(1)

1. (a) The Transportation Commission, in consultation with the department and the metropolitan planning organizations as defined in Section 72-1-208.5, shall develop a written prioritization process for the prioritization of new transportation capacity projects that are or will be part of the state highway system under Chapter 4, Part 1, State Highways, or public transit projects that add capacity to the public transit systems within the state.

2. (b)

   1. (i) A local government or district may nominate a project for prioritization in accordance with the process established by the commission in rule.

   2. (ii) If a local government or district nominates a project for prioritization by the commission, the local government or district shall provide data and evidence to show that:

      1. (A) the project will advance the purposes and goals described in Section 72-1-211;
      2. (B) for a public transit project, the local government or district has an ongoing funding source for operations and maintenance of the proposed development; and
      3. (C) the local government or district will provide 40% of the funds for the project as required by Subsection 72-2-124(7)(e).

(2) The following shall be included in the written prioritization process under Subsection (1):

1. (a) a description of how the strategic initiatives of the department adopted under Section 72-1-211 are advanced by the written prioritization process;
2. (b) a definition of the type of projects to which the written prioritization process applies;
3. (c) specification of a weighted criteria system that is used to rank proposed projects and how it will be used to determine which projects will be prioritized;
4. (d) specification of the data that is necessary to apply the weighted ranking criteria; and

5. (e) any other provisions the commission considers appropriate, which may include consideration of:

   1. (i) regional and statewide economic development impacts, including improved local access to:

      1. (A) employment;
      2. (B) recreation;
      3. (C) commerce; and
      4. (D) residential areas;
   2. (ii) the extent to which local land use plans relevant to a project support and accomplish the strategic initiatives adopted under Section 72-1-211; and
   3. (iii) any matching funds provided by a political subdivision or public transit district in addition to the 40% required by Subsection 72-2-124(7)(e).

(3) In developing the written prioritization process, the commission:

1. (a) shall seek and consider public comment by holding public meetings at locations throughout the state; and
2. (b) may not consider local matching dollars as provided under Section 72-2-123 unless the state provides an equal opportunity to raise local matching dollars for state highway improvements within each county.