§ 15. Comprehensive statewide master plan for transportation. 1. The
department shall formulate and from time to time revise a long-range
comprehensive statewide master plan for the balanced development and
coordination of adequate, safe and efficient commuter and general
transportation facilities and services in the state at reasonable cost
to the people, including, but not limited to, highways, rapid transit,
railroad, omnibus, marine and other mass transportation facilities and
services, and aviation and airport facilities and services, whether
publicly or privately owned, developed, operated or maintained.

2. The department shall submit such plan to the governor, the
temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly and to
the department of state on or before September first, nineteen hundred
sixty-eight, and thereafter shall submit appropriate revisions of such
plan to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker
of the assembly and to the department of state from time to time as such
revisions are made. The department of state shall review such plan and
such revisions and shall submit a report thereon, together with such
recommendations as it may deem appropriate, to the governor, the
temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly. Such
plan and such revisions shall become effective upon approval by the
governor and shall serve thereafter as a guide to the public and
publicly assisted development of transportation facilities and services
in the state.

3. In formulating such plan and any such revisions, the department:

a. shall conduct one or more public hearings;

b. may consult with and cooperate with (i) officials of departments
and agencies of the state having duties and responsibilities concerning
transportation;

(ii) officials and representatives of public corporations as defined
in article one, section three of the general corporation law;

(iii) officials and representatives of the federal government, of
neighboring states and of interstate agencies on problems affecting
transportation in this state;

(iv) officials and representatives of carriers and transportation
facilities and systems in the state; and

(v) persons, organizations and groups utilizing, served by, interested
in or concerned with transportation facilities and systems in the state;

c. may request and receive from any department, division, board,
bureau, commission or other agency of the state or any political
subdivision thereof or any public authority such assistance and data as
may be necessary to enable the department to carry out its
responsibilities under this section; and

d. may make use of and incorporate in the department's plan, any
recognized long-range regional plan for transportation, survey or report
developed by any public or private agency.