2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 15 - Highway and Transportation Authority (§§ 2001 — 2035) › § 2003 - Definitions

The following words or terms as used or referred to in this section shall have the meaning expressed below, except when the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(a) Authority.— Shall mean Puerto Rico Highways and Transportation Authority, created by § 2002 of this title, or, should said Authority be abolished, the agency or body succeeding it in its main functions, or on which whom the faculties conferred to the Authority by this chapter are granted by law.
(b) Bonds.— Shall mean bonds, temporary bonds, refunding bonds, debentures, notes, interim receipts or provisional bonds, certificates or other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority issued under the provisions of this chapter.
(c) Traffic or transportation facilities.— Shall mean:
(1) Roads, avenues, streets, thoroughfares, speedways, bridges, tunnels, channels, stations, terminals, railways, trains, buses, vessels, and any other land and water facilities necessary or desirable in connection with the movement of persons, freight, vehicles or vessels.
(2) Parking lots and structures and other facilities necessary or desirable in connection with the parking, loading or unloading of all kinds of vehicles and vessels.
(3) All property, rights, easements, and interests therein necessary or desirable for the construction, maintenance, control, operation or development of such traffic facilities.
(4) Systems, equipment and mechanisms for the operation and control of the movement of vehicles and individuals on public highways, including communication and traffic signal systems, passenger shelters, intermodal or multimodal terminals or centers, vehicles, power transmission systems for the operation of passenger vehicles, and other public systems and facilities related to the operation and maintenance of equipment and vehicles used for the transportation of passengers.
(5) Informative electronic signboards or billboards.— Means any structure devoted to the diffusion of information about the disappearance of minors in case an Amber Alert is activated (America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response), such as the vehicle used and the direction in which it was traveling, among other things, or to issue information to send an alert or announce an emergency through the Emergency Broadcast System in the case of meteorological emergencies or relevant information on the conditions of the highways. The term “traffic and transportation facilities”, shall also apply to all property, rights, easements, or interests on these that may be necessary or advisable for the construction, maintenance, control, operation or development of such informative electronic signboards or billboards.
(d) Transportation plan.— Shall mean the document that presents the public policy on transportation, prepared by the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Public Works with the participation and counseling of the Puerto Rico Transportation Advisory Board and approved by the Governor of the Commonwealth, and on the basis of which, the objectives and goals of public and private activity in the transportation sector are established. Prior to its promulgation, the plan shall be submitted to public hearings, following the procedure established in §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3. This document also presents the general guidelines regarding quality standards of the service to be rendered by the different components and operators of the transportation system, including the highway system and the mass transportation systems. It shall define the technology and transportation means to be established or promoted in specific areas or routes, the guidelines for interrelation and coordination between the different means of transportation and their operators, and the guidelines or plans for future development and growth of the system; as well as other guidelines and plans atuned with, and necessary to obtain the established goals.
(e) Influence zone.— Shall mean the geographical area within a radius of five hundred (500) meters measured from property limits to train station accesses, including the lands and structures located in and out of the right of way acquired for said facilities, as well as the air space above them, over which the Authority shall exercise the powers conferred by this chapter in order to promote the protection and safety of property and users, as well as the orderly and intensive use of the lands so as to lead to the improvement of the urban setting. It shall be understood to include but is not limited to streets, roads, pedestrian walkways, public services, recreational areas, urban chattel, planting areas, buildings, structures and facilities, as well as all those other things necessary or convenient to that concept. Any property located totally or partially within the radius stated above shall be deemed to be located within the influence zone.
(f) Special development district.— Shall mean a special planning district as defined by the Planning Board or by municipalities declared to be autonomous pursuant to §§ 4001 et seq. of Title 21, with jurisdiction over the area in question, for those areas around train stations, including the lands and structures located in and out of the right of way acquired for said facilities, as well as the air space above them, in relation to which special requirements shall be established to allow and promote high-density developments and land uses which conform, promote, integrate and maximize the efficient use of said facilities, the protection and safety of property and users, and where the orderly and intensive use of the lands is also promoted so as to lead to the improvement of the urban setting. It shall be understood to include but is not limited to streets, roads, pedestrian walkways, public services, recreational areas, urban chattels, planting areas, buildings, structures and facilities, as well as all those other things necessary or convenient for said concept.
(g) Board.— Shall mean the Board of Directors of the Authority.
History —June 23, 1965, No. 74, p. 158, § 3; Mar. 6, 1991, No. 1, p. 1, § 3; Aug. 25, 2000, No. 207, § 2; Aug. 26, 2005, No. 84, § 2; Mar. 21, 2014, No. 41, § 2.