Chapter 103a - Transit Districts

Sec. 7-273b. Legislative finding. Definitions. Formation of district. Withdrawal. (a) It is hereby found and declared that the development, maintenance and improvement of systems for the transportation of people and goods within the state, and particularly within the metropolitan areas of the state, by rail, motor carrier or other means of land transportation are essential for the welfare of the citizens of the state and for the development of the state's resources, commerce and industry, that the development and maintenance of modern, efficient and adequate systems of mass transportation are required; that private enterprise lacks financial or other resources necessary to provide such systems of mass transportation; and, that the formation and operation of transit districts with the powers enumerated in this chapter are thus a public necessity.

(b) As used in this chapter:

(1) “Transit facilities”, “transit services” and “transit system” include motorbus, minibus, tramline, monorail, rapid transit or other land transportation systems for the mass movement of persons and goods between locations within and between municipalities, including real property and interests therein, and equipment and facilities incident to the provision, operation, administration and maintenance of such transit system. The term “transit facilities” also includes a “transportation center”, as defined in subdivision (2) of this subsection, and “parking facilities”, as defined in subdivision (3) of this subsection;

(2) “Transportation center” includes a station or terminal for passengers and goods in local, intrastate or interstate transit by any rail, bus or other land transportation system, land, buildings, structures, parking facilities, roads and other improvements, equipment and facilities, and includes a station or center containing commercial, office, retail or other facilities which are necessary or incidental to transportation purposes or uses or which the district, by its board of directors, determines are not presently needed for such transportation purposes but should be included in such center for use in the future as the need arises. Those portions of existing buildings and properties acquired for a transportation center which are not used or have no potential for future use for transportation purposes may be used and improved for such commercial, office, retail or other uses which the district, by its board of directors, determines are necessary or appropriate to finance or operate those portions of the transportation center which are devoted to such transportation purposes or to finance or operate other activities of the district; and

(3) “Parking facilities” mean one or more lots, garages, parking terminals or other structures and accommodations for the parking of motor vehicles off any highway, as defined in section 14-1.

(d) Any town, city or borough may, by itself or in cooperation with one or more other municipalities, form a transit district, in the manner and for the purposes hereinafter provided. The district shall be a body corporate and politic, and may sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, hold and convey real or personal estate, adopt and alter a common seal, borrow on the faith and credit of the district for its purposes under this chapter, and, in addition to the powers authorized by this chapter or any other chapter of the general statutes, shall have such other powers as are necessary or incident to carrying out the powers and purposes of this chapter.

(e) The legislative body of any municipality may vote to establish a transit district or to join with any one or more municipalities to form such a district. Any municipality may at any time be included in the district if the legislative body thereof so votes and if accepted by a majority vote of the directors of the transit district. Any municipality may be an ex-officio member of another transit district if the legislative body thereof so votes and if accepted by a majority vote of the directors of such other transit district. An ex-officio member shall not have the right to vote. The district may contract with any town to supply transit service therein. It may also provide charter service.

(f) Any municipality included in the district may withdraw therefrom if the legislative body thereof votes to do so. In such case the board of directors of the district, including the members chosen from the withdrawing municipality, shall determine the share of the district's expenses and obligations remaining due from the municipality. The municipality shall pay or secure such amount to the district before such withdrawal shall become effective.

(g) Whenever any transit district is formed under the provisions of this chapter, no provision of chapters 244, 244a, 244b, 277, 281 and 285 shall apply to the operation of transit systems by such district.

(1961, P.A. 507, S. 1; 1972, P.A. 261, S. 1; P.A. 73-2, S. 6, 7, 11; P.A. 77-463, S. 1; P.A. 78-305, S. 1, 5; P.A. 83-469, S. 2, 5; P.A. 85-246, S. 2; P.A. 99-82, S. 1, 4.)

History: 1972 act inserted new Subsecs. (a) to (c) re necessity for public transit, definitions and protection of previously formed transit districts, relettered former Subsec. (a) as Subsec. (d) and granted power to carry out provisions of chapter, deleted former Subsec. (b), relettered former Subsecs. (c) to (e) as Subsecs. (e) to (g) and replaced references to actions of electors with references to actions of the legislative body and extended scope of Subsec. (g) to include all transit systems; P.A. 73-2 amended Subsec. (d) to give districts borrowing power and amended Subsec. (e) to remove requirement that district members be contiguous municipalities; P.A. 77-463 redefined “transit facilities” to include transportation centers and defined “transportation center” in Subsec. (b); P.A. 78-305 added multiple-use provision re transportation centers in Subsec. (b); P.A. 83-469 redefined “transit facilities” to include parking facilities, changed the term “parking areas” to “parking facilities” and defined “parking facilities” in Subsec. (b); P.A. 85-246 redefined “transit facilities”, “transit services” and “transit system” in Subsec. (b)(1) to exclude street railways which were previously included; P.A. 99-82 amended Subsec. (e) to authorize any municipality that is a member of a transit district to become a nonvoting, ex-officio member of another transit district, effective July 1, 1999.

Cited. 235 C. 1.

Subsec. (f):

Trial court properly determined that where transit district ceased to exist after all four municipal members withdrew and formed a new transit authority, which assumed all assets and liabilities of the former transit district, the requirement that former transit district's board of directors determine the share of the district's expenses and obligations remaining due from each municipal member was obviated. 101 CA 243.

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Sec. 7-273c. Board of directors. Bond required of officers and employees. The affairs of the district shall be managed by a board of directors chosen from among the electors of the constituent municipalities as follows: Each municipality shall have at least one director. Municipalities with a population, according to the most recent federal census, from twenty-five thousand to one hundred thousand, inclusive, shall have two directors. Municipalities with a population over one hundred thousand shall have four directors. The directors shall be appointed for terms of four years, except that, in municipalities having more than one director, one-half of those first appointed shall serve for two years and one-half for four years, their successors to serve for four years each. Any municipality in respect to which a vacancy on the board occurs shall fill it for the unexpired portion of the term. Section 9-167a shall apply to the appointment of the directors representing each municipality. The directors shall be appointed by the elected chief executive of a city or borough, the board of selectmen in the case of a municipality in which the legislative body is a town meeting or by the board of selectmen of a town with the approval of the legislative body. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, directors appointed from any municipality which is a member, or becomes a member, of any transit district in existence on May 18, 1972, shall be appointed by the legislative body of each municipality or the board of selectmen in the case of a municipality in which the legislative body is a town meeting. The population of each municipality according to the most recent federal census shall be divided by the number of directors representing such municipality. Each member of the board of directors shall be entitled to cast that number of voting units which is the multiple the population he represents, rounded to the nearest one hundred, is of the smallest population represented by a member, rounded to the nearest one hundred. The directors shall meet at least four times annually or more often on the call of the chairman and shall elect officers from among their number. They may adopt bylaws and rules for the conduct of the affairs of the district. They shall appoint and fix the salary of a district manager, who shall be the chief executive officer of the district, and such other employees as are required for district purposes. Each officer or employee of such district who is the repository or custodian of any funds of such district shall give such bond as is required by the board of directors, with sufficient surety, conditioned on the faithful discharge of his duties. The premium upon such bond shall be paid by the district.

(1961, P.A. 507, S. 2; 1972, P.A. 261, S. 2; P.A. 73-2, S. 8, 11; P.A. 83-587, S. 7, 96; P.A. 94-59, S. 1.)

History: 1972 act added specific provisions governing appointment of directors by selectmen, elected chief executive or legislative body; P.A. 73-2 added formula for determining voting weight of each director and required bonds for officers and employees handling funds; P.A. 83-587 made a technical amendment; P.A. 94-59 added provisions that appointments be made by the board of selectmen in the case of a municipality in which the legislative body is a town meeting.

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Sec. 7-273d. Assumption of Transportation Department powers relative to transit system within district. Appeals. Upon written notice to the Department of Transportation, to the chief executive officer of a private transit system, and to the elected chief executive officer of each municipality composing the district, the district, by its board of directors, may assume all powers of the Department of Transportation to regulate and supervise the operation of any such transit system within the district, provided that such transit system would be subject to the supervision of the department except for this section. Upon assuming such supervision the district, by its board of directors, shall establish passenger fares and any other rates to be charged and shall establish service standards, may order abandonment of uneconomic routes and shall exercise all powers of regulation and supervision over such transit system as are conferred on the department by title 16, in the same manner and under the same standards as are established by said title 16. Any company, town, city, borough, corporation or person aggrieved by any order, authorization or decision of the board of directors, except an order, authorization or decision approving the taking of land, in any matter to which he or it was or ought to have been made a party, may appeal therefrom to the department within thirty days after the filing of such order, authorization or decision. The party so appealing shall give bond to the state, with sufficient surety, for the benefit of the adverse party, in such sum as the board of directors fix, to pay all costs in case he or it fails to sustain such appeal. To the extent applicable, such appeal shall conform to the standards and procedure for appeals in contested cases under sections 4-176e to 4-182, inclusive. Where the department determines that the order, authorization or decision of the transit district would affect state-wide transportation policy adversely, such order, authorization or decision may be modified or overruled. The decision after hearing shall be final except that the applicant for such hearing, if aggrieved, may appeal therefrom in accordance with section 4-183. The district may use any grants, loans or other revenues for subsidies to any transit system operating under private ownership within the district in order to continue the operation of uneconomic routes. Subsidies may be provided for that portion of such uneconomic routes which operate outside the transit district but which are integrated into the service provided in the district.

(1961, P.A. 507, S. 3; 1972, P.A. 261, S. 3; P.A. 73-2, S. 9, 11; P.A. 75-486, S. 24, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 162, 610; P.A. 80-94, S. 1, 3; 80-482, S. 11, 348; P.A. 88-317, S. 49, 107.)

History: 1972 act clarified procedure for transit district takeover of system under control of public utilities commission and added provisions concerning appeal to commission and subsidies to privately-owned companies; P.A. 73-2 deleted references to assessments; P.A. 75-486 substituted public utilities control authority for public utilities commission; P.A. 77-614 substituted division of public utility control within the department of business regulation for public utilities control authority, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-94 substituted department of transportation for the division and deleted reference to abolished business regulation department, replaced reference to appeals as provided in Secs. 16-35 to 16-39 with reference to appeals under Secs. 4-177 to 4-182 and added provision for appeal after hearing; technical changes made in P.A. 80-482 were not enacted; P.A. 88-317 amended reference to Secs. 4-177 to 4-182 to include new sections added to Ch. 54, effective July 1, 1989, and applicable to all agency proceedings commencing on or after that date; (Revisor's note: In 1997 the Revisors editorially changed the phrase “in the same manner and under the same standards are established by said title 16.” to “in the same manner and under the same standards as are established in said title 16.” thereby correcting a clerical error in the codification of P.A. 73-2, S. 9).

Cited. 235 C. 1.

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Sec. 7-273e. Acquisition or establishment of transit districts and transportation centers. Eminent domain. (a) If the directors deem it necessary to preserve or to develop a transit system, the district may establish, operate and maintain a transit system within the district or between the district and any municipality contiguous with its service area with which it contracts to furnish transit service, and for this purpose may establish a new system, or may acquire all or a portion of the property and franchises of any company or companies operating a transit service in the district, including that portion of the property and franchises used for operation within the district and also that portion of the property and franchises which is used outside the district but which is integrated into the service provided in the district. The district may establish, construct, acquire, operate and maintain transportation centers and parking facilities, as defined in subsection (b) of section 7-273b, in the district, and for such purposes may acquire, by purchase or otherwise, hold, sell, convey and obtain and exercise any and all rights of ownership or interest in or to any real or personal property as provided by this section, apply for and accept grants and gifts, lease all or any portion of such centers and parking facilities, charge and collect rent, use or other fees, make contracts and enter into management agreements and arrangements with others with respect to any transaction, operation or venture which the district has the power to conduct by itself in connection with exercising its powers under this section. Thereafter the district may contract, after competitive bidding, for the operation of all or any portion of the system and any transportation centers and parking facilities located therein by private management, under suitable incentives. The district shall fix the terms and conditions upon which transit services shall be provided, whether operated directly by the district or indirectly by contract, including the fixing of passenger fares and any other rates to be charged. The district shall, for its purposes under this section, so far as applicable, have the authority conferred on the Department of Transportation by the general statutes as applied to local transit.

(b) In order to insure the continuance of adequate transit services when it appears that the holder of the franchise is or will be incapable of continuing to offer satisfactory service to meet present or future public passenger transportation requirements and it is improbable that such franchise will be sought by any other private concern, the Department of Transportation, on its own initiative, may or, on request of the transit district or the legislative body of one or more municipalities in the area served, shall fix a time and place for a hearing as to whether such franchise is suitable for acquisition by a transit district. Said department shall give written notice of such hearing to the board of selectmen of each town, or in the case of cities and boroughs to the chief executive of each, within the area not less than fourteen days prior to such hearing, and shall cause to be published twice, not more than fourteen nor less than seven days prior to such hearing, notice of such hearing in a newspaper or newspapers having a substantial circulation in each municipality within such area. Suitability of a franchise for acquisition by a transit district shall be determined from the following considerations: (1) That public convenience and necessity require the continuance of transit service within the area, (2) that the present franchise holder is or will be incapable of continuing to offer satisfactory service, (3) that it is improbable that such franchise will be sought by a private concern and (4) that continuance of transit service may require the operation of such service by a transit district. After a public hearing thereon and consideration of the above-mentioned factors, the department may declare such franchise suitable for acquisition by a transit district, provided such declaration shall not affect the authority of the municipalities in the area to establish such a district. Ability to offer satisfactory service shall be based upon the financial stability of the franchise holder as determined from past, current and projected net income and from an estimate of financial ability to meet future public passenger transportation requirements in the area. The department may make periodic inspections of transit system franchise holders to determine the financial stability of each and for this purpose may examine the books, accounts and other pertinent documents of such franchise holders and shall have the power to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, accounts and other pertinent documents by the issuance of a subpoena. With the written consent of the chief executive officer of each municipality within the area served, the district and the transit system franchise holder may execute an agreement to waive the holding of a hearing by the department, as described in this subsection and may exercise its power to acquire real property and interests and rights in real property in accordance with subsection (c) of this section.

(c) A transit district shall have the power to acquire real property and interests and rights in real property by eminent domain in the name of the transit district for the purposes of the transit district subject to the prior approval of the legislative body or bodies of the municipality or municipalities in which the real property is located. The owner shall be paid by the transit district for all damages. Where the transit district and the owner of such property cannot agree upon the amount to be paid to the owner for any property thus taken, the transit district shall proceed in the same manner specified for redevelopment agencies in accordance with sections 8-129 to 8-133, inclusive. Where either by hearing or waiver it has been determined that a franchise is suitable for acquisition pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the transit district shall have the power to acquire by eminent domain all or any part of the franchise and of the holder's transit system, including the holder's real estate or interests therein, personal property, and funds under the control or held for the use of or the benefit of such holder. Where the transit district and the holder of such franchise and property cannot agree upon the amount to be paid to the holder for any franchise or property thus taken, the transit district shall proceed in the same manner specified for redevelopment agencies in accordance with sections 8-129 to 8-133, inclusive.

(1961, P.A. 507, S. 4; 1972, P.A. 261, S. 4; P.A. 75-486, S. 25, 69; P.A. 77-463, S. 2; 77-614, S. 162, 610; P.A. 79-246, S. 1, 2; P.A. 80-94, S. 2, 3; 80-482, S. 12, 348; P.A. 83-469, S. 3, 5.)

History: 1972 act added provisions allowing acquisition of property and franchises of companies operating within the district and added Subsecs. (b) and (c) elaborating on acquisition procedure; P.A. 75-486 substituted public utilities control authority for public utilities commission; P.A. 77-463 added provisions concerning transportation centers in Subsec. (a); P.A. 77-614 substituted division of public utility control within the department of business regulation for public utilities control authority, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-246 added provision allowing waiver of hearing in Subsec. (b); P.A. 80-94 substituted department of transportation for division of public utility control and deleted references to abolished business regulation department; technical amendments in P.A. 80-482 were not enacted; P.A. 83-469 gave transit districts authority over parking facilities.

Cited. 188 C. 417; 235 C. 1.

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Sec. 7-273f. District budget. Audit of accounts. Annually the board of directors shall hold a public meeting at which itemized estimates of the expenditures of the district for the ensuing fiscal year shall be presented and at which all persons within the district shall be heard in regard to any appropriation which they are desirous that the board should recommend or reject. The board shall, after such public hearing, prepare and cause to be published in a newspaper or newspapers having a substantial circulation in such district a report in a form prescribed by the Commissioner of Revenue Services containing: (1) An itemized statement of all actual receipts from all sources of such district during its last fiscal year; (2) an itemized statement of classification of all actual expenditures during the same year; (3) an itemized estimate of anticipated revenues during the ensuing fiscal year from each source; (4) an itemized estimate of expenditures for such ensuing fiscal year; and (5) the amount of revenue surplus or deficit of the district at the beginning of the fiscal year for which estimates are being prepared. Not less than two nor more than four weeks after such publication the board shall make such specific appropriations as appear advisable, but no appropriation for any purpose shall be made exceeding the amount published for that purpose and no appropriation shall be made for any purpose not published. If it becomes necessary during any fiscal year for the board to appropriate additional sums, the provisions of this section governing annual appropriations shall govern so far as they are applicable. The accounts of the district shall be audited in the manner provided by section 7-392.

(1961, P.A. 507, S. 5; 1972, P.A. 261, S. 5; P.A. 73-2, S. 10, 11; P.A. 77-614, S. 139, 610; P.A. 13-277, S. 24.)

History: 1972 act permitted assessments against member municipalities and required inclusion of assessments in municipal budgets; P.A. 73-2 deleted provisions concerning assessments against municipalities; P.A. 77-614 substituted commissioner of revenue services for tax commissioner, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 13-277 deleted references to executive sessions, effective July 1, 2013.

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Sec. 7-273g. Bond issues. Temporary notes. State guarantee. (a) Whenever a district has made an appropriation or incurred a debt, to purchase, acquire, construct, improve or extend any transit facility or transit system or to refund outstanding bonds or notes, it may issue in the name of the transit district general obligation bonds secured by the full faith and credit of the transit district, or revenue bonds secured by a pledge of revenues, or bonds secured by both the full faith and credit of the transit district and a pledge of revenues. Any such bonds which are secured by the full faith and credit of the transit district or by both the full faith and credit of the transit district and a pledge of revenues shall be in serial form and may mature in annual installments which shall be substantially equal or shall be so arranged that no installments payable in any year shall be less than the amount of any installment payable in any subsequent year, or may mature in annual installments on a maturity schedule that will substantially equalize the payment of principal and interest annually. The first installment of any series of bonds shall mature not later than two years from the date of the issue of such series and the last installment of such series shall mature not later than forty years therefrom. Any revenue bonds may mature at term, which shall not exceed forty years from the date of issue, or in such installments prior thereto as the board of directors determines. The term of any anticipation notes issued pursuant to this chapter shall not be included in computing the time within which such bonds shall mature. The bonds of each issue may be sold at public or private sale, at or above or below par, may be fully registered, registrable as principal only or in bearer form, and may be made redeemable before maturity at such price or prices, and under such terms and conditions, all as shall be provided by the board of directors. The board of directors, or such officer as the board shall designate, shall determine the rate of interest which such bonds shall bear, the form of such bonds, the persons by whom such bonds are to be signed, the place or places for payment of principal and interest, and the manner of execution of such bonds.

(b) A public hearing shall be held on any proposed resolution to authorize the issuance of bonds. Notice of the public hearing and a copy of the proposed resolution shall be published fifteen days before the date of the public hearing in a newspaper or newspapers having a substantial circulation in the district. All such bonds shall be authorized after such public hearing by resolution adopted by a majority of all the directors of the transit district, provided no resolution authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds exceeding two hundred fifty thousand dollars shall become effective until ninety days after publication of notice of passage of the resolution in a newspaper or newspapers having a substantial circulation in the district. Such resolution authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds exceeding two hundred fifty thousand dollars shall become effective ninety days after publication of notice of passage of the resolution by the board of directors of the transit district unless the legislative bodies of those constituent municipalities whose population comprises forty per cent of the population of all the constituent municipalities vote to disapprove such resolution within such ninety-day period, or unless the legislative bodies of one-third of the constituent municipalities vote to disapprove such resolution within such ninety-day period. The effective date of such resolution authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds exceeding two hundred fifty thousand dollars shall be suspended if petitions requesting a district-wide referendum on such resolution and signed by not less than ten per cent of the electors of any municipality which is a member of the transit district, or by not less than five per cent of the electors of all the municipalities which are members of the transit district, and complying with section 7-9, are filed with the clerk of any such municipalities within the sixty-day period following the publication of notice of passage. Each clerk with whom a petition is properly and timely filed shall notify the chairman or chief executive officer of the transit district in writing of the total number of electors in that municipality and the total number of such electors whose signatures appear on such a petition. Where the required number of signatures on such petition have been submitted, the chairman of the district shall designate a day and the hours of voting at such referendum, which referendum shall be held simultaneously in each member municipality, such day to be not more than fifty days after the last day to file such petitions, and not less than twenty days after notice of such referendum and a copy of such resolution are published in a newspaper or newspapers having a substantial circulation in the district. All electors in each of the municipalities which are members of the transit district shall be entitled to vote at such referendum. Such resolution shall become effective upon receiving the favorable vote of a majority of all electors voting thereon at such referendum.

(c) “Annual receipts from taxation” means the receipts from taxation of all the municipalities which are members of the transit district for the fiscal year next preceding the date of issue. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 7-374, any transit district may issue bonds, provided the aggregate indebtedness of such district shall not exceed one times the annual receipts from taxation. Bonds and notes issued under the provisions of this section for the purposes of this chapter shall not be subject to section 7-374 or to any other statutory limitations on the indebtedness of any municipality which is a member of the transit district and shall not be included in computing the aggregate indebtedness of any municipality which is a member of the transit district.

(d) Whenever a transit district has been authorized to issue bonds as provided by this section, the board of directors of such district may authorize without public hearing the issuance of temporary notes in anticipation of the receipt of the proceeds from the sale of such bonds. Such notes shall be issued for a period of not more than four years, but notes issued for a shorter period of time may be renewed by the issue of other notes provided the period from the date of the original notes to the maturity of the last notes issued in renewal thereof shall not exceed four years, and, to the extent of the unpaid balance of federal and state grants as to which the transit district has a written commitment, notes may be renewed by the issue of other notes for such longer time pending receipt of such grant proceeds.

(e) In the discretion of the board of directors, the revenue bonds of the transit district may be secured by a trust indenture between the transit district and a corporate trustee, which trustee may be any trust company or bank having the powers of a trust company in the state. Such indenture may contain reasonable and adequate provisions for protecting and enforcing the rights and remedies of the bond holders and may restrict their individual rights of action as is customary in trust indentures securing bonds and debentures of corporations.

(f) The bonds and notes of a transit district issued pursuant to this chapter shall be lawful investments of the state and all governmental units and agencies thereof, of all banks, trust companies, savings banks, savings and loan associations, investment companies, insurance companies, insurance associations, and of all executors, administrators, guardians, trustees and other fiduciaries.

(g) Bonds and notes issued under the provisions of this chapter, their transfer and the income therefrom, including any profit made on the sale thereof, shall at all times be free from taxation within the state.

(h) If at any time the transit district is in default on the payment of the principal of or interest on general obligation bonds or bond anticipation notes of such transit district, the chief fiscal officer of the defaulting transit district shall set apart from the first revenues thereafter received by the transit district, from whatever source, except revenues pledged as security for other bonds or notes and those federal or state grants or loans which the grant agency restricts to uses other than debt service on the district's bonds or bond anticipation notes, an amount sufficient to pay the principal and interest due and owing on such bonds or bond anticipation notes and shall immediately apply such amount to such default.

(i) If so recommended by the Commissioner of Transportation and if so authorized by resolution of the State Bond Commission, the state shall unconditionally guarantee the punctual payment of the principal of and interest on any bonds or notes of the transit district issued under the provisions of this chapter, provided the aggregate principal amount of such bonds or notes so guaranteed pursuant to this section shall not exceed fifty million dollars. Any such guarantee of bonds or notes of a transit district made pursuant to this section shall be evidenced by endorsement thereof on such bonds or notes, executed in the name of the state and on its behalf by such officer thereof as may be designated in said resolution of the State Bond Commission authorizing such guarantee. The execution of such a guarantee on any bonds or notes issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter as aforesaid shall obligate the state to pay the principal of and interest on said bonds or notes upon default in such payment by the transit district.

(j) A district may issue bonds, notes or other obligations under this section, the interest on which may be includable in the gross income of the holder or holders thereof under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time amended, or any subsequent such code. The district may issue such bonds, notes or obligations only upon finding that such issuance is necessary, in the public interest and furthers the purposes and powers of the district.

(1961, P.A. 507, S. 6; 1972, P.A. 261, S. 6; P.A. 78-305, S. 2, 3, 5; P.A. 83-469, S. 4, 5; P.A. 89-211, S. 8.)

History: 1972 act replaced all former provisions for issuing bonds with new Subsecs. (a) to (i), inclusive; P.A. 78-305 amended Subsec. (a) allowing revenue bonds to mature at term, not exceeding 40 years or in installments and amended Subsec. (h) to exclude revenues pledged as security on other bonds from use as payments on bonds in default; P.A. 83-469 added Subsec. (j) authorizing transit districts to issue taxable bonds, notes and other obligations; P.A. 89-211 clarified reference to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

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Sec. 7-273h. Liability of district. Joint assumption of liability imposed upon district officer, agent or employee. (a) Any district operating a transit service pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be responsible for any injury or damage to persons or property, happening or arising by reason of the maintenance or operation of the same, in the same manner and to the same extent as though the same were owned and operated by individuals or by a private corporation. Members of the board shall not be personally liable to suits in such cases except for malfeasance in office. Any member of the board shall be an agent of the district for service of process.

(b) Each town, city or borough which has joined with other towns, cities or boroughs to form a district pursuant to this chapter shall jointly assume the liability imposed upon any officer, agent or employee of such district, acting in the performance of his duties and in the scope of his employment, under, and in the manner and in accordance with the procedures set forth in, subsection (a) of section 7-465. Such joint assumption of liability shall be proportionately shared by the towns, cities and boroughs in such district on the same basis that the expenses of such district are shared.

(1961, P.A. 507, S. 7; 1972, P.A. 261, S. 7; P.A. 83-464, S. 2, 5.)

History: 1972 act substituted “transit service” for “public passenger transportation service”; P.A. 83-464 added Subsec. (b), requiring the members of the district to jointly assume the liability imposed on any officer, agent or employee of the district while performing his duties.

Cited. 235 C. 1.

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Sec. 7-273i. Transfer of employees when company acquired by district. Whenever a transit district acquires the property and franchises of any company or companies operating a transit service within its district all employees of such company or companies who are necessary for the operation of such district, except executive and administrative officers, shall become employees of such district and shall be credited by the district with all seniority rights, sick leave and vacation, insurance and pension benefits in accordance with the records or labor agreements of the acquired company or companies. Such district shall assume and observe all pension obligations of such acquired company or companies, and members and beneficiaries of any pension or retirement system or other benefits established by the acquired company or companies shall continue to have rights, privileges, benefits, obligations and status with respect to such established systems. Such district shall assume and observe all labor contracts of such company or companies in existence at the time of transfer and all obligations incurred by such contracts in regard to wages, salaries, hours, sick leave, working conditions, collective bargaining, and pension or retirement provisions. Such district, through its board, may enter into agreements with representatives of its employees relative to the transfer or establishment of pension trust funds to or under the joint control of such district and representatives of its employees, and shall have all powers necessary to maintain and administer such trust funds jointly with representatives of its employees. No employee of any such acquired company who is transferred to a position with a district shall, by reason of such transfer, be placed in any worse position with respect to workers' compensation, pension, seniority, wages, sick leave, vacation, health and welfare insurance or any other benefit than he enjoyed as an employee of such company.

(1961, P.A. 507, S. 8; 1972, P.A. 261, S. 8; P.A. 79-376, S. 8.)

History: 1972 act substituted “transit district” for “board of transit authority” and “transit service” for “public passenger transportation service”; P.A. 79-376 substituted “workers' compensation” for “workmen's compensation”.

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Sec. 7-273j. Collective bargaining. Each transit district shall have power to engage in collective bargaining with duly appointed representatives of an employee labor organization and may enter into labor contracts concerning wages, salaries, hours, sick leave, working conditions, collective bargaining and pension or retirement provisions. In case of any labor dispute involving a district and its employees where collective bargaining does not result in agreement, the parties shall submit such dispute to arbitration pursuant to arbitration provisions in any labor contract assumed by the district or entered into by the district, or, in the absence of such provisions, to the Board of Mediation and Arbitration in accordance with the procedure set out in section 31-97, and shall abide by the decision rendered under the provisions of section 31-98. As used in this section, the term “labor dispute” includes, but shall not be restricted to, any controversy between a district and its employees or their representatives concerning terms, tenure or conditions of employment or concerning the association or representation of persons in negotiating, fixing or maintaining, or seeking to negotiate, fix, maintain or change, terms or conditions of employment; and the term “labor organization” means any organization which exists and is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or other mutual aid or protection.

(1961, P.A. 507, S. 9; 1972, P.A. 261, S. 9.)

History: 1972 act deleted phrase requiring that transit district work through its board of transit authority.

Cited. 201 C. 685; 232 C. 57.

Cited. 43 CS 340.

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Sec. 7-273k. Contracts for mass passenger transportation service. Grants. Borrowing powers. Any transit district established under this chapter may contract with any person, group of persons or corporation, including but not limited to any common carrier or any agency of the state or of the United States, for the purpose of supporting, continuing, providing, establishing or improving systems or services for mass transportation of passengers. The district may, by itself or by agreement with others, support all or a portion of such systems or services, share in the costs or provide funds for such purpose. The district may apply for grants or financial assistance from any person, group of persons or corporation or from any agency of the state or of the United States and may make equipment or other facilities available to any common carrier under arrangements deemed suitable to support, continue, provide, establish or improve mass transportation systems or services. The district may purchase any rail or mass transit right-of-way and associated facilities or acquire the right of use of such right-of-way and associated facilities by lease or any other arrangements. A transit district may borrow on a temporary basis in anticipation of grants, contributions or other revenues, may issue notes in terms not to exceed one year to evidence such borrowing, may renew such notes, and may pledge all or any portion of such grants, contributions, or other revenues as security for such notes. Such notes shall be authorized by resolution of the district's board of directors and any notes so authorized may be issued and sold in the manner provided by such resolution. Such notes shall not be included in computing the aggregate indebtedness of the district or of any municipality which is a member of the district.

(1969, P.A. 47; P.A. 78-305, S. 4, 5.)

History: P.A. 78-305 added provisions concerning borrowing powers of transit districts.

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Sec. 7-273l. Application for state funds. Distribution formula. Conditions for receiving funds. Municipal transit service. Regulations. (a) As used in this section, “urbanized area” has the same meaning as provided in 49 USC 5302(24), as amended from time to time, and “rural area” has the same meaning as provided in 49 USC 5302(17), as amended from time to time.

(b) Each transit district established under this chapter or any special act may (1) impose service charges and user fees on persons using transit systems operated by such district, and (2) apply for funding from the Department of Transportation in accordance with the provisions of this section to finance the construction, acquisition, purchase, lease or operation of a mass transit system and related programs authorized under section 7-273b. Commencing with the fiscal year ending June 30, 1984, until June 30, 2024, inclusive, the commissioner shall distribute such funds to each transit district located in an urbanized area or a rural area in the same manner as the formula specified under 49 USC 5307, as amended from time to time, or 49 USC 5311, as amended from time to time. Commencing with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year thereafter, the commissioner shall distribute such funds to each transit district located in a rural area in the same manner as the formula specified under 49 USC 5311, as amended from time to time. Any municipality providing transit service that is not part of a transit district may either establish a transit district under the provisions of this chapter to assume operating control of such service or negotiate an agreement with the Department of Transportation to administer the operation of such service. In the latter case, the department shall provide financial assistance to such municipality according to the formula specified in this section. As a condition of receiving any funds under this subsection, a transit district or municipality shall meet eligibility criteria established by the commissioner, including, but not limited to, deriving a portion of operating costs from service charges, user fees, federal or local subsidies and sources other than from state subsidies.

(c) Commencing with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Commissioner of Transportation shall distribute to each transit district located in an urbanized area an amount equivalent to the total amount of funds distributed to the transit district pursuant to subsection (b) of this section by the commissioner during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024.

(d) In addition to the funding distributed pursuant to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, commencing with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Commissioner of Transportation shall establish a grant program to assist transit districts located in urbanized areas to maintain and expand transit services, provide regional transit services and upgrade the equipment, facilities and infrastructure incident to the provision of transit services. The commissioner shall establish eligibility criteria, an application process, evaluation criteria and reporting requirements for the grant program. The commissioner shall prioritize grant awards to transit districts where the municipality that formed the transit district has a population of one hundred thousand or more, as determined by the most recent population estimate by the Department of Public Health, and transit districts where the member municipalities included in the transit district have a combined population of one hundred thousand or more.

(e) The Commissioner of Transportation shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the purposes of this section.

(P.A. 82-371; P.A. 22-40, S. 26.)

History: P.A. 22-40 added Subsec. (a) re definitions of “urbanized area” and “rural area”, designated existing provisions as Subsec. (b) and amended same to add provision re distribution of funds commencing with fiscal year ending June 30, 1984, until June 30, 2024, replace reference to Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 with reference to 49 USC 5307 and 49 USC 5311, delete provisions re operating costs in fiscal years ending June 30, 1984, June 30, 1985 and June 30, 1986, added provision re distribution of funds to transit district in rural area commencing with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year thereafter, replace provision re municipality to derive same percentage of operating costs with provision re eligibility criteria established by commissioner, added Subsec. (c) re distribution of funds to transit district in urbanized area commencing with fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and each fiscal year thereafter, added Subsec. (d) re grant program, designated existing provision re regulations as Subsec. (e) and made technical and conforming changes, effective July 1, 2022.

See Sec. 13b-38 re advice and assistance by Commissioner of Transportation to transit districts.

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Sec. 7-273m. Distribution formula exception. (a) As used in this section:

(1) “Total system revenues” means passenger fares and other revenues incidental to a state-subsidized fixed-route bus system during a fiscal year ending June thirtieth, not including local, regional, state or federal payments to the operator of the system.

(2) “Total system expenses” means such a system's operating costs during such a fiscal year.

(3) “Deficit” means the difference between total system expenses and total system revenues during such a fiscal year.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 7-273l, the Commissioner of Transportation shall (1) pay, from the department's appropriation for public transportation, one hundred per cent of the deficit of any state-subsidized, fixed-route bus system for which the total system revenues exceed forty per cent of the total system expenses and (2) negotiate a cost-sharing arrangement with the operators of all other state-subsidized, fixed-route bus systems. The commissioner shall recover from the federal government any operating subsidy that the operator of a system under subdivision (1) of this subsection is eligible to receive for the operation of the system and deposit such subsidy in the General Fund.

(c) No fixed-route bus system operated by a transit district shall be eligible to receive funds from the state unless such transit district has developed a plan, approved by the Department of Transportation, to coordinate bus service with transit districts which provide bus service in adjacent towns. Such program shall be reviewed and approved or disapproved by the Department of Transportation annually.

(d) The Commissioner of Transportation shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, establishing requirements and standards for programs required pursuant to subsection (c) of this section.

(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-19, S. 1, 5; P.A. 86-262, S. 3, 5.)

History: P.A. 86-262 added Subsecs. (c) and (d), prohibiting transit districts from receiving state funds unless they coordinate bus service with transit districts which provide bus service in adjacent towns and requiring the commissioner of transportation to adopt regulations for such programs.

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Sec. 7-273n. State matching grants for elderly and handicapped demand responsive transportation programs. Section 7-273n is repealed, effective October 1, 1999.

(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-28, S. 1, 2; P.A. 85-428, S. 9, 10; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; P.A. 99-265, S. 5.)

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Sec. 7-273o. Political advertising at transit district and parking authority facilities. (a) As used in this section, “political advertising” means any advertising for the purpose of influencing public opinion with respect to any legislative, administrative or electoral decision or with respect to any controversial issue of public importance.

(b) No transit district or parking authority that allows the placement of any advertising, whether placed directly by such transit district or parking authority or by any third party or independent contractor, on or within its facilities, including, but not limited to, advertising on or within any vehicle, or on any bus shelter operated by such transit district, parking authority, third party or independent contractor, shall prohibit the placement of political advertising on or within such facilities.

(P.A. 13-277, S. 12.)

History: P.A. 13-277 effective January 1, 2014.

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Sec. 7-273p. Mobile application concerning transit services provided by transit districts and trip planning services. On and after October 1, 2023, the Commissioner of Transportation shall develop and maintain a mobile application for the purpose of (1) integrating real-time information concerning transit services provided by each transit district established under chapter 103a or any special act, and (2) providing trip planning services to the public. Each such transit district shall provide real-time information concerning the district's transit services, including, but not limited to, the schedule, routes, trips and location of such transit services, in the manner and form prescribed by the commissioner.

(P.A. 22-40, S. 27.)

History: P.A. 22-40 effective May 17, 2022.

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Secs. 7-273q to 7-273z. Reserved for future use.

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