J. MILLARD TAWES, GOVERNOR                             1139

(o)   Petition for, and receive and accept from, the United States
of America, ANY UNCONDITIONAL LOAN OR GRANT, AND
FROM the State of Maryland, or any political subdivision there-
of, or instrumentality, agency, or department of any of them, or any
other source, any loan, grant, contribution, assistance, or aid of any
kind or character or in any form for or in aid of or in connection with
any matter or thing which is contemplated to come under or within
the jurisdiction, power, or authority of the Authority, and make and
execute any contract, agreement, or other legal instrument with any
of said legal entities.

(p) The Authority shall develop, or cause to be developed, from
time to time, an overall plan or plans, including any and all necessary
or convenient surveys and studies, directed to securing and estab-
lishing for the Area an efficient, coordinated and rapid mass trans-
portation system, together with any and all proposed legislation and
methods of financing that may be necessary or convenient to place
any such plan in operation.

(q) Take title to any real or personal property, or any right, title,
interest, franchise, easement, or privilege therein, in the name of the
Authority.

(r) Notwithstanding any provision or provisions contained in
this Article to the contrary:

(1)   In Baltimore City or in any of the counties where planning
construction and development regulations have legal status, the Au-
thority shall comply with and be subject to such rules and regula-
tions pertaining to planning, construction, and development to the
same extent as private, commercial, or industrial enterprise;

(2)  No property owned by the State of Maryland or by any board,
department, agency, or commission of the State shall be acquired
by the Authority by purchase or by condemnation without the prior
consent of the Board of Public Works of the State;

(3) The power of the Authority to acquire by purchase or judg-
ment of condemnation of any right, title, interest, franchise, or
privilege in real or leasehold property, or in any new or used personal
property or corporate stocks of a public mass transportation com-
pany, located in any county of this State, or within the boundaries
of a municipal corporation within any such county, or within Balti-
more City, shall be subject to and require the prior approval of said
county, municipal corporation or Baltimore City, as in this para-
graph provided. If the property is located in one of the counties of
the State and not within any municipal corporation therein, the prior
approval of the board of county commissioners or the county council
of the county involved shall be required; if the property is located
within the boundaries of a municipal corporation within any such
county, the prior approval of the mayor and council, by whatever
name known, and of the board of county commissioners or county
council of the county shall be required; and if the property is located
within the City of Baltimore, the prior approval of the Board of
Estimates of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore shall be re-
quired. Provided, however, that such approval shall be conclusively
presumed unless the Authority shall be notified in writing to the
contrary within ninety (90) days after making written request of
the board of county commissioners or county council, the mayor and