72-1-305. Project selection using the written prioritization process -- Public comment -- Report.
(1) Except as provided in Subsection, in determining priorities and funding levels of projects in the state transportation system under Subsectionthat are new transportation capacity projects, the commission shall use the weighted criteria system adopted in the written prioritization process under Section. (4) 72-1-303(1)(a) 72-1-304
(2) Prior to finalizing priorities and funding levels of projects in the state transportation system, the commission shall conduct public meetings at locations around the state and accept public comments on: the written prioritization process; the merits of new transportation capacity projects that will be prioritized under this section; and the merits of new transportation capacity projects as recommended by a consensus of local elected officials participating in a metropolitan planning organization as defined in Section. 72-1-208.5
(3) The commission shall make the weighted criteria system ranking for each project publicly available prior to the public meetings held under Subsection. (2)
(4) If the commission prioritizes a project over another project with a higher rank under the weighted criteria system, the commission shall identify the change and accept public comment at a meeting held under this section on the merits of prioritizing the project above higher ranked projects. The commission shall make the reasons for the prioritization under Subsectionpublicly available. (4)(a)
(5) The executive director or the executive director's designee shall report annually to the governor and the Transportation Interim Committee no later than the last day of October: the projects prioritized under this section during the year prior to the report; and the status and progress of all projects prioritized under this section. Annually, before any funds are programmed and allocated from the Transit Transportation Investment Fund created in Sectionfor each fiscal year, the executive director or the executive director's designee, along with the executive director of a large public transit district as described in Section, shall report to the governor and the Transportation Interim Committee no later than the last day of October: 72-2-124 17B-2a-802 the public transit projects prioritized under this section during the year prior to the report; and the status and progress of all public transit projects prioritized under this section.
(6) The department shall annually report to the Transportation Commission on the status of new capacity transportation projects, including projects that were funded by the Legislature in an appropriations act.