John F. Kennedy Center Plaza Authorization Act of 2002
PL 107-224 (H.R.5012), enacted 09/18/2002

116 STAT. 1340 
PUBLIC LAW 107-224—SEPT. 18, 2002 
Public Law 107-224 
107th Congress 
An Act 
To amend the John F. Kennedy Center Act to authorize the Secretary of Transpor-
P —zi— 
tation to carry out a project for construction of a plaza adjacent to the John 
[H.R. 5012] 
F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
John F. Kennedy 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
Center Plaza 
Authorization 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
District of 
This Act may be cited as the "John F. Kennedy Center Plaza 
Columbia. 
Authorization Act of 2002". 
20 u s e 76h note. 
SEC. 2. JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER PLAZA. 
The John F. Kennedy Center Act (20 U.S.C. 76h et seq.) is 
amended— 
20 use 76r, 76s. 
(1) by redesignating sections 12 and 13 as sections 13 
and 14, respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after section 11 the following: 
20 
use 
7
6
q
-
l
. 
"SEC. 
12. 
JOHN 
F. 
KENNEDY 
CENTER 
PLAZA. 
"(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following definitions 
apply: 
"(1) AIR RIGHTS.—The term 'air rights' means real property 
interests conveyed by deed, lease, or permit for the use of 
space between streets and alleys within the boundaries of the 
Project. 
"(2) CENTER.—The term 'Center' means the John F. Ken-
nedy Center for the Performing Arts. 
"(3) GREEN SPACES.—The term 'green spaces' means areas 
within the boundaries of the Project or affected by the Project 
that are covered by grass, trees, or other vegetation. 
"(4) PLAZA.—The term 'Plaza' means improvements to the 
area surrounding the John F. Kennedy Center building carried 
out under the Project and comprised of transportation elements 
(including roadways, sidewalks, and bicycle lanes) and non-
transportation elements (including landscaping, green space, 
open public space, water, sewer, and utiUty connections). 
"(5) PROJECT.—^The term 'Project' means the Plaza project, 
as described in the TEA-21 report, providing for construction 
of a Plaza adjacent to the Center and for improved bicycle, 
pedestrian, and vehicular access to and around the Center. 
The term includes planning, design, engineering, and construc-
tion of the Plaza, buildings to be constructed on the Plaza, 
and related transportation improvements and may include any 
other elements of the Project identified in the TEA-21 report. 
PUBLIC LAW 107-224—SEPT. 18, 2002 
116 STAT. 1341 
"(6) SECRETARY.—The term 'Secretary' means the Secretary 
of Transportation. 
"(7) TEA-21 REPORT.—The term TEA-21 report' means 
the report of the Secretary submitted to Congress under section 
1214 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century 
(20 U.S.C. 76j note; 112 Stat. 204). 
"(b) RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SECRETARY.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—^The Secretary shall be responsible for 
the Project and may undertake such activities as may be nec-
essary to construct the Project, other than buildings to be 
constructed on the Plaza, substantially as described in the 
TEA-21 report. 
"(2) 
PLANNING, 
DESIGN, 
ENGINEERING, AND CONSTRUC-
TION.—The Secretary shall be responsible for the planning, 
design, engineering, and construction of the Project, other than 
buildings to be constructed on the Plaza. 
"(3) AGREEMENTS WITH THE BOARD AND OTHER AGENCIES.— 
The Secretary shall enter into memoranda of agreement with 
the Board and any appropriate Federal or other governmental 
agency to facilitate the planning, design, engineering, and 
construction of the Project. 
"(4) CONSULTATION WITH THE BOARD.—The Secretary shall 
consult with the Board to maximize efficiencies in planning 
and executing the Project, including the construction of any 
buildings on the Plaza. 
"(5) CONTRACTS.—Subject to the approval of the Board, 
the Secretary may enter into contracts on behalf of the Center 
related to the planning, design, engineering, and construction 
of the Project. 
"(c) RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—^The Board may undertake such activities 
as may be necessary to construct buildings on the Plaza for 
the Project. 
"(2) RECEIPT OF TRANSFERS OF AIR RIGHTS.—^The Board 
may receive from the District of Columbia such transfers of 
air rights as may be necessary for the planning, design, 
engineering, and construction of the Project. 
"(3) CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS.—The Board may con-
struct, with non-appropriated funds, buildings on the Plaza 
for the Project and shall be responsible for the planning, design, 
engineering, and construction of the buildings. 
"(4) ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF CONTRIBUTIONS.— 
"(A) IN GENERAL.—The Board may acknowledge private 
contributions used in the construction of buildings on the 
Plaza for the Project in the interior of the buildings, but 
may not acknowledge private contributions on the exterior 
of the buildings. 
"(B) 
APPLICABILITY OF OTHER REQUIREMENTS.—Any 
acknowledgment of private contributions under this para-
graph shall be consistent with the requirements of section 
4(b). 
"(d) RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.— 
"(1) MODIFICATION OF HIGHWAY SYSTEM.—Notwithstanding 
any State or local law, the Mayor of the District of Columbia, 
in consultation with the National Capital Planning Commission 
and the Secretary, shall have exclusive authority to amend 
or modify the permanent system of highways of the District 
116 STAT. 1342 
PUBLIC LAW 107-224—SEPT. 18, 2002 
of Columbia as may be necessary to meet the requirements 
and needs of the Project. 
"(2) CONVEYANCES.— 
"(A) AUTHORITY.—Notwithstanding any State or local 
law, the Mayor of the District of Columbia shall have 
exclusive authority to convey or dispose of any interests 
in real estate (including air rights or air space as that 
term is defined by District of Columbia law) owned or 
controlled by the District of Columbia, as may be necessary 
to meet the requirements and needs of the Project. 
DeadUne. 
"(B) CONVEYANCE TO THE BOARD.—Not l a t e r t h a n 9 0 
days following the date of receipt of notification from the 
Secretary of the requirements and needs of the Project, 
the Mayor of the District of Columbia shall convey or 
dispose of to the Board without compensation interests 
in real estate described in subparagraph (A). 
"(3) AGREEMENTS WITH THE BOARD.—The Mayor of the Dis-
trict of Columbia shall have the authority to enter into memo-
randa of agreement with the Board and any Federal or other 
governmental 
agency to facilitate 
the planning, 
design, 
engineering, and construction of the Project. 
"(e) OWNERSHIP.— 
"(1) ROADWAYS AND SIDEWALKS.—^Upon completion of the 
Project, responsibility for maintenance and oversight of road-
ways and sidewalks modified or improved for the Project shall 
remain with the owner of the affected roadways and sidewalks. 
"(2) MAINTENANCE OF GREEN SPACES.—Subject to para-
graph (3), upon completion of the Project, responsibility for 
maintenance and oversight of any green spaces modified or 
improved for the Project shall remain with the owner of the 
affected green spaces. 
"(3) BUILDINGS AND GREEN SPACES ON THE PLAZA.—Upon 
completion of the Project, the Board shall own, operate, and 
maintain the buildings and green spaces established on the 
Plaza for the Project. 
"(f) NATIONAL HIGHWAY BOUNDARIES.— 
"(1) REALIGNMENT OF BOUNDARIES.—The Secretary may 
realign national highways related to proposed changes to the 
Northern and Southern Interchanges and the E Street 
Approach recommended in the TEA-21 report in order to facili-
tate the flow of traffic in the vicinity of the Center. 
"(2) ACCESS TO CENTER FROM i-ee.—The Secretary may 
improve direct access and egress between Interstate Route 66 
and the Center, including its garages.". 
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 13 of John F. Kennedy Center Act (as redesignated 
by section 2 of this Act) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: 
"(c) JOHN F . KENNEDY CENTER PLAZA.—There is authorized 
to be appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation for capital 
costs incurred in the planning, design, engineering, and construction 
of the project authorized by section 12 (including roadway improve-
ments related to the North and South Interchanges and construction 
of the John F. Kennedy Center Plaza, but not including construction 
of any buildings on the plaza) a total of $400,000,000 for fiscal 
PUBLIC LAW 107-224—SEPT. 18, 2002 
116 STAT. 1343 
years 2003 through 2010. Such sums shall remain available until 
expended.". 
SEC. 4. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. 
(a) SELECTION OF CONTRACTORS.—Section 4(a)(2)(D) of the John 
F. Kennedy Center Act (20 U.S.C 76j'(a)(2)(D)) is amended to read 
as follows: 
"(D) SELECTION OF CONTRACTORS.—In carrying out the 
duties of the Board under this Act, the Board may negotiate 
any contract— 
"(i) for planning, design, engineering, or construc-
tion of buildings to be erected on the John F. Kennedy 
Center Plaza under section 12 and for landscaping 
and other improvements to the Plaza; or 
"(ii) for an environmental system for, a protection 
system for, or a repair to, maintenance of, or restora-
tion of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing 
Arts, 
with selected contractors and award the contract on the 
basis of contractor qualifications as well as price.". 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—Section 14 of the John F. Kennedy Center 
Act (as redesignated by section 2 of this Act) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: "Upon completion of the project for 
establishment of the John F. Kennedy Center Plaza authorized 
by section 12, the Board, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Transportation, shall amend the map that is on file and available 
for public inspection under the preceding sentence.". 
Approved September 18, 2002. 
L E G I S L A T I V E H I S T O R Y — H . R . 5012 (S. 2771): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 107-622 (Comm. on Transporation and Infrastructure). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 148 (2002): 
Sept. 4, considered and passed House. 
Sept. 5, considered and passed Senate. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTDU. DOCUMENTS, Vol. 38 (2002): 
Sept. 18, Presidential statement.