(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that this program help increase flexibility in the use of state and federal funding to complete transportation improvements. The ability to exchange certain federal funds for state funds may enhance that flexibility. However, it is the intent of the Legislature that the commission make these exchanges only if the exchanges do not compromise other state funded projects or activities. (b) The commission shall propose guidelines and procedures to implement this section, hold a public hearing on the guidelines, and adopt the guidelines on or before February 1, 2001. The commission shall begin the exchange program on or before February 1, 2001, if it determines that funding is available for that purpose. The commission may amend its guidelines after holding a public hearing, but may not amend the guidelines between the time it notifies regional transportation planning agencies of the amount of state funds available for exchange and its approval of projects for exchange in any given year. (c) On or before January 5 of each year, the department shall report to the commission the amounts apportioned as federal local assistance in the regional surface transportation and congestion mitigation and air quality programs for the year, the Federal Obligation Authority for the year, and the amount of federal funds it expects to be able to obligate for work on projects in all programs on or before September 30 of that year, and the commission, in cooperation with the department, shall determine the amount of state funds from the Traffic Congestion Relief Fund that can be made available for exchange under this section. If the release of federal apportionments and obligational authority is delayed beyond November 1 in any year, all the dates specified in this section shall be extended by an equivalent time, however, all federal funds exchanged shall be obligated on or before September 30 of the current federal fiscal year. (d) The commission may exchange funds under this section if it determines all of the following: (1) Adequate state funds are available to accomplish the exchange without putting at risk other transportation activities or projects needing state funds. (2) Any exchange will be consistent with full implementation of the Traffic Congestion Relief Act of 2000. (3) Federal funds received in exchange can be readily and effectively used on other projects or activities by the state during the federal fiscal year. (e) After making the determinations set forth in subdivision (d) the commission may offer to exchange state funds from the Traffic Congestion Relief Fund for federal local assistance funds, subject to the limits imposed under this section. For the purpose of this section, âfederal local assistanceâ funds means regional surface transportation program or congestion mitigation and air quality program apportionments received that federal fiscal year and apportioned as local assistance pursuant to Sections 182.6 and 182.7. (f) Not later than February 1 of each year, the commission shall notify the regional transportation planning agencies of the amount of state funds available for exchange for federal local assistance funds for that year. The maximum amount of state funds to be exchanged may not exceed 50 percent of the total amount of federal regional surface transportation program and congestion mitigation and air quality program funds apportioned for the current fiscal year as local assistance pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 182.6 and subdivision (b) of Section 182.7, exclusive of state funds that may be exchanged pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 182.6, paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (h) of Section 182.6, or Section 182.7. Federal funds exchanged under this program shall be available for projects identified by the commission as ready to obligate during determination of the amount available for exchange. The amount of exchange may not exceed the departmentâs abilit
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