As used in this article, the term:

(1) "Authority" means the public body corporate and politic created pursuant to this article.

(2) "Cost of the project" or "cost of any project" means and shall include: All costs of acquisition, by purchase or otherwise, construction, assembly, installation, modification, renovation, or rehabilitation incurred in connection with any project or any part of any project; all costs of real property, fixtures, or personal property used in or in connection with or necessary for any project or for any facilities related thereto including, but not limited to, the costs of all land, estates for years, easements, rights, improvements, water rights, connections for utility services, fees, franchises, permits, approvals, licenses, and certificates; the cost of securing any such franchises, permits, approvals, licenses, or certificates; and the cost of preparation of any application therefor and the costs of all fixtures, machinery, equipment, furniture, and other property used in or in connection with or necessary for any project; all financing charges and loan fees and all interest on revenue bonds, notes, or other obligations of the authority which accrues or is paid prior to and during the period of construction of a project and during such additional period as the authority may reasonably determine to be necessary to place such project in operation; all costs of engineering, surveying, architectural, and legal services and all expenses incurred by engineers, surveyors, architects, and attorneys in connection with any project; all expenses for inspection of any project; all fees of fiscal agents, paying agents, and trustees for bondholders under any trust agreement, trust indenture, or similar instrument or agreement; all expenses incurred by any such fiscal agents, paying agents, and trustees; all other costs and expenses incurred relative to the issuance of any revenue bonds, notes, or other obligations for any project; all fees of any type charged by an authority in connection with any project; all expenses of or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of any project; all costs of plans and specifications for any project; all costs of title insurance and examinations of title with respect to any project; repayment of any loans made for the advance payment of any part of any of the foregoing costs, including interest thereon, and any other expenses of such loans; administrative expenses of the authority and such other expenses as may be necessary for or incident to any project or the financing thereof or the placing of any project in operation; and a fund or funds for the creation of a debt service reserve, a renewal and replacement reserve, or such other funds or reserves as the authority may approve with respect to the financing and operation of any project and as may be authorized by any bond resolution, trust agreement, trust indenture, or similar instrument or agreement pursuant to the provisions of which the issuance of any revenue bonds, notes, or other obligations of the authority may be authorized. Any cost, obligation, or expense incurred for any of the foregoing purposes shall be a part of the cost of the project and may be paid or reimbursed as such out of proceeds of revenue bonds, notes, or obligations issued by the authority.

(3) "Project" means the acquisition, construction, installation, operation, modification, renovation, or rehabilitation of any rail passenger facilities in the service area either directly or through contract with another public or private agency. A project may also include any fixtures, machinery, or equipment used on, in, or in connection with any of the transportation facilities listed above. A project may be for any rail passenger excursion purpose, provided that a majority of the members of the authority determines, by a resolution duly adopted, that the project will further the public purpose of this article.

(4) "Revenue bonds" and "bonds" mean any bonds of an authority which are authorized to be issued under the Constitution and laws of the State of Georgia, including refunding bonds but not including notes or other obligations of an authority.

(5) "Service area" means the geographical area of operations of the authority and shall consist of the Counties of Crisp and Sumter and, with the consent of the appropriate governing authorities thereof, nearby counties, subject to the approval of the authority.