(a) The Agency of Transportation's Public Transit Plan for the State shall be amended no less frequently than every five years. The development of the State Public Transit Plan shall include consultation with public transit providers, the metropolitan planning organization, and the regional planning commissions and their transportation advisory committees to ensure the integration of transit planning with the transportation planning initiative as well as conformance with chapter 117 of this title (municipal and regional planning and development). Regional plans, together with the Agency of Transportation's Public Transit Plan shall function to coordinate the provision of public, private nonprofit, and private for-profit regional public transit services, in order to ensure effective local, regional, and statewide delivery of services.

(b) Recognizing that the growing demand for new regional and commuter services must be considered within the context of the continuing need for local transit services that meet basic mobility needs, the Agency of Transportation shall consult annually with the regional planning commissions and public transit providers in advance of the award of available planning funds. The Agency shall maintain a working list of both short- and long-term planning needs, goals, and objectives that balances the needs for regional service with the need for local service. Available planning funds shall be awarded in accordance with State and federal law and as deemed necessary and appropriate by the Agency following consultation with the regional planning commissions and the public transit providers. (Added 1989, No. 262 (Adj. Sess.); amended 1993, No. 211 (Adj. Sess.), § 17, eff. June 17, 1994; 2001, No. 64, § 18, eff. June 16, 2001; 2009, No. 50, § 73; 2011, No. 62, § 33.)