                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

POWERS AND DUTIES OF ROADWAY OPERATOR (§ 56-543)

A. The operator shall have all power allowed by law generally to persons having
the same form of organization as the operator, including, without limitation,
the authority to operate the roadway and charge tolls for the use thereof, and
may pledge any revenue net of operational expenses realized from tolls charged
for the use of the roadway in order to secure repayment of any obligations
incurred for the construction, enlargement or operation of such roadway. Any
financing of the acquisition, construction, enlargement, or operation of the
roadway may be in such amounts and upon such terms and conditions as may be
deemed necessary or appropriate by the operator to provide for the acquisition,
construction, enlargement, and operation of the roadway, issuance costs, other
financing obligations, and reasonable reserves. The Commonwealth shall not
obligate its full faith and credit on any financing of the operator. Assumption
of operation of the project shall not obligate the Commonwealth to pay any
obligation of the operator whether secured or otherwise, from sources other than
toll revenue. Subject to applicable permit requirements, the operator shall have
the authority to cross any canal or navigable watercourse so long as the
crossing does not unreasonably interfere with navigation and use of the
waterway. In operating the roadway, the operator may:

   1. Classify traffic according to reasonable categories for assessment of
   tolls; and

   2. With the consent of the Department, make and enforce reasonable
   regulations, including regulations:
   				a. Which set maximum and minimum speeds that shall conform to Department
   and state practices;
   				b. Which exclude undesirable vehicles or cargoes or materials from the use
   of the roadway; or
   				c. Which establish commuter lanes for use during all or any part of a day
   and limit the use of such lanes to certain traffic.

   3. The enumeration of powers in this subsection shall not limit the power of
   the operator to do anything it deems necessary and appropriate in the
   operation of the roadway, provided that the practice is reasonable and
   nondiscriminatory. The powers granted to the operator in this subsection shall
   not be deemed to limit the authority of the Commission to regulate the
   operator under this title.

B. The operator shall have the following duties:

   1. It shall file and maintain at all times with the Commission an accurate
   schedule of rates charged to the public for use of all or any portion of the
   roadway and it shall also file and maintain a statement that such rates will
   apply uniformly to all users within any such reasonable classification as the
   operator may elect to implement. These rates shall be neither applied nor
   collected in a discriminatory fashion, and free vehicular passage shall be
   permitted to those persons referred to in subsection A of &#xA7; 33.2-613.

   2. It shall construct and maintain the roadway for anticipated use according
   to appropriate standards of the Department for public highways operated and
   maintained by the Department, and enlarge or expand the road when unsatisfied
   demand for use of the roadway makes it economically feasible to do so. The
   operator shall agree with the Department for inspection of construction work
   by the Department at appropriate times during any construction or enlargement.
   In addition, it shall cooperate fully with the Department in establishing any
   interconnection with the roadway that the Department may make.

   3. It shall contract with the Commonwealth for enforcement of the traffic and
   public safety laws by state authorities, and may similarly contract with
   appropriate local authorities for those portions of the roadway within the
   local jurisdiction.

HISTORY: 1988, c. 649; 1991, c. 272; 1993, c. 732.