Section 14526.5.

(a) The department shall prepare a state highway operation and protection program for the expenditure of transportation funds for major capital improvements that are necessary to preserve and protect the state highway system. Projects included in the program shall be limited to capital improvements relative to maintenance, safety, and rehabilitation of state highways and bridges which do not add a new traffic lane to the system.

(b) The program shall include projects which are expected to be advertised prior to July 1 of the year following submission of the program, but which have not yet been funded. The program shall include those projects for which construction is to begin within four fiscal years, starting July 1 of the year following the year the program is submitted.

(c) The program shall be submitted to the commission not later than January 31 of each even-numbered year. Prior to submitting the plan, the department shall make a draft of its proposed program available to transportation planning agencies for review and comment and shall include the comments in its submittal to the commission.

(d) The commission may review the program relative to its overall adequacy, level of annual funding needed to implement the program, and the impact of those expenditures on the state transportation improvement program. The commission shall approve and submit the program to the Legislature and the Governor not later than April 1 of each even-numbered year.

(e) Expenditures for these projects shall not be subject to Sections 188 and 188.8 of the Streets and Highways Code.

(Repealed and added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 1177, Sec. 2. Effective September 30, 1992.)