In fulfilling the requirements of subdivision 1 of § 33.2-2500, the Authority shall be responsible for long-range transportation planning for regional transportation projects in Northern Virginia. In carrying out this responsibility, the Authority shall, on the basis of a regional consensus whenever possible, set regional transportation policies and priorities for regional transportation projects and, at least once every five years, shall consider for revision and revise as necessary the regional transportation plan. The policies and priorities shall have reducing congestion in Planning District 8 as their primary objective to the greatest extent practicable and shall be guided by performance-based criteria such as the ability to improve travel times, reduce delays, connect regional activity centers, improve safety, improve air quality, and move the most people in the most cost-effective manner. Any obstacles to achieving this objective shall be specified in writing, including any reason relating to the need for cooperation by any locality embraced by (i) the Authority, (ii) the District of Columbia, (iii) the State of Maryland, or (iv) any other regional entity in the metropolitan Washington area. Each locality embraced by the Authority shall annually inform the Authority about and the Authority shall annually publish on its website any land use or transportation elements of its comprehensive plan that are not consistent with the plan required by subdivision 1 of § 33.2-2500. No change in such comprehensive plan shall compel the Authority to alter the plan prepared according to this section.

2002, c. 846, § 15.2-4838; 2014, c. 805; 2015, cc. 477, 496; 2017, c. 351.