§ 39-18.1-5. Allocation of funds. (a) The monies in the highway maintenance fund to be directed to the department of transportation pursuant to subsection (a)(1) of this section shall be allocated through the transportation improvement program process to provide the state match for federal transportation funds, in place of borrowing, as approved by the state planning council. The expenditure of moneys in the highway maintenance fund shall only be authorized for projects that appear in the state's transportation improvement program.

(b) Provided, however, that beginning with fiscal year 2015 and annually thereafter, the department of transportation will allocate necessary funding to programs that are designed to eliminate structural deficiencies of the state's bridge, road, and maintenance systems and infrastructure.

(c) Provided, further, that beginning July 1, 2015, five percent (5%) of available proceeds in the Rhode Island highway maintenance account shall be allocated annually to the Rhode Island public transit authority for operating expenditures.

(d) Provided, further, that from July 1, 2017, and annually thereafter, in addition to the amount above, the Rhode Island public transit authority shall receive an amount of not less than five million dollars ($5,000,000) each fiscal year.

(e) Provided, further, that the Rhode Island public transit authority shall convene a coordinating council consisting of those state agencies responsible for meeting the needs of low-income seniors and persons with disabilities, along with those stakeholders that the authority deems appropriate and are necessary to inform, develop, and implement the federally required Coordinated Public Transit Human Services Transportation Plan.

The council shall develop, as part of the state's federally required plan, recommendations for the appropriate and sustainable funding of the free-fare program for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities, while maximizing the use of federal funds available to support the transportation needs of this population.

The council shall report these recommendations to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the president of the senate no later than November 1, 2018.

History of Section. (P.L. 2011, ch. 151, art. 22, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 145, art. 21, § 7; P.L. 2017, ch. 135, § 1; P.L. 2017, ch. 302, art. 4, § 6; P.L. 2017, ch. 326, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 88, art. 8, § 2.)