HB2359 Summary

• Creates the State Transportation Policy Committee with 7 voting members and 4 non-voting members to advise the Department of Transportation on transportation planning and fund allocation.

• Replaces the "statewide master plan for transportation" with a "State transportation plan" focused on surface transportation (roadways, bridges, public transit, rail, trails, bicycles, walkways) and requires updates by June 30, 2010 and every 5 years thereafter.

• Establishes a funding distribution system allocating 50% of remaining transportation funds to metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) based on population and highway mileage, and 50% to non-MPO areas and interregional/statewide projects.

• Requires metropolitan planning organizations to develop regional transportation plans and improvement programs consistent with the State plan, and requires the Department to develop annual and multiyear statewide transportation improvement programs.

• Mandates public involvement, annual "For the Record" reports to the General Assembly, and requires all State highway districts to maintain road and bridge conditions within 5 percentage points of the statewide average percentage in acceptable condition.