32-9-9. Creation of transit authority by special legislation; authority’s attributes and powers.

This Code section shall be known and may be cited as the ‘‘Transit Authority Act.’’#

It is declared to be the policy of the state to foster and to assure the development of mass rapid transit systems within the metropolitan areas of this state.#

As used in this Code section, the term ‘‘metropolitan area’’ means (1) the area of any city within the state whose population, as determined by the federal census of 1950 or any later federal census, shall have exceeded 43,617 persons (such a city being hereinafter referred to as a central city), together with (2) the area suburban to such a central city as each such suburban area shall be more specifically delimited by special Act of the General Assembly.#

The General Assembly may, by special Act, create a transit authority charged with the duty of acquiring, constructing, owning, operating, and maintaining a mass rapid transit system within a metropolitan area as defined in this Code section. The General Assembly, in the special Act creating such an authority, shall delimit the territory to be served by such authority; and the General Assembly may, in such special Act, provide that the property of and the securities issued by such authority shall be exempt from taxation and that such authority may, in addition to the rights, powers, privileges, exemptions, and immunities which are customarily possessed by public corporations, have such other and further rights, powers, privileges, exemptions, and immunities as the General Assembly shall deem appropriate to the accomplishment of its purposes, provided that such authority shall not be empowered to obligate the State of Georgia or any county, municipality, political subdivision, or public body of the state to pay any of its debts; provided, further, that the central city served by such mass rapid transit system and any county or counties whose territory or any part thereof lies within the territorial limits of such authority, as the same may be delimited in the special Act creating such authority, shall have the right to appoint the members of such authority, or a majority thereof, subject to such qualifications for membership and such apportionment of the right of appointment as the special Act creating such authority may provide.#