Powers of commissioner.

(b) The commissioner shall, in the name of the state, have power to apply for and to receive and accept grants of property, money and services and other assistance offered or made available by any person, any transit district or political subdivision or entity, or any other agency, governmental or private, including the United States or any of its agencies and instrumentalities, which he may use to meet capital or operating expenses and for any other purpose in furtherance of his powers and duties under sections 13b-34 to 13b-36 , inclusive, and 13b-38 , and to negotiate for and contract regarding the same upon such terms and conditions as he may deem necessary or advisable. (c) When necessary or desirable in the performance of his powers and duties under this section and sections 13b-36 to 13b-38 , inclusive, the commissioner shall, in the name of the state, have power (1) to hire, lease, acquire and dispose of property to the extent necessary to carry out his powers and duties hereunder, and (2) to contract to perform services for any person, any transit district or other political subdivision or entity, or with any other agency, governmental or private, and to accept compensation or reimbursement therefor. (d) The commissioner may be assisted in the performance of his powers and duties under this section by the Connecticut Transportation Authority, and may delegate specific powers and duties to it. (e) The commissioner shall have the power to aid and assist transit districts pursuant to section 13b-38 . (f) Repealed by P.A. 84-254, S. 61, 62. (g) Repealed by P.A. 81-421, S. 8, 9. (h) The commissioner, in the name of the state, shall have the power to enter into leases with respect to transportation equipment and facilities for the purpose of obtaining payments based on the tax benefits associated with the ownership or leasing of such equipment and facilities. In connection with any such lease, the commissioner, in the name of the state, shall have the power to sell, repurchase and sublease any such equipment or facilities, to place deposits or investments with financial institutions to defease rental or repurchase obligations and to enter into related agreements with parties selected by and on terms deemed reasonable by the commissioner. All net payments received by the state pursuant to any such lease or related agreement shall be credited to the Special Transportation Fund, the Infrastructure Improvement Fund, the Department of Transportation operating accounts, or to the Department of Transportation as required pursuant to United States Department of Transportation approval of the lease. Any such lease or related agreement may include provisions for the state, as lessee, to indemnify and hold harmless the lessors or other parties to any such lease or related agreement. Any such lease or related agreement may provide for the state to purchase insurance or surety bonds or to obtain letters of credit from financial institutions when deemed in the best interests of the state by the commissioner. Any such lessor or other party to any such related agreement may bring a civil action to recover damages arising directly from and subject to any such lease or related agreement. No such action shall be brought except within one year from the date the right of action accrues. Any such civil action shall be brought in the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford. The jurisdiction conferred upon the Superior Court by this section includes any set-off, claim or demand whatever on the part of the state against any plaintiff commencing an action under this section. Such action shall be tried to the court without a jury. All legal defenses except governmental immunity shall be reserved to the state. Any such lease or related agreement shall be subject to the approval of the Attorney General. (i) If the commissioner deems it to be in the best interest of the state, the commissioner may include in any contract with the National Railroad Passenger Corporation pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, provisions for the state to indemnify and hold harmless said corporation, and for such purpose to provide for the state to purchase insurance with a deductible clause, surety bonds or to obtain letters of credit from financial institutions. Said corporation may bring a civil action based on the contract to recover damages arising directly from and subject to any such contract. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 52-576 , no such action shall be brought except within one year from the date the right of action accrues. Any such civil action shall be brought in the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford. The jurisdiction conferred on the Superior Court by this section includes any set-off, claim or demand on the part of the state against the said corporation commencing such action. Such action shall be tried to the court without a jury. All legal defenses except governmental immunity shall be reserved to the state. (j) If the commissioner deems it to be in the best interest of the state, the commissioner may indemnify and hold harmless the Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company in its capacity as the state's contracted maintainer of the M-8 rail car fleet for claims brought by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation or other third parties against the Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company relative to the operation of M-8 rail cars on National Railroad Passenger Corporation property, provided such indemnification does not relieve the Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company from liability for its wilful or negligent acts or omissions. (k) The commissioner may indemnify and hold harmless any operator selected pursuant to section 13b-79u to operate on the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield rail line if the commissioner finds that (1) it is in the best interest of the state to do so, and (2) the National Rail Passenger Corporation requires such operator to indemnify and hold harmless said corporation. (l) If the commissioner deems it to be in the best interest of the state, the commissioner may indemnify and hold harmless any railroad company in connection with an interim trail use and rail banking arrangement pursuant to 49 CFR 1152.29, as amended from time to time. Section is dependent on extrinsic funding. 164 C. 299.