(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2) “Major capital project” has the meaning stated in § 2–103.1 of this subtitle.
(3) (i) “Major transportation project” means a major capital project in the State Highway Administration or the Maryland Transit Administration whose total cost for all phases exceeds $5,000,000 and that:
1. Increases highway or transit capacity;
2. Reduces areas of heavy traffic congestion;
3. Improves commute times in areas of heavy traffic congestion;
4. Improves transit stations or station areas; or
5. Improves highway capacity through the use of intelligent transportation systems or congestion management systems.
(ii) “Major transportation project” does not include:
1. Projects in the Maryland Aviation Administration, the Maryland Port Administration, or the Maryland Transportation Authority;
2. Maintenance and storage facilities projects;
3. Water quality improvement projects;
4. Projects related to Maryland’s priorities for total maximum daily load development;
5. Safety–related projects that do not increase highway or transit capacity;
6. Roads within the Appalachian Development Highway System; or
7. Projects that are solely for system preservation.
(b) The Department shall:
(1) In accordance with federal transportation requirements, develop a project–based scoring system for major transportation projects using the goals and measures established under subsection (c) of this section;
(2) Develop the weighting metrics for each goal and measure established under subsection (c) of this section;
(3) On or before January 1, 2018, develop a model consistent with this section that uses the project–based scoring system developed under this subsection to rank major transportation projects being considered for inclusion in the draft and final Consolidated Transportation Program;
(4) Use the model developed under this subsection to rank major transportation projects being considered for inclusion in the draft and final Consolidated Transportation Program; and
(5) Make the model developed under item (3) of this subsection and any ranking under item (4) of this subsection available to the public:
(i) As an appendix to the Consolidated Transportation Program; and
(ii) On the Department’s website.
(c) (1) The State transportation goals are:
(i) Safety and security;
(ii) System preservation;
(iii) Reducing congestion and improving commute times;
(iv) Environmental stewardship;
(v) Community vitality;
(vi) Economic prosperity;
(vii) Equitable access to transportation;
(viii) Cost effectiveness and return on investment; and
(ix) Local priorities.
(2) In evaluating whether and to what extent a major transportation project satisfies the goals established under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Department shall assign a score for each goal using the weighting metrics developed by the Department under subsection (b)(2) of this section and the following measures:
(i) For safety and security:
1. The expected reduction in total fatalities and severe injuries in all modes affected by the project; and
2. The extent to which the project implements the Maryland State Highway Administration’s Complete Streets policies.
(ii) For system preservation:
1. The degree to which the project increases the lifespan of the affected facility;
2. The degree to which the project increases the functionality of the facility; and
3. The degree to which the project renders the facility more resilient.
(iii) For reducing congestion and improving commute times:
1. The expected change in cumulative job accessibility within an approximately 60–minute commute for highway projects or transit projects;
2. The degree to which the project has a positive impact on travel time reliability and congestion; and
3. The degree to which the project supports connections between different modes of transportation and promotes multiple transportation choices.
(iv) For environmental stewardship:
1. The potential of the project to limit or reduce harmful emissions;
2. The degree to which the project avoids impacts on State resources in the project area and adjacent areas; and
3. The degree to which the project advances the State environmental goals.
(v) For community vitality:
1. The degree to which the project is projected to increase the use of walking, biking, and transit;
2. The degree to which the project enhances existing community assets; and
3. The degree to which the project furthers the affected community’s and State’s plans for revitalization.
(vi) For economic prosperity:
1. The projected increase in the cumulative job accessibility within an approximately 60–minute commute for projects;
2. The extent to which the project is projected to enhance access to critical intermodal locations for the movement of goods and services; and
3. The projected increase in furthering nonspeculative local and State economic development strategies in existing communities.
(vii) For equitable access to transportation:
1. The expected increase in job accessibility for disadvantaged populations within an approximately 60–minute commute for projects; and
2. The projected economic development impact on low–income communities.
(viii) For cost effectiveness and return on investment:
1. The estimated travel time savings divided by the project cost;
2. The degree to which the project leverages additional federal, State, local, and private sector transportation investment; and
3. The degree to which the project will increase transportation alternatives and redundancy.
(ix) For local priorities, the degree to which the project supports local government transportation priorities, as specified in local government priority letters.
(d) (1) The score of a major transportation project shall be based solely on the goals and measures established under subsection (c) of this section.
(2) The Department shall make the scores of all projects evaluated for inclusion in the Consolidated Transportation Program and assigned a score under the model available to the public:
(i) As an appendix to the Consolidated Transportation Program; and
(ii) On the Department’s Web site.
(e) Nothing in this section may be construed to impede or alter:
(1) The priority letter process that outlines local transportation priorities for the Department’s consideration for inclusion in the Consolidated Transportation Program under § 2–103.1 of this subtitle;
(2) The Department’s visit to each county under § 2–103.1(e) of this subtitle; or
(3) The inclusion of local transportation priorities in the Consolidated Transportation Program.