A. The Authority, in addition to other powers enumerated in this article, is hereby granted and shall have and may exercise all powers necessary or convenient for the carrying out of its statutory purposes, including, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power to:
4. Sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, complain, and defend in all courts in its own name; however, this shall not be deemed a waiver or relinquishment of any sovereign immunity to which the Authority or its officers, directors, employees, or agents are otherwise entitled;
5. Grant others the privilege to design, build, finance, operate, and maintain rail facilities;
6. Grant others the privilege to operate concessions, leases, and franchises, including but not limited to the accommodation and comfort of persons using rail facilities and the provision of ground transportation services and parking facilities for such persons;
7. Borrow money and issue bonds to finance and refinance rail facilities pursuant to § 33.2-294; and pledge or otherwise encumber all or any of the revenues or receipts of the Authority as security for all or any of the obligations of the Authority, subject to the limitations in subsection J of § 33.2-294;
8. Fix, alter, charge, and collect fees, rates, rentals, and other charges for the use of rail facilities, the sale of products, or services rendered by the Authority at rates to be determined by it for the purpose of providing for the payment of (i) expenses of the Authority; (ii) the costs of planning, development, construction, improvement, rehabilitation, repair, furnishing, maintenance, and operation of its rail facilities and properties; (iii) the costs of accomplishing its purposes set forth in § 33.2-288; and (iv) the principal of and interest on its obligations, and the funding of reserves for such purposes, and the costs of maintaining, repairing, and operating any rail facilities and fulfilling the terms and provisions of any agreement made with the purchasers or holders of any such obligations;
9. Make and enter into all contracts and agreements necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties, the furtherance of its purposes, and the execution of its powers under this article, including agreements with any person, federal agency, other state, or political subdivision of the Commonwealth;
10. Employ, in its discretion, consultants, attorneys, architects, engineers, accountants, financial experts, investment bankers, superintendents, managers, and such other employees and agents as may be necessary and fix their compensation to be payable from funds lawfully available to the Authority;
11. Appoint advisory committees as may be necessary for the performance of its duties, the furtherance of its purposes, and the execution of its powers under this article;
12. Vacate or change location of any portion of any public highway, street, public way, public utility, sewer, pipe, main, conduit, cable, wire, tower pole, or other equipment of the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions and reconnect the same in a new location;
13. Enter upon lands, waters, and premises for surveys, soundings, borings, examinations, and other activities as may be necessary for the performance of its duties;
14. Receive and accept from any federal or private agency, foundation, corporation, association, or person grants, donations of money or real or personal property for the benefit of the Authority and receive and accept from the Commonwealth or any state, and any municipality, county, or other political subdivision thereof and from any other source, aid or contributions of either money, property, or other things of value to be held, used, and applied for the purposes for which such grants and contributions may be made, provided that any federal moneys so received and accepted shall be accepted and expended by the Authority upon such terms and conditions as are prescribed by the United States and as are consistent with the laws of the Commonwealth and any state moneys so received shall be accepted and expended by the Authority upon such terms and conditions as are prescribed by the Commonwealth;
15. Accept loans from the federal government, the state government, regional authorities, localities, and private sources, provided that any federal moneys so accepted shall be accepted and expended by the Authority upon such terms and conditions as are prescribed by the United States and as are consistent with laws of the Commonwealth and any state moneys so accepted shall be accepted and expended by the Authority upon such terms and conditions as are prescribed by the Commonwealth;
16. Lease or sell and convey the airspace superadjacent or subadjacent to any rail facility owned by the Authority;
17. Pledge or otherwise encumber all or any of the revenues or receipts of the Authority as security for all or any of the obligations of the Authority;
18. Participate in joint ventures with individuals, domestic or foreign stock and nonstock corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, limited partnerships, associations, foundations, or other supporting organizations or other entities for providing passenger rail or related services or other activities that the Authority may undertake to the extent that such undertakings assist the Authority in carrying out the purposes and intent of this article;
19. Act as a “responsible public entity” for the purposes of the acquisition, construction, improvement, maintenance, or operation, or any combination thereof, of a “qualifying transportation facility” under the Public-Private Transportation Act of 1995 (§ 33.2-1800 et seq.); and
20. Undertake all actions necessary and convenient to carry out the powers granted herein.
B. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the Authority shall not directly operate any passenger, commuter, or other rail service.