Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 65 - HIGHWAYS, BRIDGES AND FERRIES (§§ 65-1-1 — 65-43-85) › Chapter 13 - HIGHWAY AND STREET REVENUE BOND AUTHORITY (§§ 65-13-1 — 65-13-55) › Section 65-13-31 - Powers of the authority

The highway and street revenue bond authority, through its trustees, is hereby empowered:
(a)
To develop one or more projects under the authority provided by this chapter.
(b)
To construct and maintain highways and streets, including roadways, drainageways, bases, pavements, culverts, bridges, driveways, turnouts, ramps, overpasses, underpasses, intersections, and all other facilities necessary to provide for safe and convenient use by automotive and truck traffic.
(c)
To acquire and develop land or any interest in land or property; acquire, construct, improve, install, reconstruct, cause to be constructed, extend, expand, maintain, use, operate all facilities of any kind necessary or convenient for the purposes of this chapter.
(d)
To make or cause to be made or to cooperate in making engineering surveys, feasibility studies, and cost-benefit estimates relating to the works contemplated by this chapter.
(e)
To employ engineers, attorneys, and all agents and employees necessary to the exercising of the powers, rights, privileges, or functions conferred upon the authority by this chapter, and to properly finance, construct, operate, and maintain the project and the services it renders, and to pay reasonable compensation for such services.
(f)
To acquire by condemnation easements for traffic thoroughfares or utility rights of way, subject to the specific recommendation and approval of the board of supervisors; but for no other purpose shall the right of condemnation be allowed.
(g)
To apply for and accept government grants and loans, whether federal, state, or local, when such are available; to borrow from other federal, state and municipal agencies and from private persons or groups, including corporations.
(h)
To make contracts and to execute instruments necessary to the exercise of the powers, rights, privileges, and functions conferred upon the authority by this chapter.
(i)
To enter into contracts and agreements with any federal agencies, public agencies, or political subdivisions of any kind, including municipalities, corporations, districts, or others for any financing, construction, operation, or maintenance requirements.
(j)
To fix and to revise from time to time tolls and other charges for transit over, or use of, the facility, and to charge and collect same; and to contract with any person, partnership, corporation, or association desiring to use its properties for any purpose to fix the terms, conditions, rates, and charges for such use. Such tolls shall be so fixed and adjusted, in respect of the aggregate of tolls from the project for which a single issue of bonds is issued, as to provide a fund sufficient with other revenues of the project, if any, to pay (1) the cost of maintaining, repairing, operating such project and collecting tolls, and (2) the bonds and the interest thereon as the same become due. Such tolls shall not be subject to supervision or regulation by any state commission, board, bureau or agency, except such bureau or agency that might participate in the financing of the cost of any such project.
(k)
To designate the locations, and establish, limit, and control such points of ingress to and egress from each project as may be necessary or desirable in the judgment of the authority to insure the proper operation and maintenance of such project, and to prohibit entrance to such project from any point or points not so designated.
(l)
To construct highway and railroad crossings at grade or by means of grade separation structures.
(m)
To sue and be sued in its corporate name.
(n)
To adopt, use, and alter a corporate seal.
(o)
To make bylaws for the management and regulation of its affairs.
(p)
To employ a general manager, who shall, at the discretion of the board of trustees, have the power to employ and discharge employees.
Codes, 1942, § 8368-14; Laws, 1966, ch. 603, § 14, eff. 6/17/1966.