiction of Courts

(1) The United States District Courts shall have original jurisdiction, concurrent with the courts of Oregon and Washington, of all actions brought by or against the Authority and shall enforce subpoenas issued under this Compact. Any such action initiated in a state court shall be removable to the appropriate United States District Court in the manner provided by the Act of June 25, 1948, as amended (28 U.S.C. 1446).

(2) All laws or parts of laws of the United States and of the signatory states that are inconsistent with the provisions of this compact are hereby amended for the purpose of this compact to the extent necessary to eliminate such inconsistencies and to carry out the provisions of this compact.

ARTICLE XXI

Severability

If any provision of this compact, or its application to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid, all other provisions of this compact, and the application of all of its provisions to all other persons and circumstances, shall remain valid and to this end, the provisions of this compact are severable.

ARTICLE XXII

Effective Date

This compact shall take effect, and the board of the Authority may exercise its authority pursuant to the compact when it has been ratified by the federal Congress and adopted by both signatories, and the six directors of the board have been appointed. The effective date of this compact shall be the date of the establishment of the board of directors of the Authority.

______________________________________________________________________________

[1996 c.13 §2]

391.310 [1995 s.s. c.3 §34; repealed by 1996 c.13 §4]

391.311 Effect of compact on powers and privileges of mass transit districts in Oregon and Washington. (1) A mass transit district established under ORS 267.010 to 267.390, when operating under the authority or direction of the Columbia River Light Rail Transit Authority established under the Columbia River Light Rail Transit Compact ratified by ORS 391.301, retains all the rights, powers, privileges and immunities conferred upon the district by ORS 267.010 to 267.390 to the extent that those rights, powers, privileges and immunities are consistent with the provisions of the Columbia River Light Rail Transit Compact.

(2) A mass transit agency organized under the laws of the State of Washington, when operating in Oregon under the authority or direction of the Columbia River Light Rail Transit Authority established under the Columbia River Light Rail Transit Compact ratified by ORS 391.301, may exercise all of the rights, powers, privileges and immunities conferred upon a mass transit district by ORS 267.010 to 267.390 to the extent that those rights, powers, privileges and immunities are consistent with the provisions of the Columbia River Light Rail Transit Compact. [1996 c.13 §3]

SOUTH METRO COMMUTER RAIL PROJECT

Note: Sections 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22, chapter 942, Oregon Laws 2001, provide:

Sec. 18. As used in sections 18 to 22 of this 2001 Act:

(1) "Residual lottery revenues" means the unobligated net lottery proceeds as defined in ORS 286.560 that remain in each fiscal year after:

(a) Payment of debt service due in that fiscal year on all bonds secured by the revenues of the lottery, and issued on parity with lottery bonds outstanding on the effective date of this 2001 Act [August 9, 2001]; and

(b) Payment of costs related to those lottery bonds.

(2) "South Metro Commuter Rail Project" or "project" means the acquisition, construction, installation and procurement of all components of an approximately 15-mile commuter rail line connecting Wilsonville, Tualatin, Tigard and Beaverton, or segments thereof. [2001 c.942 §18]

Sec. 19. (1)(a) For the biennium beginning July 1, 2001, the State Treasurer is authorized to issue lottery bonds pursuant to ORS 286.560 to 286.580 in the amount of $200,000 for payment of the expenses of the Department of Transportation in entering into and administering a grant agreement under section 21 (3) of this 2001 Act for the South Metro Commuter Rail Project, plus an additional amount to be estimated by the State Treasurer for payment of bond-related costs of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services, the Department of Transportation and the State Treasurer.

(b) For the biennium beginning July 1, 2001, the State Treasurer is authorized to issue lottery bonds pursuant to ORS 286.560 to 286.580 in the amount of $20 million for payment of the expenses of Washington County for the South Metro Commuter Rail Project, plus an additional amount to be estimated by the State Treasurer for payment of bond-related costs of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services, the Department of Transportation and the State Treasurer.

(c) For the biennium beginning July 1, 2003, the State Treasurer is authorized to issue lottery bonds pursuant to ORS 286.560 to 286.580 in the amount of $200,000 for payment of the expenses of the Department of Transportation in administering a grant agreement under section 21 (3) of this 2001 Act for the South Metro Commuter Rail Project, plus an additional amount to be estimated by the State Treasurer for payment of bond-related costs of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services, the Department of Transportation and the State Treasurer.

(d) For the biennium beginning July 1, 2003, the State Treasurer is authorized to issue lottery bonds pursuant to ORS 286.560 to 286.580 in the amount of $15 million for payment of the expenses of Washington County for the South Metro Commuter Rail Project, plus an additional amount to be estimated by the State Treasurer for payment of bond-related costs of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services, the Department of Transportation and the State Treasurer.

(2) Lottery bonds issued under this section shall be issued at the request of the Director of Transportation.

(3)(a) Net proceeds of lottery bonds issued under subsection (1)(a) and (b) of this section, in the amount of $20.2 million, shall be deposited in the South Metro Commuter Rail Project Fund established by section 21 of this 2001 Act not later than June 30, 2003.

(b) Net proceeds of lottery bonds issued under subsection (1)(c) and (d) of this section, in the amount of $15.2 million, shall be deposited in the South Metro Commuter Rail Project Fund established by section 21 of this 2001 Act not later than June 30, 2004.

(4) The bond-related costs of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services, the Department of Transportation and the State Treasurer for the lottery bonds authorized by this section shall be paid from the gross proceeds of those lottery bonds and from allocations for the purposes of ORS 286.576 (1)(c). [2001 c.942 §19]

Sec. 20. The Legislative Assembly finds that:

(1) The development, acquisition, construction and operation of the South Metro Commuter Rail Project will accomplish the purpose of creating jobs and furthering economic development in Oregon because:

(a) Construction and operation of the South Metro Commuter Rail will reduce traffic congestion on existing highways and roads, improving the attractiveness of the metropolitan area to new businesses and supporting the operations and prosperity of existing businesses;

(b) Construction and operation of the South Metro Commuter Rail will reduce the cost and time required for family wage earners to commute to work, permitting more of Oregon’s work force to obtain jobs for which they are qualified; and

(c) Authorization for the issuance of lottery bonds for the South Metro Commuter Rail Project will increase the likelihood of federal funding for the project and add new revenues that will directly benefit Oregon’s construction industry.

(2) The factors described in subsection (1) of this section will encourage and promote economic development within the State of Oregon, and issuance of lottery bonds to finance the South Metro Commuter Rail Project is therefore an appropriate use of state lottery funds under section 4, Article XV of the Oregon Constitution, and ORS 461.510. [2001 c.942 §20]

Sec. 21. (1) The South Metro Commuter Rail Project Fund is established separate and distinct from the General Fund. The moneys in the South Metro Commuter Rail Project Fund and the interest earnings of the fund are continuously appropriated to the Department of Transportation for the purpose described in subsection (2) of this section. The fund shall consist of moneys deposited in the fund under section 19 of this 2001 Act and may include fees, moneys or other revenues available for payment of expenses of the South Metro Commuter Rail Project, including federal funds collected or received as reimbursement for expenses of the project from the United States Department of Transportation or the Federal Highway Administration under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (P.L. 105-178), or Miscellaneous Receipts.

(2) Subject to subsection (3) of this section, moneys in the fund shall be available for immediate distribution to Washington County to pay the expenses of the project.

(3)(a) The Director of Transportation shall enter into a grant agreement by February 28, 2002, with Washington County that requires the department to disburse, over the course of the project, an aggregate amount of $35 million to Washington County from the fund. Disbursements from the fund shall be made as soon as deposits accrue in the fund and shall commence when:

(A) Moneys are available;

(B) Washington County has entered into one or more contracts for final design, construction or acquisition of components of the South Metro Commuter Rail Project and the contracts have an aggregate value of at least $20 million; and

(C) The Director of Transportation determines that the following conditions have occurred:

(i) Washington County has provided documentation that it will have sufficient financing to complete the project; and

(ii) Washington County has agreed in the grant agreement authorized by this section that the county will not request or accept any state General Fund moneys for the project. Upon completion of the project, if the aggregate expenditure of state and local moneys is less than $60 million, Washington County shall refund the difference to the fund established by this section.

(b) Upon satisfaction of the conditions described in paragraph (a) of this subsection, the Department of Transportation shall disburse $20 million of the moneys in the fund to Washington County in the biennium beginning July 1, 2001.

(c) When moneys are available in the fund and Washington County certifies to the Department of Transportation that it has entered into one or more contracts for final design, construction or acquisition of components of the project that in the aggregate represent at least 58 percent of the project’s costs, the department shall disburse $15 million of the moneys in the fund to Washington County in the biennium beginning July 1, 2003.

(d)(A) Of the moneys deposited in the fund in the biennium beginning July 1, 2001, the Department of Transportation may use $200,000 to pay the department’s expenses in entering into and administering the grant agreement authorized by this section.

(B) Of the moneys deposited in the fund in the biennium beginning July 1, 2003, the Department of Transportation may use $200,000 to pay the department’s expenses in entering into and administering the grant agreement authorized by this subsection.

(4)(a) The state is not liable to the lenders, vendors or contractors of Washington County for any action or omission under sections 18 to 22 of this 2001 Act or the grant agreement authorized by this section, except for a failure to allocate and deposit to the fund amounts required by section 19 of this 2001 Act or to disburse from the fund to Washington County amounts required by this section and the grant agreement authorized by this section.

(b) The grant agreement must:

(A) Obligate the department to deposit the net proceeds of lottery bonds described in section 19 of this 2001 Act or, if necessary, the amounts described in section 22 of this 2001 Act into the fund.

(B) Obligate Washington County to indemnify the state and its agencies and departments to the fullest extent permitted by law for any liability the state or its agencies and departments might incur in connection with any borrowing by Washington County for the project, except failure to allocate and deposit to the fund amounts required by section 19 of this 2001 Act or amounts described in section 22 of this 2001 Act or to disburse from the fund to Washington County amounts required by this section and the grant agreement authorized by this section.

(c) Washington County may assign and pledge its rights under the grant agreement to lenders, vendors or contractors. The Director of Transportation shall pledge the moneys available in the fund for the project. [2001 c.942 §21]

Sec. 22. If the state has not deposited an aggregate amount of $35 million in the South Metro Commuter Rail Project Fund by June 30, 2004, the state shall allocate to the Department of Transportation for deposit in the South Metro Commuter Rail Project Fund an amount equal to the difference between $35 million and the aggregate deposits to the fund as of June 30, 2004, from the first available residual lottery revenues. [2001 c.942 §22]

MASS TRANSPORTATION FINANCING AUTHORITY

391.500 Declaration of policy; construction of statutes. (1) The Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon finds and declares that:

(a) It is in the public interest to provide methods of financing the costs of mass transit facilities; and

(b) The method of financing provided in ORS 267.227 and 391.500 to 391.660 is in the public interest and serves a public purpose.

(2) The purpose of ORS 267.227 and 391.500 to 391.660 is to create an authority to provide financial assistance to mass transit districts.

(3) ORS 267.227 and 391.500 to 391.660 shall be liberally construed. [1977 c.662 §2]

391.510 Definitions for ORS 391.500 to 391.660. As used in ORS 267.227 and 391.500 to 391.660, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) "Acquire" or "acquisition" means the acquisition, by purchase, lease, gift, grant, devise, construction, installation, reconstruction, repair and alteration, and the equipment, improvement and extension of mass transit facilities.

(2) "Authority" means the Oregon Mass Transportation Financing Authority created by ORS 267.227 and 391.500 to 391.660.

(3) "Board" means the members of the authority created in ORS 391.520.

(4) "District" means a mass transit district established under ORS 267.010 to 267.390.

(5) "Finance" or "financing" means the issuance of revenue bonds pursuant to ORS 391.570 by the authority for the purpose of providing financial assistance to districts.

(6) "Financial assistance" means the providing of methods of financing of costs of mass transit facilities under ORS 267.227 and 391.500 to 391.660.

(7) "Mass transit facility" or "facilities" means any or all property constituting a mass transit system, or any portion thereof, in any manner owned, used, leased or operated by a district and which is located wherever a district is authorized to operate. [1977 c.662 §3]

391.520 Financing authority created; membership. The Oregon Mass Transportation Financing Authority is hereby created as a public instrumentality of the State of Oregon and the exercise by the authority of the powers conferred by ORS 267.227 and 391.500 to 391.660 is the performance of an essential public function. The authority shall consist of the chairperson of the Oregon Transportation Commission, the State Treasurer, or designee, the chairperson of the Oregon Investment Council, or designee, and a representative designated by the board of directors of each district. [1977 c.662 §4]

391.530 Meetings; quorum; expenses. The members shall select a chairperson from among themselves and may select such other officers as they consider necessary. Any member may call a meeting of the board. A majority of the members of the Oregon Mass Transportation Financing Authority shall constitute a quorum for all purposes. Members of the authority shall receive no compensation for services but shall be entitled to the necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties. [1977 c.662 §5]

391.540 Bylaws; secretary’s duties, power. The Oregon Mass Transportation Financing Authority may adopt and amend appropriate bylaws for the regulation of its affairs and the conduct of its business and may elect a secretary who need not be a member. The secretary shall perform such duties as the board shall designate and may give certificates under the official seal of the authority, and all persons dealing with the authority may rely on such certificates. [1977 c.662 §6]

391.550 Powers of Mass Transportation Financing Authority. The Oregon Mass Transportation Financing Authority shall have the following powers together with all powers incidental thereto or necessary for the performance thereof:

(1) To have perpetual succession as a public instrumentality of the State of Oregon;

(2) To sue and be sued and to prosecute and defend, at law or in equity, in any court having jurisdiction of the subject matter and of the parties;

(3) To have and to use a corporate seal and to alter the same at pleasure;

(4) To maintain an office at such place or places as it may designate;

(5) To acquire, own, finance, lease and dispose of any mass transit facility and to enter into contracts for any and all of such purposes; provided, that title to or in any mass transit facility so financed may in the discretion of the authority remain in a district and provided, further, that the district shall not itself operate any mass transit facility, except as lessor;

(6) To lease or sell to a district any or all of the mass transit facilities upon such terms and conditions as the board shall deem proper, and to charge and collect rent or other payments therefor and to terminate any such lease or sales agreement upon the failure of the district to comply with any of the obligations thereof; and to include in any such lease, if desired, provisions that the district shall have options to renew the term of the lease for such period or periods and at such rent as shall be determined by the board or to purchase any or all of the mass transit facilities for a nominal amount or otherwise or that at or prior to the payment of all of the indebtedness incurred by the authority for the financing of such mass transit facilities the authority may convey any or all of the mass transit facilities to the district with or without consideration;

(7) By resolution of a majority of the members of the authority, to issue bonds in the aggregate principal sum of not to exceed $250 million par value for any of its corporate purposes and to refund the same, subject to the provisions of ORS 267.227 and 391.500 to 391.660;

(8) To employ or to contract with other state or municipal agencies for such employees and agents as may be necessary in its judgment;

(9) To receive and accept from any public agency loans or grants for aid in the acquisition of any mass transit facility and any portion thereof, and to receive and accept grants, gifts or other contributions from any source;

(10) To refund outstanding obligations incurred by any district including obligations incurred, undertaken or completed prior to or after October 4, 1977;

(11) To receive and to pledge as security for the payment of any bonds issued under ORS 267.227 and 391.500 to 391.660, any lease, purchase agreement, note, bond or other obligation by or on behalf of any district;

(12) To make loans to any district for the purpose of providing financial assistance to such district in accordance with an agreement between the authority and such district; and

(13) To do all things necessary and convenient to carry out the purpose of ORS 267.227 and 391.500 to 391.660. [1977 c.662 §7; 1983 c.306 §1]

391.560 Lease terms for facility financed by bonds. Any lease of a mass transit facility entered into pursuant to the provisions of ORS 267.227 and 391.500 to 391.660 shall be for a term not shorter than the longest maturity of any bonds issued to finance such mass transit facility or a portion thereof and shall provide for income, revenues and rentals from all sources pledged to the payment of such bonds adequate to pay the principal, interest and premiums, if any, on such bonds as the same fall due and to create and maintain such reserves and accounts for depreciation, if any, as the board in its discretion shall determine to be necessary. [1977 c.662 §8]

391.570 Bonds; form; conditions; issuance; refunding. (1) Bonds may be issued as serial bonds or as term bonds or a combination of both types. The board may provide that such bonds:

(a) May be executed and delivered by the Oregon Mass Transportation Financing Authority at any time and from time to time in such amounts including all necessary and incidental expenses, together with all necessary initial bond and interest reserves and applicable interest during the period of acquisition;

(b) May be in such form and denominations and of such terms and maturities;

(c) May be in fully registered form or in bearer form registerable either as to principal or interest or both;

(d) May bear such conversion privileges and be payable in such installments and at such time or times not exceeding 40 years from the date thereof;

(e) May be payable at such time or times and at such place or places whether within or without the State of Oregon and evidenced in such manner;

(f) May be made optional for redemption prior to maturity at such price or prices and on such terms and conditions;

(g) May be executed by the manual or facsimile signatures of such officers of the authority; and

(h) May contain such other provisions not inconsistent with ORS 267.227 and 391.500 to 391.660.

(2) Any bonds of the authority may be sold for such price and in such manner and from time to time as may be determined by the board. The board shall publish notice of its intent to sell bonds, at least once, at least two days prior to the date of sale, in a newspaper of general circulation in each district which is to receive financial assistance from the proceeds of the bonds. The notice shall state the general purposes for which the bonds are to be sold. Issuance by the authority of one or more series of bonds for one or more purposes shall not preclude it from issuing other bonds in connection with the same mass transit facility or any other mass transit facility or for any other purpose, but the proceedings where any subsequent bonds may be issued shall recognize and protect any prior pledge made for any prior issue of bonds. Refunding bonds may be issued whether the bonds to be refunded are then subject to redemption or are thereafter subject to redemption or maturity, and regardless of the purpose for which the bonds to be refunded were issued by the authority. All such bonds and the interest coupons applicable thereto, if any, are made and shall be construed to be negotiable instruments. [1977 c.662 §9]

391.580 Pledges for bonds. The principal, interest and premiums, if any, on any bonds issued by the Oregon Mass Transportation Financing Authority shall be secured solely by a pledge of the income, revenues and receipts out of which the same shall be made payable and may also be secured by and payable out of proceeds from the sale of the mass transit facility acquired or financed by the proceeds of such bonds. In addition, the district which is to lease or purchase the mass transit facilities financed out of the proceeds of any bonds issued by the authority may, by resolution of the district board, pledge all or any part of the revenues of the district derived from any taxes which the district is authorized to levy as security for the payment of the principal, interest and premiums, if any, on the bonds issued by the authority to finance such mass transit facilities. In the resolution of the district board pledging all or any part of its tax revenues as security for any bonds issued by the authority, the district may reserve the right to pledge from time to time on a parity basis all or any part of its tax revenues as security for any one or more series of bonds issued thereafter by the authority or the district, and in the event the right so reserved by the district is exercised all bonds secured by a pledge of such tax revenues shall be equally and ratably secured by such tax revenues without preference or priority of any kind of any bond or series of bonds secured thereby over any other bond or series of bonds secured thereby. A pledge of tax revenues by a district as a security for the payment of any bonds issued by the authority shall not be considered to be the incurring of bonded indebtedness by the district. Any pledge made pursuant to this section shall be valid and binding from and after the date of issuance of the bonds secured thereby and the income, revenues, receipts or taxes pledged shall be immediately subject to the lien of such pledge without the physical delivery thereof, the filing of any notice or any further act. The lien of any such pledge shall be valid and binding against all persons having claims of any kind against the pledgor whether in tort, contract or otherwise, irrespective of whether such persons have notice thereof. The resolution under which the bonds are authorized to be issued and any indenture executed as security for the bonds, may contain any agreements and provisions with respect to the maintenance of the properties covered thereby, the fixing and collection of rents for any portions leased by the authority to a district, the pledge of the agreement of the district to make such payments as shall be necessary to pay principal, interest and premiums, if any, on the bonds, the creation and maintenance of special funds from such revenues, and the rights and remedies available in the event of default, designation of a trustee, and any other provision the board shall deem advisable. Each pledge and agreement made for the benefit or security of any of the bonds of the authority shall continue effective until the principal, interest and premiums, if any, on the bonds for the benefit of which the same were made shall have been fully paid or provision for such payment duly made. [1977 c.662 §10; 1985 c.655 §1]

391.590 Bonds not general obligation of state. All bonds issued by the Oregon Mass Transportation Financing Authority under the provisions of ORS 267.227 and 391.500 to 391.660 shall not constitute a debt, liability or general obligation of this state, or a pledge of the faith and credit of this state, but shall be payable solely from the income revenues, receipts or assets pledged for their payment. Each bond issued shall contain on the face a statement that the State of Oregon or the authority shall not be obligated to pay the same nor the interest thereon except from the income revenues, receipts or assets pledged therefor, and that neither the general obligation, full faith and credit nor the taxing power of this state is pledged to the payment of the principal of or the interest on such bond. [1977 c.662 §11]

391.600 Tax exempt status of income, property and bond interest. (1) The income and, to the extent permitted by the Constitution, the property of the Oregon Mass Transportation Financing Authority shall be exempt from all taxation in the State of Oregon. For purposes of the Oregon Securities Law, bonds issued by the authority shall be deemed to be securities issued by an instrumentality or a political subdivision of the State of Oregon.

(2) Interest payable on bonds of the authority shall be exempt from taxes imposed on income by the State of Oregon. [1977 c.662 §12]

391.605 Limitations on transfer to metropolitan service district. (1) No transfer authorized by ORS 267.020 of a mass transit district system to a metropolitan service district shall take effect while bonds issued by the Oregon Mass Transportation Financing Authority to finance mass transit facilities for the district are outstanding until a plan designed to repay any outstanding bonds when due is prepared by the governing body of the metropolitan service district and approved by:

(a) The chairperson of the Oregon Transportation Commission or the chairperson’s designee;

(b) The State Treasurer or State Treasurer’s designee; and

(c) The chairperson of the Oregon Investment Council or the chairperson’s designee.

(2) Persons given authority to approve a transfer under subsection (1) of this section may only refuse to approve a transfer for reasons relating to the financial effect of the transfer. [1983 c.306 §3]

391.610 Expenses of authority; borrowed funds. All expenses of the Oregon Mass Transportation Financing Authority incurred in carrying out the provisions of ORS 267.227 and 391.500 to 391.660 shall be payable solely from funds provided under the authority of ORS 267.227 and 391.500 to 391.660. For the purposes of meeting the necessary expenses of initial organization and operation until such date as the authority derives moneys from funds provided hereunder, the authority shall be empowered to borrow moneys from districts, and districts are empowered to lend money to the authority as may be required and agreed for such necessary expenses of organization and operation. Expenses incurred by the authority in connection with any application by a district for financial assistance under ORS 267.227 and 391.500 to 391.660 shall be paid by such district as provided in ORS 267.200 (10), or, in the alternative and in the discretion of the authority, may be paid from the proceeds of bonds issued by the authority. [1977 c.662 §13]

391.620 Limitation on transfer of property rights. The Oregon Mass Transportation Financing Authority shall not convey its right, title and interest in mass transit facilities to any district, prior to the time the bonds secured thereby are fully paid, unless the authority has determined that adequate provision has been made for the payment of principal, interest and premiums, if any, on the bonds as they become due. [1977 c.662 §14]

391.630 Investments of surplus moneys. The Oregon Mass Transportation Financing Authority may invest any surplus moneys in investments permitted by ORS 294.035. [1977 c.662 §15]

391.640 Investment in authority’s bonds authorized. The state and all counties, cities and other municipal corporations, all banking institutions and building and loan associations, savings and loan associations, investment companies, insurance companies and associations, and all personal representatives, guardians, trustees and other fiduciaries may legally invest any sinking funds, moneys or other funds belonging to them or within their control in any bonds issued pursuant to ORS 267.227 and 391.500 to 391.660. [1977 c.662 §16]

391.650 Severability of ORS 391.500 to 391.660. If any one or more sections or provisions of ORS 267.227 and 391.500 to 391.660, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, shall ever be held by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the remaining provisions of ORS 267.227 and 391.500 to 391.660 and the application thereof to persons or circumstances other than those to which it is held to be invalid, shall not be affected thereby, it being the intention of this Legislative Assembly to enact the remaining provisions of ORS 267.227 and 391.500 to 391.660 notwithstanding such invalidity. [1977 c.662 §19]

391.660 Short title. ORS 267.227 and 391.500 to 391.660 may be referred to and cited as the "Oregon Mass Transportation Financing Act." [1977 c.662 §1]

ELDERLY AND DISABLED TRANSPORTATION

391.800 Elderly and Disabled Special Transportation Fund. (1) There is established in the State Treasury, separate and distinct from the General Fund, the Elderly and Disabled Special Transportation Fund. All moneys in the Elderly and Disabled Special Transportation Fund are appropriated continuously to the Department of Transportation for payment of the department’s administrative costs of the program and payment to mass transit districts, transportation districts and counties as provided in ORS 391.810.

(2) The Elderly and Disabled Special Transportation Fund shall consist of:

(a) Moneys transferred to the fund under ORS 323.455 (3);

(b) Other moneys appropriated to the fund by the Legislative Assembly; and

(c) Moneys obtained from interest earned on the investment of such moneys.

(3) Moneys in the Elderly and Disabled Special Transportation Fund, with the approval of the State Treasurer, may be invested as provided by ORS 293.701 to 293.820, and the earnings from such investments shall be credited to the Elderly and Disabled Special Transportation Fund. [1985 c.816 §9; 1987 c.62 §1; 1989 c.224 §66]

391.810 Distribution of funds to districts and counties; rules. (1) The Department of Transportation shall distribute three-quarters of the moneys in the Elderly and Disabled Special Transportation Fund, including the interest attributable thereto, to mass transit districts organized under ORS 267.010 to 267.390, transportation districts organized under ORS 267.510 to 267.650 and to those counties in which no part of a mass transit district or transportation district is located as follows:

(a) Each such district shall receive that share of the moneys as the population of the counties in which the district is situated, determined under ORS 190.510 to 190.610 last preceding such apportionment, bears to the total population of the state. However, if two or more districts are situated in a single county, distribution of moneys under this subsection shall be determined as though only the mass transit district is located in that county or, if there are two or more transportation districts in the county, as though only the transportation district with the highest population is located in that county.

(b) Each county in which no part of a mass transit district or transportation district is located shall receive that share of the moneys as its population, determined under ORS 190.510 to 190.610 last preceding such apportionment, bears to the total population of the state.

(2) After the requirements of subsection (1)(a) and (b) of this section have been met, the remainder of the moneys in the Elderly and Disabled Special Transportation Fund shall be distributed to the districts and counties described in subsection (1) of this section by the Department of Transportation as follows:

(a) Each such district or county that receives a share of the moneys in proportion to population under subsection (1) of this section shall receive an amount, which shall be fixed by the Oregon Transportation Commission by rule, but not in excess of $2,000 annually, to be used to defray the administrative expenses of the district or county in carrying out its functions under ORS 391.800 to 391.830.

(b) Each such district or county that receives a share of the moneys in proportion to population under subsection (1) of this section shall receive for each fiscal year a minimum amount, to be determined by the Oregon Transportation Commission by rule, which minimum amount shall be distributed to providers of transportation for use as specified under ORS 391.830 (4).

(c) Each such district or county shall receive any money distributed to it from the discretionary grant account established under ORS 391.815.

(d) After the requirements of paragraphs (a) to (c) of this subsection have been met, if any moneys remain in the Elderly and Disabled Special Transportation Fund they shall be set aside and transferred to a discretionary grant account established under ORS 391.815.

(3) The Department of Transportation shall not distribute moneys to a mass transit district, transportation district or county under this section unless the district or county has appointed an advisory committee under ORS 391.820.

(4) The Department of Transportation shall adopt rules necessary for the administration of ORS 391.800 to 391.830.

(5) Each district or county described in subsection (1) of this section is specifically authorized to enter into an agreement with another or other such districts or counties under ORS 190.003 to 190.130 in order to facilitate the performance of the functions authorized under ORS 391.830. [1985 c.816 §10; 1989 c.224 §67; 1989 c.866 §8]

391.815 Discretionary grant account; purpose; application for grant; grant approval; distribution of moneys. (1) After the requirements of ORS 391.810 have been satisfied, the remainder of the moneys in the Elderly and Disabled Special Transportation Fund shall be set aside and transferred to a discretionary grant account, which account is established as an account in the Elderly and Disabled Special Transportation Fund.

(2) The moneys in the discretionary grant account established under subsection (1) of this section are continuously appropriated to the Department of Transportation for the purpose of distribution for ultimate use for transportation and services to the elderly and disabled as described under ORS 391.830 (4). However, only such of the moneys that are specifically directed by the Oregon Transportation Commission under subsection (4) of this section, to be distributed to a district or county as described in ORS 391.810 (1), shall be distributed to that district or county.

(3)(a) Any district or county described in ORS 391.810 (1) may make application to the Department of Transportation for a distribution from the discretionary grant account established under subsection (1) of this section. The application shall describe the purposes for which the grant is to be used and the monetary amount that is required to carry out those purposes.

(b) Upon receipt of an application, the Department of Transportation shall cause the application to come to the attention of the Oregon Transportation Commission, which shall, after consideration, approve or deny the application, in whole or in part.

(c) The Oregon Transportation Commission shall approve only those grants applied for under paragraph (a) of this subsection that are for use for the purposes set forth in ORS 391.830 (4).

(4) Upon approval of an application, in whole or in part, the Oregon Transportation Commission shall direct the Department of Transportation to distribute the dollar amount approved to the applying district or county. [1989 c.866 §10]

391.820 Advisory committees; membership; duties. (1) The governing body of each mass transit district, transportation district and county that is eligible to receive moneys from the Elderly and Disabled Special Transportation Fund under ORS 391.810 shall appoint an advisory committee to advise and assist the governing body in carrying out the purposes of ORS 391.800 to 391.830. The number and terms of the members of an advisory committee appointed under this section shall be determined by the appointing governing body.

(2) To be qualified to serve on an advisory committee of a district or county, an individual must reside within the boundaries of the district, the county within which a district or part thereof is located or the county in which no part of a district is located and must be:

(a) A person who is an elderly or disabled individual and uses transportation services in the district or county;

(b) A person who is an elderly or disabled individual and lives in an area of the district or county where there are no public transportation services;

(c) An individual engaged in providing transportation services to the elderly or disabled in the district or county;

(d) A representative of elderly individuals; or

(e) A representative of disabled individuals.

(3) An advisory committee appointed under this section shall review the distribution of moneys by the governing body of a district or county under ORS 391.830. The advisory committee may propose any changes to the policies or practices of the governing body relating to the distribution that the advisory committee considers necessary or desirable. [1985 c.816 §11; 1987 c.532 §1; 1989 c.224 §68]

391.830 Use of funds to finance and improve transportation for elderly and disabled. (1)(a) Each mass transit district and transportation district that receives moneys from the Department of Transportation under ORS 391.810 (1) or (2)(b), after providing for costs of administration in an amount determined under ORS 391.810 (2)(a), shall distribute those moneys to providers of transportation for the purpose of financing and improving transportation programs and services for the elderly and disabled residents of the district and the county in which all or a portion of the district is located. The moneys received under ORS 391.810 (1) and (2)(b) and distributed to providers of transportation in areas within the counties in which the district is located but outside the boundaries of the district shall be that share of all moneys received by the district as the population of those counties residing outside the district, as determined by the last federal decennial census, bears to the total population of the counties.

(b) Each county that receives moneys from the Department of Transportation under ORS 391.810 (1) or (2)(b), after providing for costs of administration in an amount determined under ORS 391.810 (2)(a) shall distribute those moneys to providers of transportation for the purpose of financing and improving transportation programs and services for the elderly and disabled residents of the county.

(2) The governing body of a district or county, after consultation with the advisory committee it appointed under ORS 391.820, shall determine the amount of money to be distributed to a provider of transportation and the purposes for which the money must be used. Moneys received under ORS 391.810 (2)(c) shall be used for the purposes for which received as indicated in the directive from the Oregon Transportation Commission as described under ORS 391.815.

(3) Any provider of transportation receiving funds prior to January 1, 1986, from any governmental unit or agency for purposes related to the transportation needs of the elderly or disabled is eligible to receive moneys from a district or county under this section.

(4) Moneys distributed to providers of transportation under this section may be used for the following purposes:

(a) Maintenance of existing transportation programs and services for the elderly or disabled.

(b) Expansion of such programs and services.

(c) Creation of new programs and services.

(d) Planning for, and development of, access to transportation for elderly and disabled individuals who are not currently served by transportation programs and services.

(5) Except in the case of a uniform budget reduction or upon order or other authorization of the Department of Transportation, the increase in moneys received under ORS 391.810 under this section and ORS 323.030, 323.086 to 323.091, 323.455, 391.810 and 391.815 shall not be used to supplant moneys currently appropriated by counties or districts for elderly and disabled transportation projects.

(6) As used in this section, "provider of transportation" includes a city, county, district or any other person or agency, whether public or private, that maintains, operates or sponsors vehicles and facilities for the transportation of passengers for profit or on a nonprofit or voluntary basis. [1985 c.816 §12; 1989 c.224 §69; 1989 c.866 §11]

Note: ORS 323.086 to 323.091 were repealed by section 179, chapter 79, Oregon Laws 1995. The text of ORS 391.830 was not amended by enactment of the Legislative Assembly to reflect the repeal. Editorial adjustment of ORS 391.830 for the repeal of ORS 323.086 to 323.091 has not been made.

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CHAPTERS 392 TO 395

[Reserved for expansion]