(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.

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(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.

(c) Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the continuation of any transit district formed under any special act.

(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.