Section 57-1-370 - Development of long-range Statewide Transportation Plan; preservation and improvement of existing system(A) The commission must develop the long-range Statewide Transportation Plan, with a minimum twenty-year forecast period at the time of adoption, that provides for the development and implementation of the multimodal transportation system for the State. The plan must be developed in a manner consistent with all federal laws or regulations and in consultation with all interested parties, particularly the metropolitan planning organizations and the nonmetropolitan planning organization area local officials. The plan may be revised from time to time as permitted by and in the manner required by federal laws or regulations.(B) Concerning the development, content, and implementation of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, the commission must:(1) develop a process for consulting with nonmetropolitan local officials, with responsibility for transportation, that provides an opportunity for their participation in the development of the long-range Statewide Transportation Plan and the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program;(2) approve the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program and ensure that it is developed pursuant to federal laws and regulations and approve an updated Statewide Transportation Improvement Program from time to time as permitted by and in the manner required by federal laws or regulations;(3) develop and revise the transportation plan for inclusion in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, for each nonmetropolitan planning area in consultation with local officials with responsibility for transportation;(4) work in consultation with each metropolitan planning organization to develop and revise a transportation improvement program for each metropolitan planning area;(5) select from the approved Statewide Transportation Improvement Program the transportation projects undertaken in nonmetropolitan areas in consultation with the affected nonmetropolitan local officials with responsibility for transportation;(6) select projects to be undertaken, in consultation with each metropolitan planning organization, from the metropolitan planning organization's approved transportation improvement plan in metropolitan areas not designated as a transportation management area;(7) consult with each metropolitan planning organization, in metropolitan areas designated as transportation management areas, concerning the projects selected to be undertaken from the approved transportation improvement program and in accordance with the priorities approved by the transportation improvement program; and(8) when selecting projects to be undertaken from nontransportation management area metropolitan planning organizations' transportation improvement programs, or selecting the nonmetropolitan area projects to be undertaken that are included in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, and when consulting with metropolitan planning organizations designated as transportation management areas, the commission shall establish a priority list of projects to the extent permitted by federal laws or regulations, taking into consideration at least the following criteria:(a) financial viability including a life cycle analysis of estimated maintenance and repair costs over the expected life of the project;(c) potential for economic development;(d) traffic volume and congestion;(f) the pavement quality index;(g) environmental impact;(h) alternative transportation solutions; and(i) consistency with local land use plans.(C)(1) To the extent that state funds are available to address the needs of the state highway system, the commission must develop a comprehensive plan specifying objectives and performance measures for the preservation and improvement of the existing system. The projects included in this plan must be supported solely by state funds including the Non-Federal Aid Highway Fund or other state revenue source. When developing the plan required by this subsection, the commission must consider, but is not limited to, considering the criteria in subsection (B)(8).(2) When state funding is programmed for a project selected from the plan to be undertaken, the department may use federal law, regulations, or guidelines relevant to the type of project being undertaken to be eligible for federal matching funds.(D) The commission must approve the department's annual budget.(E) The commission shall have any other rights, duties, obligations, or responsibilities as specifically provided by law.Amended by 2016 S.C. Acts, Act No. 275 (SB 1258), s 1, eff. 7/1/2016.2007 Act No. 114, Section 5, eff 6/27/2007. 2007 Act No. 114, Section 8, provides as follows:
"The Department of Transportation is authorized and directed to promulgate regulations to implement the policies and purposes of this act including, but not limited to, regulations concerning the chief internal auditor, approval of projects by the commission pursuant to Section 57-1-370(N), and the secretary's approval of routine operations and maintenance and emergency repairs requests. All regulations promulgated pursuant to this section must be reviewed and approved by the Department of Transportation Commission before they are submitted to the General Assembly for consideration."