Section 14-C. Intercity rail passenger service program

1. The department of
  transportation  may  cooperate  and  contract with the national railroad
  passenger corporation for any intercity rail passenger  services  deemed
  necessary,  convenient  or  desirable  by  the  commissioner, within the
  amounts available by appropriation therefor, as such services  are  made
  available  pursuant  to the provisions of the rail passenger service act
  of nineteen hundred seventy and  any  acts  amendatory  or  supplemental
  thereto,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  director  of  the budget.
  Notwithstanding any inconsistent law, general,  special  or  local,  the
  commissioner,  as  funds  are made available for the purposes hereof, is
  hereby empowered to contract with such corporation and to do  all  other
  things  necessary,  convenient  or  desirable  on behalf of the state to
  secure the full benefits available under and pursuant to such  act,  and
  to contract and do all other things necessary as hereinafter provided on
  behalf  of  the  state  to  effect  the intercity rail passenger service
  program which he determines is necessary, convenient or desirable.
    2. The commissioner shall  coordinate  the  intercity  rail  passenger
  activities  of  the  state  and  other  interested  public  and  private
  organizations and persons to effectuate the purposes of this section and
  shall  have  the  responsibility  for  negotiating  with   the   federal
  government  with  respect  to intercity rail passenger service programs.
  The commissioner is authorized to enter into  joint  service  agreements
  between  the  state and any railroad company, any other state department
  or agency, the federal government, the Canadian  government,  any  other
  state or agency or instrumentality thereof, any public authority of this
  state  or  any other state, or any political subdivision or municipality
  of the state, relating to property, buildings,  structures,  facilities,
  services,   rates,  fares,  classifications,  dividends,  allowances  or
  charges (including charges  between  intercity  rail  passenger  service
  facilities),  or  rules  or  regulations  pertaining  thereto, for or in
  connection with or incidental to transportation in part  upon  intercity
  rail  passenger  service  facilities.  Intercity  rail passenger service
  facilities include the right of way and related trackage,  rails,  cars,
  locomotives,  or other rolling stock, signal, power, fuel, communication
  and ventilation systems,  power  plants,  stations,  terminals,  storage
  yards, repair and maintenance shops, yards, equipment and parts, offices
  and other real estate or personnel used or held for or incidental to the
  operation,  rehabilitation  or  improvement  of  any  railroad operating
  intercity rail passenger service or to operate such  service,  including
  but not limited to buildings, structures, and rail property.
    3.  The  commissioner  may  on  such  terms  and  conditions as he may
  determine necessary,  convenient  or  desirable,  establish,  construct,
  effectuate,  operate,  maintain, renovate, improve, extend or repair any
  such intercity rail passenger service facility or any  related  services
  and  activities,  or  may  provide  for such by contract, lease or other
  arrangement on such  terms  as  the  commissioner  may  deem  necessary,
  convenient   or  desirable  with  any  agency,  corporation  or  person,
  including but not limited to any railroad company, any state agency, the
  federal government, the Canadian government, any other state  or  agency
  or  instrumentality  thereof,  any public authority of this or any other
  state, or any political subdivision or municipality of the state.
    4. Any property, as such is defined  in  subdivision  two  of  section
  thirty  of  the  highway law which is necessary for the purposes of this
  subdivision may be acquired by the commissioner in the  same  manner  as
  property  is  acquired  for  state  highway  purposes  pursuant  to  the
  provisions of section thirty of the highway law.
    5. To avoid duplication of effort and in the interests of economy, the
  commissioner may make use of existing studies, surveys, plans, data  and

  other materials in the possession of any state agency or municipality or
  political subdivision of the state in order to carry out the purposes of
  this  section.  Each  such agency, municipality or subdivision is hereby
  authorized  to make the same available to the commissioner and otherwise
  to assist him in the performance of his functions.