Florida Turnpike Enterprise; powers and authority.

(1)(a) In addition to the powers granted to the department, the Florida Turnpike Enterprise has full authority to exercise all powers granted to it under this chapter. Powers shall include, but are not limited to, the ability to plan, construct, maintain, repair, and operate the Florida Turnpike System.

(b) It is the express intention of the Florida Turnpike Law that the Florida Turnpike Enterprise be authorized to plan, develop, own, purchase, lease, or otherwise acquire, demolish, construct, improve, relocate, equip, repair, maintain, operate, and manage the Florida Turnpike System; to expend funds to publicize, advertise, and promote the advantages of using the turnpike system and its facilities; and to cooperate, coordinate, partner, and contract with other entities, public and private, to accomplish these purposes.

(c) The executive director of the turnpike enterprise shall appoint a staff, which shall be exempt from part II of chapter 110. Among the staff shall be a chief financial officer, who must be a proven, effective administrator with demonstrated experience in financial management of a large bonded capital program and must hold an active license to practice public accounting in Florida pursuant to chapter 473. The turnpike enterprise staff shall also include the Office of Toll Operations.

(d) The Florida Turnpike Enterprise shall pursue and implement new technologies and processes in its operations and collection of tolls and the collection of other amounts associated with road and infrastructure usage. Such technologies and processes must include, without limitation, video billing and variable pricing. The Florida Turnpike Enterprise may require the use of an electronic transponder interoperable with the department’s electronic toll collection system for the use of express lanes on the turnpike system. Variable pricing may not be implemented in express lanes when the level of service in the express lane, determined in accordance with the criteria established by the Transportation Research Board Highway Capacity Manual (5th Edition, HCM 2010), as amended from time to time, is equal to level of service A. Variable pricing in express lanes when the level of service in the express lane is level of service B may only be implemented by charging the general toll lane toll amount plus an amount set by department rule. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, pricing in express lanes when the level of service is other than level of service A or level of service B may vary in the manner established by the Florida Turnpike Enterprise to manage congestion in the express lanes.

(e) Effective July 1, 2018, if a customer’s average travel speed for a trip in an express lane falls below 40 miles per hour, the customer must be charged the general toll lane toll amount plus an amount set by department rule. A customer’s express lane average travel speed is his or her average travel speed from the customer’s entry point to the customer’s exit point.

(f) The Florida Turnpike Enterprise may enter into one or more agreements to fund, construct, and operate facilities for the advancement of autonomous and connected innovative transportation technologies for the purposes of improving safety and decreasing congestion for the traveling public. Such agreements may include terms that authorize a private entity to sell or provide products or business opportunities at the facilities which benefit the traveling public, provide additional revenue, or otherwise advance the enterprise’s objectives as set forth in the Florida Transportation Code.

(2) The department shall have the authority to employ procurement methods available to the Department of Management Services under chapters 255 and 287 and under any rule adopted under such chapters solely for the benefit of the turnpike enterprise.

(3)(a) The turnpike enterprise shall be a single budget entity and shall develop a budget pursuant to chapter 216. The turnpike enterprise’s budget shall be submitted to the Legislature along with the department’s budget.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301 to the contrary and in accordance with s. 216.351, the Executive Office of the Governor shall, on July 1 of each year, certify forward all unexpended funds appropriated or provided pursuant to this section for the turnpike enterprise. Of the unexpended funds certified forward, any unencumbered amounts shall be carried forward. Such funds carried forward shall not exceed 5 percent of the original approved operating budget as defined in s. 216.181(1) of the turnpike enterprise. Funds carried forward pursuant to this section may be used for any lawful purpose, including, but not limited to, promotional and market activities, technology, and training. Any certified forward funds remaining undisbursed on September 30 of each year shall be carried forward.

(4) The powers conferred upon the turnpike enterprise under ss. 338.22-338.241 shall be in addition and supplemental to the existing powers of the department and the turnpike enterprise, and these powers shall not be construed as repealing any provision of any other law, general or local, but shall supersede such other laws that are inconsistent with the exercise of the powers provided under ss. 338.22-338.241 and provide a complete method for the exercise of such powers granted.