§2021. Definitions

Unless the text clearly indicates otherwise, the following words or phrases shall have the following meanings:

(1) "Act" means the Louisiana Transportation Development Act.

(2) "Authority" means any transportation authority formed pursuant to this Chapter or any successor thereto.

(3) "Board" means the board of directors of an authority.

(4) "Bonds" means bonds, notes, certificates, obligations, or any other evidence of indebtedness or evidence of borrowed money issued or entered into by an authority to finance a project.

(5) "Department" means the Department of Transportation and Development of the state or any successor agency thereto.

(6) "Municipal-related project" means any proposed capital project involving the acquisition of land for, or the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, improvement, installation, extension, development, or equipping of real property as part of a municipal street system or related facilities.

(7) "Parish-related project" means any proposed capital project involving the acquisition of land for, or the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, improvement, installation, extension, development, or equipping of real property as part of a parish road system or related facilities.

(8) "Project" means any capital project undertaken pursuant to this Chapter involving the acquisition of real property for, or the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, improvement, extension, installation, development, or equipping of a tollway which is a new roadway, path, highway, transitway, bridge, tunnel, or other paved surface or structure specifically designed as a land vehicle transportation route, or a substantial reconstruction of an existing route, related facilities, or any portion thereof, including a state-designated project.

(9) "Project costs" means: all costs of acquisition and construction; the cost of acquisition of all land, rights-of-way, servitudes, property rights, easements, and interests acquired, or to be acquired, by an authority for such construction; the cost of demolishing or removing any buildings or structures on land so acquired, including the cost of acquiring any lands to which such buildings or structures may be moved; the cost of all machinery and equipment; financing charges, interest charges, interest prior to and during construction; cost of traffic estimates and of engineering and legal expenses; cost of plans, specifications, surveys; estimates of cost and of revenues; other expenses necessary or incidental to determining the feasibility or practicability of constructing a project; administrative expenses, and such other expenses as may be necessary or incidental to the construction of a project; and the financing of such construction and the placing of a project in operation. Any obligation or expenses hereafter incurred by the department, with the approval of an authority, for traffic surveys, borings, preparation of plans and specifications, and other engineering services in connection with the construction of a project shall be regarded as part of the cost of the project and shall be reimbursed to the department.

(10) "Public utility facilities" means tracks, pipes, mains, conduits, cables, wires, towers, poles, and other equipment and appliances which are either publicly or privately owned.

(11) "Real property" means lands, waters, rights in lands or waters, structures, franchises and interests in land, including lands under water, riparian rights, property rights in air space and/or subsurface space, and any and all other things and rights usually included within the said term, including any and all interests in such property less than full title, such as easements and servitudes, rights-of-way, uses, leases, licenses, and all other incorporeal hereditaments and every estate, interest or right, legal or equitable, whether permanent or temporary.

(12) "Revenue" means:

(a) All income, revenues, tolls, and receipts derived or to be derived from a project owned, leased, maintained, operated or otherwise received by an authority from a project, or from contracts or agreements relating to a project, including but not limited to lease or sublease agreements, sale agreements, security agreements, loan agreements, pledge agreements, or other financing agreements between that authority and any entity, or from any other sources whatsoever.

(b) Monies generated by way of contract, pledge, donation, or bequest.

(c) Monies generated by taxes of a public entity which are authorized to be assessed and levied by the legislature or any electorate.

(13) "State" means the state of Louisiana.

(14) "State-designated project" means any proposed capital project involving the acquisition of land for, or the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, improvement, installation, extension, development, or equipping of real property as part of the state highway system or related facilities.

(15) "State highway system" means all roadways, highways, bridges, or tunnels which constitute the state highway system.

(16) "Toll" means any fee or charge for the use of a tollway.

(17) "Tollway" means any roadway, path, highway, transitway, bridge, tunnel, or other paved surface or structure specifically designed as a land vehicle transportation route for which a toll will be collected.

(18) "Transitway" means any fixed guide way facility involving the use of rail or dedicated transit lines.

Acts 1997, No. 1017, §1, eff. July 11, 1997.