(a)    The Department shall:

(1)    harmonize its planning activities with the planning activities of other units of the State government;

(2)    coordinate the plans and programs of all units of the State government;

(3)    cooperate with and assist other units of the State government in the execution of their planning functions, to harmonize their planning activities with the State Development Plan; and

(4)    promote the State’s Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Policy set forth in Subtitle 7A of this title.

(b)    The Department shall:

(1)    harmonize its planning activities with the planning activities of local governments; and

(2)    cooperate with and assist local governments in the execution of their planning functions, to harmonize their planning activities with the State Development Plan.

(c)    The Department shall:

(1)    coordinate State programs with the federal government;

(2)    cooperate with and assist units of the federal government in the execution of their planning functions, to harmonize their planning activities with the State Development Plan; and

(3)    cooperate with, confer with, and, on request, provide information to:

(i)    units of the federal government; and

(ii)    local or regional agencies that are created under federal programs or that receive federal support.

(d)    As far as possible, the Department shall cooperate with and confer with planning agencies of other states or of regional groupings of states.

(e)    The Department shall cooperate with and assist regional and private planning agencies in the execution of their planning functions, to harmonize their planning activities with the State Development Plan.

(f)    The Department shall exercise authority as the lead agency in coordinating the State’s land preservation efforts and focus its planning efforts on targeted land preservation.

(g)    The Department shall plan for the efficient use of inactive railroad corridors by:

(1)    examining all opportunities, both present and future, for acquisition or use of inactive railroad corridors;

(2)    coordinating and working with the Departments of Natural Resources, Transportation, Business and Economic Development, and the State Railroad Administration and other agencies to determine the suitability and feasibility of acquiring or using inactive railroad corridors for recreational trails, public utilities, or future transportation purposes; and

(3)    taking part in United States Interstate Commerce Commission proceedings regarding the abandonment or the discontinuance of use of railroad corridors on behalf of the State.

(h)    The Department shall:

(1)    review transportation plans and programs prepared by the Department of Transportation and regional planning agencies and make recommendations regarding the relationship between transportation and planned land use; and

(2)    evaluate proposed transportation improvements and policies to assure consistency between transportation investments and the State Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Policy.

(i)    The Department may provide advice to local governments regarding the impact on growth and development of:

(1)    transportation components of local plans;

(2)    aspects of local land use regulation affecting transportation; and

(3)    local transportation improvements.