(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to facilitate project development work on needed transportation projects to produce a steady flow of construction projects by adding an advance project development element to the state transportation improvement program, beginning with the 2000 State Transportation Improvement Program.

(b) The advance project development element shall include only project development activities for projects that are eligible for inclusion in a state transportation improvement program.

(c) The fund estimate for each state transportation improvement program shall designate an amount to be available for the advance project development element, which shall be not more than 25 percent of the programmable resources estimated to be available for the first and second years following the period of the state transportation improvement program, subject to the formulas in Sections 164, 188, and 188.8 of the Streets and Highways Code.

(d) The department, transportation planning agencies, and county transportation commissions may nominate projects to the commission for inclusion in the advance project development element through submission of the regional transportation improvement program and the interregional transportation improvement program.

(e) The funds programmed in the advance project development element may be allocated within the period of the state transportation improvement program without regard to fiscal year.

(f) The commission may develop guidelines to implement this section.

(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 478, Sec. 3. (AB 2777) Effective January 1, 2011.)