412                               LAWS OF MARYLAND                       [CH. 160

transit plan shall be released to the public and a copy shall be kept
at the office of the Authority and shall be available for public
inspection. After thirty (30) days' notice published once a week for
two successive weeks in one or more newspapers of general circula-
tion within the District, a public hearing shall be held with respect
to the proposed plan, revision or amendment. The thirty (30)
days' notice shall begin to run on the first day the notice appears
in any such newspaper. The Board shall consider the evidence sub-
mitted and statements and comments made at such hearing and may
make any changes in the proposed plan, amendment or revision
which it deems appropriate and such changes may be made without
further hearing.

12. Policy.

It is the policy of this Article that, consistent with the alleviation
of traffic congestion within the District and the attainment of a
balanced transportation system utilizing each mode of transportation
to its best advantage, all costs incurred in constructing, acquiring,
operating and maintaining the regional transit facilities shall be
borne, as far as possible PRACTICABLE, by fares charged for the
service performed by the transit facilities owned or controlled by
the Authority and that at least two-thirds of the net project costs
shall be paid by grants contributed by the Federal government. IT
IS ALSO THE POLICY OF THIS ARTICLE TO CREATE TRANS-
PORTATION SYSTEM WITHIN THE ORIGINAL DISTRICT
WHICH WILL PROVIDE COMPATIBILITY WITH OTHER CON-
TIGUOUS OR NEIGHBORING SYSTEMS.

13. Plan of financing.

(A)    Preparation of plan. The Authority, in conformance with
said policy, shall prepare a plan for financing the construction, acqui-
sition, and operation of transit facilities specified in a transit plan,
any part or project, or any alteration, revision or amendment thereof.
Such plan of financing shall specify the transit facilities to be con-
structed or acquired, the estimated cost thereof, the principal amount
of revenue bonds, equipment trust certificates, and other evidences
of debt proposed to be issued, the principal terms and provisions of
all loans; such terms of the underlying agreements and indentures
as the Authority may deem pertinent, estimated operating expenses
and revenue attributable to the transit facilities to be financed and
the source or sources and the method or methods for the payment
of the principal and interest on such bonds and obligations and for
providing funds to cover the remaining costs and estimated operating
deficits, if any. No transit facilities specified in a transit plan or in
any revision, alteration or amendment thereof, however, may be
constructed or acquired and no commitments or obligations may be
incurred by the Authority in connection therewith until the neces-
sary funds are available or provision has been made therefor.

(