(1) The express purposes of the commission are to improve mobility and expand multimodal transportation options for persons and freight throughout the six-county North Florida region. The commission shall, at a minimum:

(a) Use the data contained in the long-range transportation plan of the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization and other data to develop a multimodal and prioritized regional transportation plan consisting of transportation projects of regional significance; and

(b) Research and develop an implementation plan that identifies available but not yet imposed, and potentially developable, sources of funding to execute the regional transportation plan. In developing the regional transportation plan, the commission shall review and coordinate with the future land use, capital improvements, and traffic circulation elements of the counties’ local government comprehensive plans, the Strategic Regional Policy Plan of the Northeast Florida Regional Council, and the schedules of other units of government having transit or transportation authority within whose jurisdictions the projects or improvements will be located in order to define and resolve potential inconsistencies between such plans and the commission’s regional transportation plan. The commission shall present the regional transportation plan and updates to the governing bodies of the constituent counties within 90 days after adoption. The commission shall update the regional transportation plan and the implementation plan at least every other year.

(2) The commission may plan, develop, coordinate, and promote transportation projects and transportation services of regional significance which are identified in the commission’s regional transportation plan.

(a) Subject to available funding and with the approval of the affected counties and transportation authorities, the commission may provide transportation services of regional significance which are identified in the regional transportation plan.

(b) To ensure coordination of its plans with those of local governments, the commission shall consult with local governments concerning the commission’s regional transportation plan.

(c) The commission may facilitate efforts to secure funding commitments from federal and state sources, or from the applicable counties, for the planning, development, construction, purchase, operation, and maintenance of transportation projects that are of regional significance or that support intercounty mobility for persons or freight.

(3) In carrying out its purposes and powers, the commission may request funding and technical assistance from the department and from federal and local agencies. In order to carry out the purposes and powers of the commission for its first 5 years, the commission shall also timely request annually that each constituent county appropriate a cash contribution of up to 30 cents per capita per year, based on the latest decennial census, to support its budget; however, the contribution of Duval County may not exceed 45 percent of the commission’s budget for any fiscal year.

(4) The commission may exercise all powers necessary, appurtenant, convenient, or incidental to carrying out the purposes identified in subsections (1)-(3), including, but not limited to, the power to:

(a) Sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, and complain and defend in all courts in its own name.

(b) Adopt and use a corporate seal.

(c) Apply for and accept grants from federal, state, local, or private sources for the carrying out of the purposes and powers of the commission.

(d) Partner with private sector business community entities that may further the commission’s mission and engage the public in support of regional multimodal transportation improvements.

(e) Adopt rules, including bylaws and sanctions, for the regulation of the affairs and the conducting of business, including termination of membership in the commission for nonpayment of county contributions required under subsection (3).

(f) Advertise, market, and promote regional transit services and facilities, freight mobility plans and projects, and the general activities of the commission.

(g) Cooperate with other governmental entities and contract with other governmental agencies, including the Federal Government, the department, counties, transit and transportation authorities or agencies, municipalities, and expressway and bridge authorities.

(h) Purchase liability insurance directly from local, national, or international insurance companies which the commission is contractually and legally obligated to provide, notwithstanding s. 287.022(1).

(i) Make contracts and execute all instruments necessary or convenient for conducting its business.

(j) Form, alone or with one or more other agencies of the state or local governments, public benefit corporations to carry out the powers and obligations granted under this part or the powers and obligations of such other agencies or local governments.

(k) Do everything necessary or convenient for the conduct of its business and the general welfare of the commission in order to carry out the powers granted to it by this part or any other law.

(5) The commission may not pledge the credit or taxing power of the state or any political subdivision or agency thereof, nor may any of the commission’s obligations be deemed to be obligations of the state or of any political subdivision or agency thereof, nor may the state or any political subdivision or agency thereof, except the commission, be liable for the payment of the principal of or interest on such obligations.

History.—s. 5, ch. 2013-173.

1Note.—Repealed by s. 13, ch. 2013-173.