§ 1309. Cooperation and assistance of other agencies. In the interest
of economy and to promote coordination of authority projects with state,
local, county and regional plans and also to carry out the objective of
full participation of all agencies in the development of a
transportation system and facilities to meet the objectives of this act,
the authority shall request and use existing studies, master plans,
surveys, data and other materials completed by or under development by
any state agency or any municipality or political subdivision of the
state. The authority shall consult with and cooperate with the
commissioner of transportation and with planning authorities in the
areas of its operations and shall utilize local and state planning. When
a project is contemplated by the authority, the authority shall submit a
preliminary prospectus thereof to the commissioner of transportation for
review and comment and shall consider the report of the commissioner in
formulating detailed plans for such project. When a project is
contemplated by the authority within the jurisdiction of any county
planning board or the capital district regional planning board, the
authority shall prepare and submit to such planning board or boards a
preliminary prospectus thereof, describing the purpose, general
location, and nature of the project contemplated, with such further data
relative thereto that the authority shall consider pertinent. Within
sixty days of receipt of such prospectus such planning board or boards
shall prepare a report thereon, commenting on its conformity or lack of
conformity with any related official plan of the state or region or any
official planning agency within the region. Such report shall be
considered by the authority in formulating detailed plans for such a
project. At the request of the authority, each such agency, municipality
or subdivision which is engaged in highway or other transportation
activities or in land use or development planning, or which is charged
with the duty of providing or regulating any transportation facility or
any other public facility, is further authorized to provide the
authority with information regarding its plans and programs affecting
the transportation district so that the authority may have available to
it current information with respect thereto. The officers and personnel
of such agencies, municipalities or subdivisions, and of any other
government or agency whatever, may serve at the request of the authority
upon such advisory committees as the authority shall determine to create
and such officers and personnel may serve upon such committees without
forfeiture of office or employment and with no loss or diminution in the
compensation, status, rights and privileges which they otherwise enjoy.