§ 31. Mass transportation demonstration projects. The commissioner
shall have power to sponsor, conduct and undertake mass transportation
demonstration projects which will assist in carrying out urban
transportation plans and research, including but not limited to the
development of data and information of general applicability on the
reduction of urban transportation needs, the improvement of mass
transportation service, and the contribution of such service toward
meeting total urban transportation needs at minimum cost, and in
connection therewith to enter into contracts and otherwise cooperate
with the federal government pursuant to section one hundred three (b) of
the housing act of nineteen hundred forty-nine, as amended or section
six of the urban mass transportation act of nineteen hundred sixty-four,
as amended. For the purposes of this section the commissioner may enter
into contracts or agreements with any person, firm, corporation or
governmental agency.

Any real property which the commissioner deems necessary for the
purposes of this section may be acquired and disposed of by him in the
name of the people of the state of New York according to the procedure
provided in the highway law for the acquisition and disposition of
property for state highway purposes. The provisions of the highway law
shall also control the meaning of property as used herein, the manner in
which possession of such property may be obtained and the circumstances
under the procedure by which it may be sold or exchanged. Adjusted
claims for such acquisition and awards and judgments of the court of
claims made in respect thereto shall be paid out of the state treasury
from moneys available for the purposes of this section. The construction
of improvements by the commissioner in connection with a demonstration
project, and the design of such improvements, shall be carried on,
generally, in the same manner and subject to the same provisions of law
as apply to the design and construction of state highways. The
department of taxation and finance is hereby designated to accept and
receive all grants or advances from the federal government for the
purposes of this section. All monies so accepted and received shall be
deposited by the department of taxation and finance in a special fund
for use exclusively for the purposes for which such grants or advances
were made. Payment from the said fund shall be made upon audit and
warrant of the comptroller upon vouchers approved by the commissioner.
The commissioner is hereby authorized to present any claim to the
federal government or any agency or official thereof with respect to the
funds made available pursuant to section one hundred three (b) of the
housing act of nineteen hundred forty-nine, as amended or section six of
the urban mass transportation act of nineteen hundred sixty-four, as
amended.