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2004 SESSION


CHAPTER 807
An Act to amend and reenact §§ 33.1-268, 33.1-269, and 33.1-277 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the State Revenue Bond Act; issuance of Commonwealth of Virginia transportation credit assistance revenue bonds for the purpose of funding a portion of the Dulles Corridor mass transit project.
[H 1005]
Approved April 14, 2004

Whereas, Section 9 (d) of Article X of the Constitution of Virginia and §§ 33.1-267 through 33.1-295 of the Code of Virginia, as amended, provide that the General Assembly may authorize the issuance of bonds or notes secured and payable subject to appropriations therefor by the General Assembly; and

Whereas, in accordance with the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 1998, the United States Transportation Department may provide credit assistance in the form of secured, direct loans, loan guarantees or lines of credit for surface transportation projects of national or regional significance; and

Whereas, mass transit related improvements in the Dulles Corridor are deemed to be of regional and national significance and utilizing such credit assistance in connection with a loan or loans to be evidenced by the issuance of Commonwealth of Virginia Transportation Credit Assistance Revenue Bonds would accelerate the development of mass transit in the Dulles Corridor to improve safety, reduce congestion, and stimulate economic development; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 33.1-268, 33.1-269, and 33.1-277 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 33.1-268. Definitions.

As used in this article, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings:

(1) The word "Board" means the Commonwealth Transportation Board, or if the Commonwealth Transportation Board is abolished, any board, commission or officer succeeding to the principal functions thereof or upon whom the powers given by this article to the Board shall be given by law.

(2) The word "project" or "projects" means any one or more of the following:

(a) York River Bridges, extending from a point within the Town of Yorktown in York County, or within York County across the York River to Gloucester Point or some point in Gloucester County.

(b) Rappahannock River Bridge, extending from Greys Point, or its vicinity, in Middlesex County, across the Rappahannock River to a point in the vicinity of White Stone, in Lancaster County, or at some other feasible point in the general vicinity of the two respective points.

(c), (d) [Reserved.]

(e) James River Bridge, from a point at or near Jamestown, in James City County, across the James River to a point in Surry County.

(f), (g) [Reserved.]

(h) James River, Chuckatuck and Nansemond River Bridges, together with necessary connecting roads, in the Cities of Newport News and Suffolk and the County of Isle of Wight.

(i) [Reserved.]

(j) Hampton Roads Bridge, Tunnel, or Bridge and Tunnel System, extending from a point or points in the Cities of Newport News and Hampton on the northwest shore of Hampton Roads across Hampton Roads to a point or points in the City of Norfolk or Suffolk on the southeast shore of Hampton Roads.

(k) The Norfolk-Virginia Beach Highway, extending from a point in the vicinity of the intersection of Interstate Route 64 and Primary Route 58 at Norfolk to some feasible point between London Bridge and Primary Route 60.

(l) The Henrico-James River Bridge, extending from a point on the eastern shore of the James River in Henrico County to a point on the western shore, between Falling Creek and Bells Road interchanges of the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike; however, the project shall be deemed to include all property, rights, easements and franchises relating to any of the foregoing projects and deemed necessary or convenient for the operation thereof and to include approaches thereto.

(m) The limited access highway between the Patrick Henry Airport area and the Newport News downtown area which generally runs parallel to tracks of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad.

(n) Dulles Access Road outer roadways, extending from a point on Route 7 in Loudoun County in an easterly direction to a point east of Route 123 on the Dulles Access Road in Fairfax County. These roadways are to be two or three lanes in each direction constructed adjacent to, and parallel to or extending west from, the Dulles Access Road Transportation improvements in the Dulles Corridor, with an eastern terminus of the East Falls Church Metrorail station at Interstate Route 66 and a western terminus of Virginia Route 772 in Loudoun County, including without limitation the Dulles Toll Road, the Dulles Access Road, outer roadways adjacent or parallel thereto, mass transit, including rail, bus rapid transit, and capacity enhancing treatments such as High-Occupancy Vehicle lanes, High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes, interchange improvements, commuter parking lots, and other transportation management strategies.

(o), (p) [Repealed.]

(q) Subject to the limitations and approvals of § 33.1-279.1, any other highway for a primary highway transportation improvement district or transportation service district which the Board has agreed to finance under a contract with any such district or any other alternative mechanism for generation of local revenues for specific funding of a project satisfactory to the Commonwealth Transportation Board, the financing for which is to be secured by Transportation Trust Fund revenues under any appropriation made by the General Assembly for that purpose and payable first from revenues received under such contract or other local funding source, second, to the extent required, from funds appropriated and allocated, pursuant to the highway allocation formula as provided by law, to the highway construction district in which the project is located or to the county or counties in which the project is located and third, to the extent required from other legally available revenues of the Trust Fund and from any other available source of funds.

(r) U.S. 58 Corridor Development Program projects as defined in §§ 33.1-221.1:2 and 58.1-815.

(s) The Northern Virginia Transportation District Program as defined in § 33.1-221.1:3.

(t) Any program for highways or mass transit or transportation facilities, endorsed by the local jurisdiction or jurisdictions affected, which agree that certain distributions of state recordation taxes will be dedicated and used for the payment of any bonds or other obligations, including interest thereon, the proceeds of which were used to pay the cost of the program. Any such program shall be referred to as a "Transportation Improvement Program."

(u) Any project designated from time to time by the General Assembly financed in whole or part through the issuance of Commonwealth of Virginia Federal Highway Reimbursement Anticipation Notes.

(3) The word "undertaking" means all of the projects authorized to be acquired or constructed under this article.

(4) The word "improvements" means such repairs, replacements, additions and betterments of and to a project acquired by purchase or by condemnation as are deemed necessary to place it in a safe and efficient condition for the use of the public, if such repairs, replacements, additions and betterments are ordered prior to the sale of any bonds for the acquisition of such project.

(5) The term "cost of project" as applied to a project to be acquired by purchase or by condemnation, includes the purchase price or the amount of the award, cost of improvements, financing charges, interest during any period of disuse before completion of improvements, cost of traffic estimates and of engineering and legal expenses, plans, specifications and surveys, estimates of cost and of revenues, other expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of the enterprises, administrative expenses and such other expenses as may be necessary or incident to the financing herein authorized and the acquisition of the project and the placing of the project in operation.

(6) The term "cost of project" as applied to a project to be constructed, embraces the cost of construction, the cost of all lands, properties, rights, easements and franchises acquired which are deemed necessary for such construction, the cost of acquiring by purchase or condemnation any ferry which is deemed by the Board to be competitive with any bridge to be constructed, the cost of all machinery and equipment, financing charges, interest prior to and during construction and for one year after completion of construction, cost of traffic estimates and of engineering data, engineering and legal expenses, cost of plans, specifications and surveys, estimates of cost and of revenues, other expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of the enterprise, administrative expense and such other expenses as may be necessary or incident to the financing herein authorized, the construction of the project, the placing of the project in operation and the condemnation of property necessary for such construction and operation.

(7) The word "owner" includes all individuals, incorporated companies, copartnerships, societies or associations having any title or interest in any property rights, easements or franchises authorized to be acquired by this article.

(8) [Repealed.]

(9) The words "revenue" and "revenues" include tolls and any other moneys received or pledged by the Board pursuant to this article, including, without limitation, legally available Transportation Trust Fund revenues and any federal highway reimbursements and any other federal highway assistance received from time to time by the Commonwealth.

(10) The terms "toll project" and "toll projects" mean projects financed in whole or in part through the issuance of revenue bonds which are secured by toll revenues generated by such project or projects.

§ 33.1-269. General powers of Board.

The Commonwealth Transportation Board may, subject to the provisions of this article:

1. Acquire by purchase or by condemnation, construct, improve, operate and maintain any one or more of the projects mentioned and included in the undertaking defined in this article;

2. Issue revenue bonds of the Commonwealth, to be known and designated as "Commonwealth of Virginia Toll Revenue Bonds," payable from earnings and from any other available sources of funds, to pay the cost of such projects;

3. Subject to the limitations and approvals of § 33.1-279.1, issue revenue bonds of the Commonwealth to be known and designated as "Commonwealth of Virginia Transportation Contract Revenue Bonds," secured by Transportation Trust Fund revenues under a payment agreement between the Board and the Treasury Board, subject to their appropriation by the General Assembly and payable first from revenues received pursuant to contracts with a primary highway transportation improvement district or transportation service district or other local revenue sources for which specific funding of any such bonds may be authorized by law; second, to the extent required, from funds appropriated and allocated, pursuant to the highway allocation formula as provided by law, to the highway construction district in which the project or projects to be financed are located or to the county or counties in which the project or projects to be financed are located; and third, to the extent required, from other legally available revenues of the Trust Fund and from any other available source of funds;

4. Issue revenue bonds of the Commonwealth to be known and designated as "Commonwealth of Virginia Transportation Revenue Bonds," secured (i) by revenues received from the U.S. Route 58 Corridor Development Fund, subject to their appropriation by the General Assembly, (ii) to the extent required, from revenues legally available from the Transportation Trust Fund and (iii) to the extent required, from any other legally available funds which have been appropriated by the General Assembly;

4a. Issue revenue bonds of the Commonwealth to be known and designated as "Commonwealth of Virginia Transportation Revenue Bonds," secured, subject to their appropriation by the General Assembly, first from (i) revenues received from the Northern Virginia Transportation District Fund, (ii) to the extent required, funds appropriated and allocated, pursuant to the highway allocation formula as provided by law, to the highway construction district in which the project or projects to be financed are located or to the city or county in which the project or projects to be financed are located, (iii) to the extent required, legally available revenues of the Transportation Trust Fund, and (iv) such other funds which may be appropriated by the General Assembly;

4b. Issue revenue bonds of the Commonwealth to be known and designated as "Commonwealth of Virginia Transportation Program Revenue Bonds" secured, subject to their appropriation by the General Assembly, first from (i) any revenues received from any Set-aside Fund established by the General Assembly pursuant to § 58.1-816.1, (ii) to the extent required, revenues received pursuant to any contract with a local jurisdiction or any alternative mechanism for generation of local revenues for specific funding of a project satisfactory to the Commonwealth Transportation Board, (iii) to the extent required, funds appropriated and allocated, pursuant to the highway allocation formula as provided by law, to the highway construction district in which the project or projects to be financed are located or to the city or county in which the project or projects to be financed are located, (iv) to the extent required, legally available revenues of the Transportation Trust Fund, and (v) such other funds which may be appropriated by the General Assembly. No bonds for any project or projects shall be issued under the authority of this subsection unless such project or projects are specifically included in a bill or resolution passed by the General Assembly;

4c. Issue revenue bonds of the Commonwealth to be known and designated as "Commonwealth of Virginia Transportation Program Revenue Bonds" secured, subject to their appropriation by the General Assembly, first from (i) any revenues received from the Commonwealth Transit Capital Fund established by the General Assembly pursuant to subdivision A 4 g of § 58.1-638, (ii) to the extent required, legally available revenues of the Transportation Trust Fund, and (iii) such other funds which may be appropriated by the General Assembly. No bonds for any project or projects shall be issued under the authority of this subsection unless such project or projects are specifically included in a bill or resolution passed by the General Assembly;

4d. Issue revenue bonds of the Commonwealth from time to time to be known and designated as "Commonwealth of Virginia Federal Highway Reimbursement Anticipation Notes" secured, subject to their appropriation by the General Assembly, (i) first from any federal highway reimbursements and any other federal highway assistance received from time to time by the Commonwealth, (ii) then, at the discretion of the Board, to the extent required, from legally available revenues of the Transportation Trust Fund, and (iii) then from such other funds, if any, which are designated by the General Assembly for such purpose;

4e. Issue revenue bonds of the Commonwealth from time to time to be known and designated as "Commonwealth of Virginia Credit Assistance Revenue Bonds," secured, subject to their appropriation by the General Assembly, solely from revenues with respect to or generated by the project or projects being financed thereby and any tolls or other revenues pledged by the Board as security therefor and in accordance with the applicable federal credit assistance authorized with respect to such project or projects by the United States Department of Transportation;

5. Fix and collect tolls and other charges for the use of such projects or to refinance the cost of such projects;

6. Construct grade separations at intersections of any projects with public highways, streets or other public ways or places and change and adjust the lines and grades thereof so as to accommodate the same to the design of such grade separations, the cost of such grade separations and any damage incurred in changing and adjusting the lines and grades of such highways, streets, ways and places to be ascertained and paid by the Board as a part of the cost of the project;

7. Vacate or change the location of any portion of any public highway, street or other public way or place and reconstruct the same at such new location as the Board deems most favorable for the project and of substantially the same type and in as good condition as the original highway, streets, way or place, the cost of such reconstruction and any damage incurred in vacating or changing the location thereof to be ascertained and paid by the Board as a part of the cost of the project. Any public highway, street or other public way or place vacated or relocated by the Board shall be vacated or relocated in the manner provided by law for the vacation or relocation of public roads and any damages awarded on account thereof may be paid by the Board as a part of the cost of the project;

8. Make reasonable regulations for the installation, construction, maintenance, repair, renewal and relocation of pipes, mains, sewers, conduits, cables, wires, towers, poles and other equipment and appliances herein called "public utility facilities," of the Commonwealth and of any municipality, county, or other political subdivision, public utility or public service corporation owning or operating the same in, on, along, over or under the project. Whenever the Board determines that it is necessary that any such public utility facilities should be relocated or removed, the Commonwealth or such municipality, county, political subdivision, public utility or public service corporation shall relocate or remove the same in accordance with the order of the Board. The cost and expense of such relocation or removal, including the cost of installing such public utility facilities in a new location or locations, and the cost of any lands or any rights or interests in lands, and any other rights acquired to accomplish such relocation or removal shall be ascertained by the Board.

On any toll project, the Board shall pay the cost and expense of relocation or removal as a part of the cost of the project for those public utility facilities owned or operated by the Commonwealth or such municipality, county, political subdivision, public utility or public service corporation. On all other projects, under this article, the Board shall pay the cost and expense of relocation or removal as a part of the cost of the project for those public utility facilities owned or operated by the Commonwealth or such municipality, county, or political subdivision. The Commonwealth or such municipality, county, political subdivision, public utility or public service corporation may maintain and operate such public utility facilities with the necessary appurtenances, in the new location or locations, for as long a period and upon the same terms and conditions as it had the right to maintain and operate such public utility facilities in their former location or locations;

9. Acquire by the exercise of the power of eminent domain any lands, property, rights, rights-of-way, franchises, easements and other property, including public lands, parks, playgrounds, reservations, highways or parkways, or parts thereof or rights therein, of any municipality, county or other political subdivision, deemed necessary or convenient for the construction or the efficient operation of the project or necessary in the restoration, replacement or relocation of public or private property damaged or destroyed.

The cost of such projects shall be paid solely from the proceeds of Commonwealth of Virginia Toll or Transportation Contract Revenue Bonds or a combination thereof or from such proceeds and from any grant or contribution which may be made thereto pursuant to the provisions of this article; and

10. Notwithstanding any provision of this article to the contrary, the Board shall be authorized to exercise the powers conferred herein, in addition to its general powers to acquire rights-of-way and to construct, operate and maintain state highways, with respect to any project which the General Assembly has authorized or may hereafter authorize to be financed in whole or in part through the issuance of bonds of the Commonwealth pursuant to the provisions of Section 9 (c) of Article X of the Constitution of Virginia; and

11. Enter into any agreements or take such other actions as the Board shall determine in connection with applying for or obtaining any federal credit assistance, including without limitation loan guarantees and lines of credit, pursuant to authorization from the United States Department of Transportation with respect to any project included in the Commonwealth's long-range transportation plan and the approved State Transportation Improvement Program.

§ 33.1-277. Credit of Commonwealth not pledged.

A. Commonwealth of Virginia Toll Revenue Bonds issued under the provisions of this article shall not be deemed to constitute a debt of the Commonwealth of Virginia or a pledge of the faith and credit of the Commonwealth, but such bonds shall be payable solely from the funds herein provided therefor from tolls and revenues, from bond proceeds or earnings thereon and from any other available sources of funds. All such bonds shall state on their face that the Commonwealth of Virginia is not obligated to pay the same or the interest thereon except from the special fund provided therefor from tolls and revenues under this article, from bond proceeds or earnings thereon and from any other available sources of funds and that the faith and credit of the Commonwealth are not pledged to the payment of the principal or interest of such bonds. The issuance of such revenue bonds under the provisions of this article shall not directly or indirectly or contingently obligate the Commonwealth to levy or to pledge any form of taxation whatever therefor or to make any appropriation for their payment, other than appropriate available funds derived as revenues from tolls and charges under this article or derived from bond proceeds or earnings thereon and from any other available sources of funds.

B. Commonwealth of Virginia Transportation Contract Revenue Bonds issued under the provisions of this article shall not be deemed to constitute a debt of the Commonwealth of Virginia or a pledge of the faith and credit of the Commonwealth, but such bonds shall be payable solely from the funds herein provided therefor (i) from revenues received pursuant to contracts with a primary highway transportation district or transportation service district or any other alternative mechanism for generation of local revenues for specific funding of a project satisfactory to the Commonwealth Transportation Board, (ii) to the extent required, from funds appropriated and allocated, pursuant to the highway allocation formula as provided by law, to the highway construction district in which the project or projects to be financed are located or to the county or counties in which such project or projects are located, (iii) from bond proceeds or earnings thereon, (iv) to the extent required, from other legally available revenues of the Trust Fund, and (v) from any other available source of funds. All such bonds shall state on their face that the Commonwealth of Virginia is not obligated to pay the same or the interest thereon except from revenues in clauses (i) and (iii) hereof and that the faith and credit of the Commonwealth are not pledged to the payment of the principal and interest of such bonds. The issuance of such revenue bonds under the provisions of this article shall not directly or indirectly or contingently obligate the Commonwealth to levy or to pledge any form of taxation whatever or to make any appropriation for their payment, other than to appropriate available funds derived as revenues under this article from the sources set forth in clauses (i) and (iii) hereof. Nothing in this article shall be construed to obligate the General Assembly to make any appropriation of the funds set forth in clause (ii) or (iv) hereof for payment of such bonds.

C. Commonwealth of Virginia Transportation Revenue Bonds issued under the provisions of this article shall not be deemed to constitute a debt of the Commonwealth of Virginia or a pledge of the full faith and credit of the Commonwealth, but such bonds shall be payable solely from the funds herein provided therefor (i) from revenues received from the U.S. Route 58 Corridor Development Fund, subject to their appropriation by the General Assembly, (ii) to the extent required, from revenues legally available from the Transportation Trust Fund and (iii) to the extent required, from any other legally available funds which shall have been appropriated by the General Assembly.

D. Commonwealth of Virginia Transportation Revenue Bonds issued under this article for Category 1 projects as provided in subdivision (2) (s) of § 33.1-268 shall not be deemed to constitute a debt of the Commonwealth of Virginia or a pledge of the faith and credit of the Commonwealth. Such bonds shall be payable solely, subject to their appropriation by the General Assembly, first from (i) revenues received from the Northern Virginia Transportation District Fund, (ii) to the extent required, funds appropriated and allocated, pursuant to the highway allocation formula as provided by law, to the highway construction district in which the project or projects to be financed are located or to the city or county in which the project or projects to be financed are located, (iii) to the extent required, legally available revenues of the Transportation Trust Fund, and (iv) such other funds which may be appropriated by the General Assembly.

E. Commonwealth of Virginia Transportation Program Revenue Bonds issued under this article for projects defined in subdivision (2) (t) of § 33.1-268 shall not be deemed to constitute a debt of the Commonwealth or a pledge of the faith and credit of the Commonwealth. Such bonds shall be payable solely, subject to their appropriation by the General Assembly, first from (i) any revenues received from any Set-aside Fund established by the General Assembly pursuant to § 58.1-816.1, (ii) to the extent required, revenues received pursuant to any contract with a local jurisdiction or any alternative mechanism for generation of local revenues for specific funding of a project satisfactory to the Commonwealth Transportation Board, (iii) to the extent required, funds appropriated and allocated, pursuant to the highway allocation formula as provided by law, to the highway construction district in which the project or projects to be financed are located or to the city or county in which the project or projects to be financed are located, (iv) to the extent required, legally available revenues from the Transportation Trust Fund, and (v) such other funds which may be appropriated by the General Assembly.

F. Commonwealth of Virginia Federal Highway Reimbursement Anticipation Notes issued under this article shall not be deemed to constitute a debt of the Commonwealth of Virginia or a pledge of the full faith and credit of the Commonwealth, but such obligations shall be payable solely, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly, (i) first from any federal highway reimbursements and any other federal highway assistance received from time to time by the Commonwealth, (ii) then, at the discretion of the Board, to the extent required, from legally available revenues of the Transportation Trust Fund, and (iii) then, from such other funds, if any, which are designated by the General Assembly for such purpose.

G. Commonwealth of Virginia Transportation Credit Assistance Revenue Bonds issued under the provisions of this article shall not be deemed to constitute a debt of the Commonwealth of Virginia or a pledge of the full faith and credit of the Commonwealth, but such obligations shall be payable solely, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly, from revenues with respect to or generated by the project or projects being financed thereby and any tolls or other revenues pledged by the Board as security therefor and in accordance with the applicable federal credit assistance authorized with respect to such project or projects by the United States Department of Transportation.

2. That the Commonwealth Transportation Board is authorized, by and with the consent of the Governor, to issue Commonwealth of Virginia Transportation Credit Assistance Revenue Bonds, as follows:

§ 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Commonwealth of Virginia Transportation Credit Assistance Revenue Bonds for the Dulles Corridor Act of 2004."

§ 2. The Commonwealth Transportation Board is hereby authorized, by and with the consent of the Governor, to issue, pursuant to the provisions hereof and §§ 33.1-267 through 33.1-295 of the Code of Virginia, as amended, from time to time revenue obligations of the Commonwealth to be designated "Commonwealth of Virginia Transportation Credit Assistance Revenue Bonds, Series ….," provided that the aggregate principal amount shall not exceed $145,000,000 (exclusive of any obligations that may be issued to refund such Bonds in accordance with § 33.1-293 of the Code of Virginia, as amended) plus an amount for financing expenses, including, without limitation, any original issue discount (the Bonds). The net proceeds of the Bonds shall be used exclusively for the purpose of providing funds, together with any other available funds, for paying a portion of the costs incurred or to be incurred for construction or funding of mass transit in the Dulles Corridor, with an eastern terminus of the East Falls Church Metrorail station at Interstate I-66 and a western terminus of Route 772 in Loudoun County, including without limitation rail, bus rapid transit, commuter parking and related transportation improvements, in accordance with the applicable federal credit assistance authorized by the United States Department of Transportation.

§ 3. The proceeds of the Bonds, including any premium received on the sale thereof, shall be made available by the Commonwealth Transportation Board to pay costs of the project and, where appropriate, may be paid to any authority, locality, commission or other entity for the purposes of paying for costs of the project. The proceeds of the Bonds may be used together with any federal, local or private funds which may be made available for such purpose. The proceeds of the Bonds, together with any investment earnings thereon, may at the discretion of the Commonwealth Transportation Board secure the payment of principal or purchase price of and redemption premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds.

§ 4. The terms and structure of each issue of the Bonds shall be determined by the Commonwealth Transportation Board, subject to approval by the Treasury Board in accordance with § 2.2-2417 of the Code of Virginia, as amended. The Bonds of each issue shall be dated, shall be issued in a principal amount (subject to the limitation as to amount outstanding at any one time set forth in § 2), shall bear interest at such rate or rates which may be fixed, adjustable, variable or a combination thereof, and may be determined by a formula or other method, shall mature at such time or times not exceeding 20 years after the issuance thereof, and may be made subject to purchase or redemption before their maturity or maturities, at such price or prices and under such terms and conditions, all as may be determined by the Commonwealth Transportation Board. The Commonwealth Transportation Board shall determine the form of the Bonds, whether the Bonds are certificated or uncertificated, and fix the authorized denomination or denominations of the Bonds and the place or places of payment of principal or purchase price of, and redemption premium, if any, and interest on, the Bonds, which may be at the office of the State Treasurer or any bank or trust company within or without the Commonwealth. The principal or purchase price of, and redemption premium, if any, and interest on, the Bonds shall be made payable in lawful money of the United States of America. Each issue of the Bonds may be issued under a system of book entry for recording the ownership and transfer of ownership of rights to receive payments of principal or purchase price of and redemption premium, if any, and interest on such Bonds. All the Bonds shall have and are hereby declared to have, as between successive holders, all the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments under the negotiable instruments law of the Commonwealth.

§ 5. The Commonwealth Transportation Board may enter into any agreements or take such other actions as it may determine to be in the best interests of the Commonwealth in connection with applying for or obtaining federal credit assistance, pursuant to authorization from the United States Department of Transportation, with respect to mass transit in the Dulles Corridor.

§ 6. The Bonds shall be signed on behalf of the Commonwealth Transportation Board by the chairman or vice chairman of the Commonwealth Transportation Board, or shall bear the facsimile signature of such officer, and shall bear the official seal of the Commonwealth Transportation Board, which shall be attested by the manual or facsimile signature of the secretary or assistant secretary of the Commonwealth Transportation Board. In the event that the Bonds shall bear the facsimile signature of the chairman or vice chairman of the Commonwealth Transportation Board, such Bonds shall be signed by such administrative assistant as the chairman of the Transportation Board shall determine or by any registrar/paying agent that may be designated by the Commonwealth Transportation Board. In case any officer whose signature or a facsimile of whose signature appears on any Bonds shall cease to be such officer before the delivery of such Bonds, such signature or facsimile signature nevertheless shall be valid and sufficient for all purposes as if such officer had remained in office until such delivery.

§ 7. All expenses incurred under this Act or in connection with issuance of the Bonds shall be paid from the proceeds of such Bonds or from any available funds as the Commonwealth Transportation Board shall determine.

§ 8. The Commonwealth Transportation Board is hereby authorized to borrow money at such rate or rates through the execution and issuance of notes for the same, but only in the following circumstances and under the following conditions:

a. In anticipation of the sale of the Bonds the issuance of which shall have been authorized by the Commonwealth Transportation Board and shall have been approved by the Governor, if the Commonwealth Transportation Board shall deem it advisable to postpone the issuance of such Bonds; or

b. For the renewal of any anticipation notes herein authorized.

§ 9. The proceeds of the Bonds and of any anticipation notes herein authorized (except the proceeds of the Bonds the issuance of which has been anticipated by such anticipation notes) shall be placed by the State Treasurer in a special fund in the state treasury, or may be placed with a trustee in accordance with § 33.1-283 of the Code of Virginia, as amended, and shall be disbursed only for the purpose for which such Bonds and such anticipation notes shall be issued; provided, however, proceeds derived from the sale of the Bonds herein authorized shall be first used in the payment of any anticipation notes that may have been issued in anticipation of the sale of such Bonds and any renewals of such notes. The proceeds of the Bonds and of any anticipation notes herein authorized, together with any investment earnings thereon, shall not be taken into account in computing, and shall be in addition to funds allocated pursuant to the highway allocation formula set forth in § 33.1-23.1 of the Code of Virginia, as amended.

§ 10. The Commonwealth Transportation Board is hereby authorized to receive any other funds that may be made available to pay costs of mass transit in the Dulles Corridor and related improvements and to enter into the appropriate agreements to allow for those funds to be paid into the state treasury, or to a trustee in accordance with § 33.1-283 of the Code of Virginia, as amended, and, subject to appropriation, to make available the same to pay a part of the costs of the project or to pay principal or purchase price of, and redemption premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds.

§ 11. The Commonwealth Transportation Board, in connection with the issuance of the Bonds, may establish a fund in accordance with § 33.1-286 of the Code of Virginia, as amended, either in the state treasury or with a trustee in accordance with § 33.1-283 of the Code of Virginia, as amended, which shall secure and be used for the payment of the Bonds to the credit of which there shall be deposited such amounts, appropriated therefor by the General Assembly, as are required to pay principal or purchase price of, and redemption premium, if any, and interest on, the Bonds, as and when due and payable, from available revenues received by the Commonwealth with respect to or generated by the Dulles Toll Road (i.e., net revenues of the Dulles Toll Road system remaining after making required transfers to provide for the payment of interest on and principal of any notes or bonds outstanding to finance such system to which such revenues are pledged and to fund reserves for extraordinary maintenance and repairs related to such system) and any mass transit projects in the Dulles Corridor.

§ 12. Bond proceeds and moneys in any reserve funds and sinking funds in respect of the Bonds shall be invested by the State Treasurer in accordance with the provisions of general law relating to the investment of such funds belonging to or in the control of the Commonwealth, or by a trustee in accordance with § 33.1-283 of the Code of Virginia, as amended.

§ 13. The interest income from, and any profit made on the sale of, the obligations issued under the provisions of this Act shall at all times be free and exempt from taxation by the Commonwealth and by any municipality, county or other political subdivision thereof.

§ 14. All obligations issued under the provisions of this Act are hereby made securities in which all persons and entities listed in § 33.1-280 of the Code of Virginia, as amended, may properly and legally invest funds under their control.

3. That, insofar as the provisions of this act are inconsistent with the provisions of any other general, special or local law, the provisions of this act shall be controlling.

4. That if any clause, sentence, paragraph, section, or part of this act or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is adjudged invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such judgment shall not affect the validity of the remainder hereof but shall be confined to the clause, sentence, paragraph, section, or part hereof directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered, and to this end the provisions of this act are severable.