(a) This section applies only to an authority confirmed before July 1, 1985, in which the principal municipality has a population of less than 1.3 million.
(b) An authority may not issue short-term debt under § 451.362 or bonds secured by the revenue of the authority to finance any portion of the purchase, acquisition, construction, operation, or maintenance of a fixed rail transit system unless the system is approved at a referendum under § 451.071.

(c) If a referendum is approved under § 451.071, the term for which short-term debt may be issued under § 451.362 is increased to five years if the purpose of the debt is the purchase, acquisition, construction, operation, or maintenance of the fixed rail transit system approved at the referendum.