16 Pa.C.S. Ch. 159

in effect

16 Pa.C.S. § 15900 Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Airport." As defined in 74 Pa.C.S. § 5102 (relating to definitions).

16 Pa.C.S. § 15901 Authority to establish airports.

Subject to the provisions of 74 Pa.C.S. (relating to transportation), a county may establish, construct and provide for airports in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

16 Pa.C.S. § 15902 Acquisition of land for aeronautical purposes.

(a) Use of land.--A county may use land within the county and owned by the county determined by the county commissioners to be necessary for an airport. (b) Appropriation of land.--A county may appropriate for the purposes of an airport lands purchased by the county at any tax sale and not redeemed within the period of redemption, if any, provided by law. (c) Acquisition of land.--A county may acquire by gift, lease, purchase or condemnation proceedings, land lying within its territorial limits or the territorial limits of any adjoining county which, in the judgment of the county commissioners, may be necessary and desirable for the purpose of establishing and maintaining airports or of enlarging airports, but no land shall be acquired in any adjoining county without the assent of the county commissioners of that county.

16 Pa.C.S. § 15903 Condemnation proceedings and title.

(a) Conduct of proceedings.--The proceedings for the condemnation of lands under this chapter and for the assessment of damages for property taken, injured or destroyed shall be conducted in the same manner as provided by law for the condemnation of land or buildings for county purposes in the county in which the land is situated. (b) Acquisition of title.--The title acquired by virtue or any condemnation may be a title in fee simple or any lesser estate, including an easement for aviation or any other purpose.

16 Pa.C.S. § 15904 Agreements for airport facilities.

A county acquiring land for an airport may enter into agreements for the use of all or a part of the land, for adequate consideration, after due public notice to a person desiring to use the same for the purposes of taking off or landing an airplane, for other aviation purposes or for any nonaviation purpose, on terms and subject to conditions and regulations. In counties of the second class A, agreements for nonaviation purposes shall be for terms of less than 50 years and shall only involve land designated in the county's airport master plan not needed for airport purposes within the term of the lease. A county may enter into a contract in the form of a lease providing for the use of airport land or any part thereof by the Federal Government for air mail delivery or other aviation purposes upon nominal rental or without consideration.

16 Pa.C.S. § 15905 Joint operation and leasing.

A county acquiring land for an airport purpose may operate and maintain airport facilities jointly with a municipal corporation or other political subdivision, upon terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the authorities of the municipal corporation or other political subdivision and the county commissioners, and the joint airport facilities may be operated and leased, as provided under this subchapter, upon the joint action of the authorities involved and the county commissioners.

16 Pa.C.S. § 15906 Engineering and construction and appropriations.

A county acquiring land for airport purposes may, by resolution of the county commissioners, appropriate money for the engineering design, surveys and construction of airport facilities, either individually or in cooperation with Federal, State or other public agencies supplying a portion of the necessary money for the work.

16 Pa.C.S. § 15907 Contracts for construction and repairs.

In establishing, maintaining and operating airport facilities, if construction, repair or purchase of roadways, runways, buildings and facilities is deemed necessary within or for use within the limits of land acquired for the purpose of establishing, maintaining and operating airport facilities, submission to a court or grand jury of any county is not necessary, but a contract under this chapter shall be entered into as provided for in Chapter 151 (relating to contracts), and for joint establishment, operation and maintenance with any other political subdivision, a contract shall be entered into as provided for the general business of the participating political subdivisions.

16 Pa.C.S. § 15908 Validation of contracts.

A contract executed prior to July 28, 1953, for counties of the second class A, and August 9, 1955, for counties of the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth class, for construction and repair of roadways, runways, buildings and facilities or the purchase thereof within or for use within the limits of land acquired for the establishment and operation of airdromes or landing fields, without first having obtained the approval of the court of quarter sessions or grand jury of a county and entered into as provided for the general business of the county or other political subdivisions jointly interested, are ratified, confirmed, approved and declared lawful contracts.

16 Pa.C.S. § 15909 Airport appropriation assistance.

The county commissioners may appropriate money to assist a municipal corporation or other political subdivision, or municipality airport authority, within the county or within any adjacent county to acquire, establish, operate and maintain airport facilities.

16 Pa.C.S. § 15909.1 Issuance of revenue bonds for airport facilities in counties.

(a) General rule.--In addition to present methods of financing, the county commissioners of counties of the second class A may issue revenue bonds, under 53 Pa.C.S. Pt. VII Subpt. B (relating to indebtedness and borrowing), for sufficient money for and toward the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, extension or improvement of airport facilities, including airports, terminals, hangars, parking areas and all other facilities, with bonds secured solely by the pledge of the whole or part of the fees, rents, tolls or charges derived from the ownership or operation of the facilities or for the use or service of the same. (b) Lease of airport facilities.--Airport facilities financed by the issuance of revenue bonds under this section may be leased by the county, in whole or in part, to a lessee or lessees for a period of years equal in time to the period of maturity of the issued bonds. (c) Costs.--Included in the cost of the issue may be costs and expenses incident to constructing and financing the facilities and selling and distributing the bonds. (d) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed as modifying or restricting the power of any county of the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth class to incur debt for the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, extension or improvement of airport facilities, including airports, terminals, hangers, parking areas and all other facilities necessary or appropriate, to the extent the power exists on December 23, 2018.

16 Pa.C.S. § 15910 Municipal approval required.

Federal or State money from the Aviation Restricted Account in the Motor License Fund or any other State money may not be expended for airport operations or airport development in any county of the second class A having a population in excess of 675,000 individuals without the approval of the municipality or municipalities in which an airport is situated.

16 Pa.C.S. § 15950 Creation of county transit and traffic commission.

(a) Establishment.--The county commissioners of a county of the second class A may establish a county transit and traffic commission under this subchapter. (b) Existing commission.--A county transit and traffic commission existing on December 24, 2018, may continue to exist under this subchapter. (c) Composition.--The county transit and traffic commission shall be composed of nine members in accordance with the following: (1) Each of the nine members shall be residents of the county in accordance with the following: (i) Not more than four of the members shall be residents of cities in the county. (ii) Not more than two of the members shall be regular employees of a publicly financed body. (2) Members shall be individuals experienced in at least one of the following: (i) Engineering. (ii) Commerce. (iii) Finance. (iv) Law. (v) Transportation. (vi) Traffic matters. (3) Each member shall be appointed by the county commissioners. (4) If there is an existing board on December 24, 2018, which has duties substantially similar to those of the commission established under this section, new members shall be appointed upon the expiration of the terms of the existing members. (d) Terms, quorums and vacancies.-- (1) Each member shall serve for a term of six years. (2) Five members shall constitute a quorum. (3) An appointment to fill a vacancy shall be only for the unexpired term of the vacancy. (e) Organization.--The commission members may make rules and regulations for the commission's organization and procedure consistent with the resolutions of the county commissioners and the laws of this Commonwealth. (f) Compensation and expenses.-- (1) Members shall serve without compensation. (2) The county commissioners may provide for the following expenses, at the county commissioners' discretion, by resolution and appropriation: (i) Employment of a technical staff or other individuals as necessary. (ii) Necessary expenses of the commission.

16 Pa.C.S. § 15951 Duties of county transit and traffic commission.

(a) Duties.--The duties of the county transit and traffic commission shall be to: (1) Investigate transit, traffic and parking conditions in the county, including the volume and characteristics of the movement of public carriers, including street railways, trains, buses and other motor vehicles, throughout the county, with a view of determining advisable means for obtaining adequate, rapid and safe transportation. (2) Fully consider the coordination of existing transportation services. (3) Investigate and study safety measures for individuals and vehicles on highways, streets and thoroughfares in the county. (4) Advise and consult with officials of political subdivisions in the county about the transit, traffic and parking problems. (b) Report.--All minutes, reports and recommendations made by the commission shall be a matter of public record. Periodically, but not less than once a year, the commission shall file with the county commissioners a report, which shall include the results of investigations made by the commission and any recommendations the commission may have to offer. (c) Referral to commission.--The county commissioners shall refer any plan, proposal or resolution affecting public transportation and the safety of the public on public transportation facilities and on highways, bridges and tunnels in the county to the county transit and traffic commission for consideration and recommendation. The county transit and traffic commission shall report to the county commissioners on the plan, proposal or resolution within a reasonable period of time. (d) County planning commission.-- (1) In lieu of the creation of a county transit and traffic commission in the county in which a county planning commission has been established, the county commissioners may, by resolution, confer and impose on the county planning commission the additional powers and duties of serving as the county transit and traffic commission, with all the powers and duties conferred by this subchapter upon the county transit and traffic commission. Upon the passage of the resolution by the county commissioners, the terms of office of the existing county transit and traffic commissioners shall terminate, and the commissioners shall deliver all books, papers, records, furnishings and supplies pertaining to their office to the county planning commission. (2) The passage of the resolution by the county commissioners under paragraph (1) may not impair nor affect any act done, or right accruing, accrued or acquired, or liability, duty or obligation incurred, prior to the time the resolution takes effect.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?txtType=HTM&ttl=16Fetched: 10/16/2026