Section 14-J. Special rail and aviation transportation program

1. The
  commissioner is hereby authorized to enter into  a  contract,  lease  or
  agreement with the New York state thruway authority for the financing by
  such  authority  of  special rail and aviation transportation program as
  authorized by law.
    2. The commissioner is hereby authorized to approve  funding  for  the
  costs  for the construction, reconstruction, improvement, reconditioning
  and preservation  of  rail  freight  facilities  and  for  the  cost  of
  intercity  rail  passenger  facilities  and  equipment. For rail freight
  projects, the commissioner shall give priority  to  projects  which  are
  coordinated  with community economic development objectives, improve the
  safety of rail operations, promote  intermodal  services,  provide  rail
  access   to  relieve  highway  congestion,  provide  for  the  efficient
  restructuring of urban rail facilities or facilitate the  transition  of
  branch   lines  from  large  operations  to  shortline  operations.  For
  intercity rail passenger facilities  and  equipment  projects,  priority
  will  be given to projects which improve the quality, performance, speed
  and safety of intercity rail services.
    3. The commissioner is hereby authorized to approve  funding  for  the
  cost  of  construction,  reconstruction, improvement, reconditioning and
  preservation  of  municipal  airports,  privately  owned  airports   and
  aviation  capital  facilities,  excluding airports owned by the state or
  operated by a bi-state public benefit  corporation,  for  which  federal
  funding  is  not  available  provided  projects  are part of an approved
  airport layout plan. Such improvements shall include, but not be limited
  to, acquisition of certain traffic control navigational  aids  utilizing
  the global positioning system technologies and applications.
    Notwithstanding  any  provisions  of law to the contrary, for airports
  funded pursuant to this section, the owner of a municipal  airport  may,
  with the approval of the commissioner, contract directly with the office
  of  general services to provide for the removal of fuel tanks under such
  terms and conditions as set forth by the  office  of  general  services,
  including  provision  for  the deposit of funds of such airport with the
  state comptroller, who is authorized to receive and accept the same  for
  the  purposes of this subdivision, for expenditure on such project costs
  or, as appropriate, for  the  return  of  any  excess  deposit  to  such
  airport, on vouchers approved by the office of general services.
    4.  The  program  shall  provide  forty  million  dollars  to  be made
  available as follows:
 
                                              Rail              Aviation
  State Fiscal Year 1993-1994             $7.5 million        $2.5 million
  State Fiscal Year 1994-1995             $7.5 million        $2.5 million
  State Fiscal Year 1995-1996             $7.5 million        $2.5 million
  State Fiscal Year 1996-1997             $7.5 million        $2.5 million