Department of Transportation sole governmental entity to acquire, construct, or operate turnpike projects; exception.

(1) No governmental entity other than the department may acquire, construct, maintain, or operate the turnpike system subsequent to the enactment of this law, except upon specific authorization of the Legislature.

(2) The department may, but is not required to, contract with any local governmental entity as defined in s. 334.03(13) for the design, right-of-way acquisition, transfer, purchase, sale, acquisition, or other conveyance of the ownership, operation, maintenance, or construction of any turnpike project which the Legislature has approved. Local governmental entities may negotiate and contract with the department for the design, right-of-way acquisition, transfer, purchase, sale, acquisition, or other conveyance of the ownership, operation, maintenance, or construction of any section of the turnpike project within areas of their respective jurisdictions or within counties with which they have interlocal agreements.