7-14-1602. Purpose -- public and governmental functions. (1) The purpose of an authority is to provide for the preservation and improvement of abandoned rail service for agriculture, industry, or passenger traffic and to provide for the preservation of abandoned railroad right-of-way for future transportation uses, when determined to be practicable and necessary for the public welfare, particularly in the case of the abandonment of rail lines.

(2) The acquisition of land pursuant to this part; the planning, acquisition, establishment, construction, improvement, maintenance, equipment, operation, regulation, and protection of authority facilities; and the exercise of powers granted to authorities and other public agencies to be severally or jointly exercised are public and governmental functions, exercised for public purpose, and matters of public necessity. All land and other property acquired and used by or on behalf of an authority or other public agency, as provided in this part, must be used for public and governmental purposes and as a matter of public necessity.