J. MILLARD TAWES, GOVERNOR                             1131

improvement of essential bus, railroad and other methods of public
mass transportation services and the complete and efficient use of
all available means of such transportation.

(g) Since the existing public mass transportation facilities in this
area have been provided by private enterprise, it is the primary ob-
jective of the General Assembly to improve such facilities and
strengthen the workings of the private operators. However, the
General Assembly declares that the private operators in the area
have a public responsibility to provide, maintain and properly operate
public mass transportation facilities suited to the needs of the public
which they serve. The General Assembly recognizes its own obliga-
tion to provide for adequate mass transportation when private opera-

(h) Therefore, it is declared that the purpose of the General
Assembly in enacting this Article is to create a means or method to
aid, assist and encourage the extension and improvement of privately
owned public mass transportation facilities within this area to the
end that an efficient, rapid and coordinated mass transportation
system may be established, maintained and operated within the area
for the use of the public and for furnishing such proper service
as may be needed for the rapid transportation of the inhabitants of
the area.

(i) It is further declared to be the purpose of the General Assembly
to establish a means whereby an integrated publicly owned transit
system can be established and operated should it become necessary
to do so.

2. Definitions.

(a) As used in this Article the following words and terms have
the following meanings, unless the context shall indicate another or
different meaning or intent:

(b) The word "Area" means all of the territory located within

the boundary lines of Baltimore City, Baltimore County (with the
exception of the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Tenth Election Districts),
and the Third and Fifth Election Districts of Anne Arundel County,
and such additional political subdivisions of the State or the Coun-
ties as may be provided by law, from time to time hereafter.

(b)   The word "Area" means all of the territory located within
the boundary lines of Baltimore City and Baltimore County with the
exception of the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Tenth Election Districts
of Baltimore County., and such additional political subdivisions of
the State or the Counties as may be provided by law, from time to
time hereafter.

(c)   The word "Authority" means the Metropolitan Transit Au-
thority created under the provision of this Article, or if said Au-
thority shall be abolished, the board, body or commission succeeding
to the principal functions thereof or to which the powers given by
this Article to the Authority shall be given by law.

(d)   The word "City" means the Mayor and City Council of Balti-
more.