§ 24-12-9 Powers of authority. – (a) The authority is hereby authorized and empowered:
(1) To adopt bylaws for the regulation of its affairs and theconduct of its business;
(2) To adopt an official seal and alter it at pleasure;
(3) To maintain an office at such place or places within thestate as it may designate;
(4) To sue and be sued in its own name, plead and beimpleaded; provided, however, that any and all actions at law or in equityagainst the authority shall be brought only in the county in which theprincipal office of the authority shall be located;
(5) To determine, subject to the approval of the director oftransportation, the location and the design standards of the Newport Bridge,the turnpike and any additional facility to be constructed;
(6) To issue bonds of the authority for any of its purposesand to refund its bonds, all as provided in this chapter;
(7) To combine for financing purposes the Newport Bridge, theMount Hope Bridge, the turnpike and any additional facility or facilities, orany two (2) or more of such projects;
(8) To borrow money in anticipation of the issuance of bondsfor any of its purposes and to issue notes, certificates, or other evidences ofborrowing in form as may be authorized by resolution of the authority, thenotes, certificates, or other evidence of borrowing to be payable in the firstinstance from the proceeds of any bonds issued under the provisions of thischapter and to contain on their face a statement to the effect that neither thestate, the authority nor any municipality or other political subdivision of thestate shall be obligated to pay the same or the interest thereon except fromthe proceeds of bonds in anticipation of the issuance of which the notes,certificates, or other evidences of borrowing shall have been issued, or fromrevenues;
(9) To fix and revise from time to time, subject to theprovisions of this chapter, and to charge and collect tolls for transit overthe turnpike and the several parts or sections thereof, and for the use of theNewport Bridge, the Mount Hope Bridge, and any additional facility financedunder the provisions of this chapter;
(10) To acquire, hold and dispose of real and personalproperty in the exercise of its powers and the performance of its duties;
(11) To acquire in the name of the authority by purchase orotherwise, on such terms and conditions and in such manner as it may deemproper, or by the exercise of the rights of condemnation in the manner asprovided by this chapter, public or private lands, including public parks,playgrounds, or reservations, or parts thereof or rights therein,rights-of-way, property, rights, easements and interests as it may deemnecessary for carrying out the provisions of this chapter; provided, however,that all public property damaged in carrying out the powers granted by thischapter shall be restored or repaired and placed in its original condition asnearly as practicable;
(12) To designate the locations, with the approval of thedirector of transportation, and establish, limit and control the points ofingress to and egress from the turnpike and any additional facility as may benecessary or desirable in the judgment of the authority to insure the properoperation and maintenance thereof, and to prohibit entrance to and exit fromany point or points not so designated;
(13) To employ, in its discretion, consulting engineers,attorneys, accountants, construction and financial experts, superintendents,managers, and such other employees and agents as may be necessary in itsjudgment, and to fix their compensation;
(14) To receive and accept from any federal agency grants foror in aid of the construction of the turnpike, the Newport Bridge or anyadditional facility, and to receive and accept from the state, from anymunicipality, or other political subdivision thereof and from any other sourceaid or contributions of either money, property, labor or other things of value,to be held, used and applied only for the purposes for which the grants andcontributions may be made;
(15) To construct grade separations at intersections of theturnpike, the approaches and highway connections of the Newport Bridge, and anyadditional facility with public highways, streets, or other public ways orplaces, and to change and adjust the lines and grades thereof so as toaccommodate the same to the design of the grade separation; the cost of thegrade separations and any damage incurred in changing and adjusting the linesand grades of the highways, streets, ways, and places shall be ascertained andpaid by the authority as a part of the cost of the project;
(16) To vacate or change the location of any portion of anypublic highway, street, or other public way or place, sewer, pipe, main,conduit, cable, wire, tower, pole, and other equipment and appliance of thestate or of any municipality or other political subdivision of the state and toreconstruct the same at such new location as the authority shall deem mostfavorable for the project and of substantially the same type and in as goodcondition as the original highway, street, way, place, sewer, pipe, main,conduit, cable, wire, tower, pole, equipment, or appliance, and the cost of thereconstruction and any damage incurred in vacating or changing the locationthereof shall be ascertained and paid by the authority as a part of the cost ofthe project; any public highway, street or other public way or place vacated orrelocated by the authority shall be vacated or relocated in the manner providedby law for the vacation or relocation of public roads, and any damages awardedon account thereof shall be paid by the authority as a part of the cost of theproject;
(17) The authority shall also have the power to makereasonable regulations, subject to the approval of the public utilityadministrator, for the installation, construction, maintenance, repair,renewal, relocation and removal of tracks, pipes, mains, conduits, cables,wires, towers, poles, and other equipment and appliances (herein called "publicutility facilities") of any public utility as defined in § 39-1-2, in, on,along, over or under any project. Whenever the authority shall determine thatit is necessary that any public facilities which now are, or hereafter may be,located in, on, along, over, or under any project should be relocated in theproject, or should be removed from the project, the public utility owning oroperating the facilities shall relocate or remove the facilities in accordancewith the order of the authority; provided, however, that the cost and expensesof the relocation or removal, including the cost of installing the facilitiesin a new location, or new locations, and the cost of any lands, or any rightsor interests in lands, and any other rights acquired to accomplish therelocation or removal, less the cost of any lands or any rights or interests inlands of any other rights of the public utility paid to the public utility inconnection with the relocation or removal of the property, shall be ascertainedand paid by the authority as a part of the cost of the project. In case of anyrelocation or removal of facilities the public utility owning or operating thefacilities, its successors or assigns, may maintain and operate the facilities,with the necessary appurtenances, in the new location or new locations, for aslong a period, and upon the same terms and conditions, as it had the right tomaintain and operate the facilities in their former location or locations;
(18) To make reasonable regulations and to grant easementsfor the installation, construction, maintenance, repair, renewal, relocation,and removal of pipelines, other equipment, and appliances of any corporation orperson owning or operating pipelines in, on, along, over, or under theturnpike, whenever the authority shall determine that it is necessary that anyfacilities which now are, or hereafter may be located in, on, along, over orunder the turnpike should be relocated in the turnpike, or should be removedfrom the turnpike, the corporation or person owning or operating the facilitiesshall relocate or remove the facilities in accordance with the order of theauthority; provided, however, that the cost and expense of the relocation orremoval, including the cost of installing the facilities in a new location, ornew locations, and the cost of any lands, or any rights or interests in lands,and any other rights acquired to accomplish the relocation or removal, less thecost of any lands or any rights or interests in lands or any other rights ofany corporation or person paid to any corporation or person in connection withthe relocation or removal of the property, shall be ascertained and paid by theauthority as a part of the cost of the project. In case of any relocation orremoval of facilities the corporation or person owning or operating thefacilities, its successors or assigns, may maintain and operate the facilities,with the necessary appurtenances, in the new location or new locations, for aslong a period, and upon the same terms and conditions, as it had the right tomaintain and operate the facilities in their former location or locations;
(19) To enter upon any lands, waters, and premises for thepurpose of making such surveys, soundings, borings, and examinations as theauthority may deem necessary or convenient for its purposes, and the entryshall not be deemed a trespass, nor shall an entry for such purposes be deemedan entry under any condemnation proceedings; provided, however, the authorityshall pay any actual damage resulting to the lands, water, and premises as aresult of the entry and activities as a part of the cost of the project;
(20) To enter into contracts or agreements with any board,commission, public instrumentality of another state or with any politicalsubdivision of another state relating to the connection or connections to beestablished between the turnpike or any additional facility with any publichighway or turnpike now in existence or hereafter to be constructed in anotherstate, and with respect to the construction, maintenance and operation ofinterstate turnpikes or expressways;
(21) To enter into contracts with the department oftransportation with respect to the construction, reconstruction, renovation,acquisition, maintenance, repair, operation or management of any project andwith the Rhode Island state police with respect to the policing of any project;
(22) To make and enter into all contracts and agreementsnecessary or incidental to the performance of its duties and the execution ofits powers under this chapter; and
(23) To do all other acts and things necessary or convenientto carry out the powers expressly granted in this chapter.
(24) To grant and/or contract through the transfer of fundsof the authority to the department of transportation for the construction,reconstruction, acquisition, maintenance, repair, operation or management bythe department of transportation of any project or projects authorized by thischapter, and the department of transportation is authorized to accept any suchgrant or transfer of funds.
(b) Provided, the authority in carrying out the provisions ofthis section shall hold public hearings in the city or town where a proposedproject will be located prior to the finalization of any specifications or theawarding of any contracts for any project.
§ 24-12-9 Powers of authority. – (a) The authority is hereby authorized and empowered:
(1) To adopt bylaws for the regulation of its affairs and theconduct of its business;
(2) To adopt an official seal and alter it at pleasure;
(3) To maintain an office at such place or places within thestate as it may designate;
(4) To sue and be sued in its own name, plead and beimpleaded; provided, however, that any and all actions at law or in equityagainst the authority shall be brought only in the county in which theprincipal office of the authority shall be located;
(5) To determine, subject to the approval of the director oftransportation, the location and the design standards of the Newport Bridge,the turnpike and any additional facility to be constructed;
(6) To issue bonds of the authority for any of its purposesand to refund its bonds, all as provided in this chapter;
(7) To combine for financing purposes the Newport Bridge, theMount Hope Bridge, the turnpike and any additional facility or facilities, orany two (2) or more of such projects;
(8) To borrow money in anticipation of the issuance of bondsfor any of its purposes and to issue notes, certificates, or other evidences ofborrowing in form as may be authorized by resolution of the authority, thenotes, certificates, or other evidence of borrowing to be payable in the firstinstance from the proceeds of any bonds issued under the provisions of thischapter and to contain on their face a statement to the effect that neither thestate, the authority nor any municipality or other political subdivision of thestate shall be obligated to pay the same or the interest thereon except fromthe proceeds of bonds in anticipation of the issuance of which the notes,certificates, or other evidences of borrowing shall have been issued, or fromrevenues;
(9) To fix and revise from time to time, subject to theprovisions of this chapter, and to charge and collect tolls for transit overthe turnpike and the several parts or sections thereof, and for the use of theNewport Bridge, the Mount Hope Bridge, and any additional facility financedunder the provisions of this chapter;
(10) To acquire, hold and dispose of real and personalproperty in the exercise of its powers and the performance of its duties;
(11) To acquire in the name of the authority by purchase orotherwise, on such terms and conditions and in such manner as it may deemproper, or by the exercise of the rights of condemnation in the manner asprovided by this chapter, public or private lands, including public parks,playgrounds, or reservations, or parts thereof or rights therein,rights-of-way, property, rights, easements and interests as it may deemnecessary for carrying out the provisions of this chapter; provided, however,that all public property damaged in carrying out the powers granted by thischapter shall be restored or repaired and placed in its original condition asnearly as practicable;
(12) To designate the locations, with the approval of thedirector of transportation, and establish, limit and control the points ofingress to and egress from the turnpike and any additional facility as may benecessary or desirable in the judgment of the authority to insure the properoperation and maintenance thereof, and to prohibit entrance to and exit fromany point or points not so designated;
(13) To employ, in its discretion, consulting engineers,attorneys, accountants, construction and financial experts, superintendents,managers, and such other employees and agents as may be necessary in itsjudgment, and to fix their compensation;
(14) To receive and accept from any federal agency grants foror in aid of the construction of the turnpike, the Newport Bridge or anyadditional facility, and to receive and accept from the state, from anymunicipality, or other political subdivision thereof and from any other sourceaid or contributions of either money, property, labor or other things of value,to be held, used and applied only for the purposes for which the grants andcontributions may be made;
(15) To construct grade separations at intersections of theturnpike, the approaches and highway connections of the Newport Bridge, and anyadditional facility with public highways, streets, or other public ways orplaces, and to change and adjust the lines and grades thereof so as toaccommodate the same to the design of the grade separation; the cost of thegrade separations and any damage incurred in changing and adjusting the linesand grades of the highways, streets, ways, and places shall be ascertained andpaid by the authority as a part of the cost of the project;
(16) To vacate or change the location of any portion of anypublic highway, street, or other public way or place, sewer, pipe, main,conduit, cable, wire, tower, pole, and other equipment and appliance of thestate or of any municipality or other political subdivision of the state and toreconstruct the same at such new location as the authority shall deem mostfavorable for the project and of substantially the same type and in as goodcondition as the original highway, street, way, place, sewer, pipe, main,conduit, cable, wire, tower, pole, equipment, or appliance, and the cost of thereconstruction and any damage incurred in vacating or changing the locationthereof shall be ascertained and paid by the authority as a part of the cost ofthe project; any public highway, street or other public way or place vacated orrelocated by the authority shall be vacated or relocated in the manner providedby law for the vacation or relocation of public roads, and any damages awardedon account thereof shall be paid by the authority as a part of the cost of theproject;
(17) The authority shall also have the power to makereasonable regulations, subject to the approval of the public utilityadministrator, for the installation, construction, maintenance, repair,renewal, relocation and removal of tracks, pipes, mains, conduits, cables,wires, towers, poles, and other equipment and appliances (herein called "publicutility facilities") of any public utility as defined in § 39-1-2, in, on,along, over or under any project. Whenever the authority shall determine thatit is necessary that any public facilities which now are, or hereafter may be,located in, on, along, over, or under any project should be relocated in theproject, or should be removed from the project, the public utility owning oroperating the facilities shall relocate or remove the facilities in accordancewith the order of the authority; provided, however, that the cost and expensesof the relocation or removal, including the cost of installing the facilitiesin a new location, or new locations, and the cost of any lands, or any rightsor interests in lands, and any other rights acquired to accomplish therelocation or removal, less the cost of any lands or any rights or interests inlands of any other rights of the public utility paid to the public utility inconnection with the relocation or removal of the property, shall be ascertainedand paid by the authority as a part of the cost of the project. In case of anyrelocation or removal of facilities the public utility owning or operating thefacilities, its successors or assigns, may maintain and operate the facilities,with the necessary appurtenances, in the new location or new locations, for aslong a period, and upon the same terms and conditions, as it had the right tomaintain and operate the facilities in their former location or locations;
(18) To make reasonable regulations and to grant easementsfor the installation, construction, maintenance, repair, renewal, relocation,and removal of pipelines, other equipment, and appliances of any corporation orperson owning or operating pipelines in, on, along, over, or under theturnpike, whenever the authority shall determine that it is necessary that anyfacilities which now are, or hereafter may be located in, on, along, over orunder the turnpike should be relocated in the turnpike, or should be removedfrom the turnpike, the corporation or person owning or operating the facilitiesshall relocate or remove the facilities in accordance with the order of theauthority; provided, however, that the cost and expense of the relocation orremoval, including the cost of installing the facilities in a new location, ornew locations, and the cost of any lands, or any rights or interests in lands,and any other rights acquired to accomplish the relocation or removal, less thecost of any lands or any rights or interests in lands or any other rights ofany corporation or person paid to any corporation or person in connection withthe relocation or removal of the property, shall be ascertained and paid by theauthority as a part of the cost of the project. In case of any relocation orremoval of facilities the corporation or person owning or operating thefacilities, its successors or assigns, may maintain and operate the facilities,with the necessary appurtenances, in the new location or new locations, for aslong a period, and upon the same terms and conditions, as it had the right tomaintain and operate the facilities in their former location or locations;
(19) To enter upon any lands, waters, and premises for thepurpose of making such surveys, soundings, borings, and examinations as theauthority may deem necessary or convenient for its purposes, and the entryshall not be deemed a trespass, nor shall an entry for such purposes be deemedan entry under any condemnation proceedings; provided, however, the authorityshall pay any actual damage resulting to the lands, water, and premises as aresult of the entry and activities as a part of the cost of the project;
(20) To enter into contracts or agreements with any board,commission, public instrumentality of another state or with any politicalsubdivision of another state relating to the connection or connections to beestablished between the turnpike or any additional facility with any publichighway or turnpike now in existence or hereafter to be constructed in anotherstate, and with respect to the construction, maintenance and operation ofinterstate turnpikes or expressways;
(21) To enter into contracts with the department oftransportation with respect to the construction, reconstruction, renovation,acquisition, maintenance, repair, operation or management of any project andwith the Rhode Island state police with respect to the policing of any project;
(22) To make and enter into all contracts and agreementsnecessary or incidental to the performance of its duties and the execution ofits powers under this chapter; and
(23) To do all other acts and things necessary or convenientto carry out the powers expressly granted in this chapter.
(24) To grant and/or contract through the transfer of fundsof the authority to the department of transportation for the construction,reconstruction, acquisition, maintenance, repair, operation or management bythe department of transportation of any project or projects authorized by thischapter, and the department of transportation is authorized to accept any suchgrant or transfer of funds.
(b) Provided, the authority in carrying out the provisions ofthis section shall hold public hearings in the city or town where a proposedproject will be located prior to the finalization of any specifications or theawarding of any contracts for any project.
§ 24-12-9 Powers of authority. – (a) The authority is hereby authorized and empowered:
(1) To adopt bylaws for the regulation of its affairs and theconduct of its business;
(2) To adopt an official seal and alter it at pleasure;
(3) To maintain an office at such place or places within thestate as it may designate;
(4) To sue and be sued in its own name, plead and beimpleaded; provided, however, that any and all actions at law or in equityagainst the authority shall be brought only in the county in which theprincipal office of the authority shall be located;
(5) To determine, subject to the approval of the director oftransportation, the location and the design standards of the Newport Bridge,the turnpike and any additional facility to be constructed;
(6) To issue bonds of the authority for any of its purposesand to refund its bonds, all as provided in this chapter;
(7) To combine for financing purposes the Newport Bridge, theMount Hope Bridge, the turnpike and any additional facility or facilities, orany two (2) or more of such projects;
(8) To borrow money in anticipation of the issuance of bondsfor any of its purposes and to issue notes, certificates, or other evidences ofborrowing in form as may be authorized by resolution of the authority, thenotes, certificates, or other evidence of borrowing to be payable in the firstinstance from the proceeds of any bonds issued under the provisions of thischapter and to contain on their face a statement to the effect that neither thestate, the authority nor any municipality or other political subdivision of thestate shall be obligated to pay the same or the interest thereon except fromthe proceeds of bonds in anticipation of the issuance of which the notes,certificates, or other evidences of borrowing shall have been issued, or fromrevenues;
(9) To fix and revise from time to time, subject to theprovisions of this chapter, and to charge and collect tolls for transit overthe turnpike and the several parts or sections thereof, and for the use of theNewport Bridge, the Mount Hope Bridge, and any additional facility financedunder the provisions of this chapter;
(10) To acquire, hold and dispose of real and personalproperty in the exercise of its powers and the performance of its duties;
(11) To acquire in the name of the authority by purchase orotherwise, on such terms and conditions and in such manner as it may deemproper, or by the exercise of the rights of condemnation in the manner asprovided by this chapter, public or private lands, including public parks,playgrounds, or reservations, or parts thereof or rights therein,rights-of-way, property, rights, easements and interests as it may deemnecessary for carrying out the provisions of this chapter; provided, however,that all public property damaged in carrying out the powers granted by thischapter shall be restored or repaired and placed in its original condition asnearly as practicable;
(12) To designate the locations, with the approval of thedirector of transportation, and establish, limit and control the points ofingress to and egress from the turnpike and any additional facility as may benecessary or desirable in the judgment of the authority to insure the properoperation and maintenance thereof, and to prohibit entrance to and exit fromany point or points not so designated;
(13) To employ, in its discretion, consulting engineers,attorneys, accountants, construction and financial experts, superintendents,managers, and such other employees and agents as may be necessary in itsjudgment, and to fix their compensation;
(14) To receive and accept from any federal agency grants foror in aid of the construction of the turnpike, the Newport Bridge or anyadditional facility, and to receive and accept from the state, from anymunicipality, or other political subdivision thereof and from any other sourceaid or contributions of either money, property, labor or other things of value,to be held, used and applied only for the purposes for which the grants andcontributions may be made;
(15) To construct grade separations at intersections of theturnpike, the approaches and highway connections of the Newport Bridge, and anyadditional facility with public highways, streets, or other public ways orplaces, and to change and adjust the lines and grades thereof so as toaccommodate the same to the design of the grade separation; the cost of thegrade separations and any damage incurred in changing and adjusting the linesand grades of the highways, streets, ways, and places shall be ascertained andpaid by the authority as a part of the cost of the project;
(16) To vacate or change the location of any portion of anypublic highway, street, or other public way or place, sewer, pipe, main,conduit, cable, wire, tower, pole, and other equipment and appliance of thestate or of any municipality or other political subdivision of the state and toreconstruct the same at such new location as the authority shall deem mostfavorable for the project and of substantially the same type and in as goodcondition as the original highway, street, way, place, sewer, pipe, main,conduit, cable, wire, tower, pole, equipment, or appliance, and the cost of thereconstruction and any damage incurred in vacating or changing the locationthereof shall be ascertained and paid by the authority as a part of the cost ofthe project; any public highway, street or other public way or place vacated orrelocated by the authority shall be vacated or relocated in the manner providedby law for the vacation or relocation of public roads, and any damages awardedon account thereof shall be paid by the authority as a part of the cost of theproject;
(17) The authority shall also have the power to makereasonable regulations, subject to the approval of the public utilityadministrator, for the installation, construction, maintenance, repair,renewal, relocation and removal of tracks, pipes, mains, conduits, cables,wires, towers, poles, and other equipment and appliances (herein called "publicutility facilities") of any public utility as defined in § 39-1-2, in, on,along, over or under any project. Whenever the authority shall determine thatit is necessary that any public facilities which now are, or hereafter may be,located in, on, along, over, or under any project should be relocated in theproject, or should be removed from the project, the public utility owning oroperating the facilities shall relocate or remove the facilities in accordancewith the order of the authority; provided, however, that the cost and expensesof the relocation or removal, including the cost of installing the facilitiesin a new location, or new locations, and the cost of any lands, or any rightsor interests in lands, and any other rights acquired to accomplish therelocation or removal, less the cost of any lands or any rights or interests inlands of any other rights of the public utility paid to the public utility inconnection with the relocation or removal of the property, shall be ascertainedand paid by the authority as a part of the cost of the project. In case of anyrelocation or removal of facilities the public utility owning or operating thefacilities, its successors or assigns, may maintain and operate the facilities,with the necessary appurtenances, in the new location or new locations, for aslong a period, and upon the same terms and conditions, as it had the right tomaintain and operate the facilities in their former location or locations;
(18) To make reasonable regulations and to grant easementsfor the installation, construction, maintenance, repair, renewal, relocation,and removal of pipelines, other equipment, and appliances of any corporation orperson owning or operating pipelines in, on, along, over, or under theturnpike, whenever the authority shall determine that it is necessary that anyfacilities which now are, or hereafter may be located in, on, along, over orunder the turnpike should be relocated in the turnpike, or should be removedfrom the turnpike, the corporation or person owning or operating the facilitiesshall relocate or remove the facilities in accordance with the order of theauthority; provided, however, that the cost and expense of the relocation orremoval, including the cost of installing the facilities in a new location, ornew locations, and the cost of any lands, or any rights or interests in lands,and any other rights acquired to accomplish the relocation or removal, less thecost of any lands or any rights or interests in lands or any other rights ofany corporation or person paid to any corporation or person in connection withthe relocation or removal of the property, shall be ascertained and paid by theauthority as a part of the cost of the project. In case of any relocation orremoval of facilities the corporation or person owning or operating thefacilities, its successors or assigns, may maintain and operate the facilities,with the necessary appurtenances, in the new location or new locations, for aslong a period, and upon the same terms and conditions, as it had the right tomaintain and operate the facilities in their former location or locations;
(19) To enter upon any lands, waters, and premises for thepurpose of making such surveys, soundings, borings, and examinations as theauthority may deem necessary or convenient for its purposes, and the entryshall not be deemed a trespass, nor shall an entry for such purposes be deemedan entry under any condemnation proceedings; provided, however, the authorityshall pay any actual damage resulting to the lands, water, and premises as aresult of the entry and activities as a part of the cost of the project;
(20) To enter into contracts or agreements with any board,commission, public instrumentality of another state or with any politicalsubdivision of another state relating to the connection or connections to beestablished between the turnpike or any additional facility with any publichighway or turnpike now in existence or hereafter to be constructed in anotherstate, and with respect to the construction, maintenance and operation ofinterstate turnpikes or expressways;
(21) To enter into contracts with the department oftransportation with respect to the construction, reconstruction, renovation,acquisition, maintenance, repair, operation or management of any project andwith the Rhode Island state police with respect to the policing of any project;
(22) To make and enter into all contracts and agreementsnecessary or incidental to the performance of its duties and the execution ofits powers under this chapter; and
(23) To do all other acts and things necessary or convenientto carry out the powers expressly granted in this chapter.
(24) To grant and/or contract through the transfer of fundsof the authority to the department of transportation for the construction,reconstruction, acquisition, maintenance, repair, operation or management bythe department of transportation of any project or projects authorized by thischapter, and the department of transportation is authorized to accept any suchgrant or transfer of funds.
(b) Provided, the authority in carrying out the provisions ofthis section shall hold public hearings in the city or town where a proposedproject will be located prior to the finalization of any specifications or theawarding of any contracts for any project.
