PUBLIC LAW 105-178^JUNE 9, 1998 112 STAT. 175 plan may include, for illustrative purposes, additional projects that would be included in the adopted long-range transportation plan if reasonable additional resources beyond those identified in the financial plan were available. For the purpose of developing the long-range transportation plan, the metropolitan planning organization and State shall cooperatively develop estimates of funds that will be available to support plan implementation."; (4) in paragraph (4)— (A) by inserting after "employees," the following: "freight shippers, providers of freight transportation services,"; and (B) by inserting after "private providers of transportation," the following: "representatives of users of public transit,"; (5) by adding at the end the following: "(6) SELECTION OF PROJECTS FROM ILLUSTRATIVE LIST. — Notwithstanding paragraph (2)(B), a State or metropolitan planning organization shall not be required to select any project from the illustrative list of additional projects included in the financial plan under paragraph (2)(B)."; (6) in the subsection heading by striking "LONG RANGE PLAN" and inserting "LONG-RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN"; (7) in the headings for paragraphs (2) and (5) by striking "LONG RANGE PLAN" and inserting "LONG-RANGE TRANSPOR- TATION PLAN"; and (8) by striking "long range plan" each place it appears and inserting "long-range transportation plan". (h) METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.— Section 134(h) of such title is amended to read as follows: 23 USC 134. " (h) METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PRO- GRAM. — " (1) DEVELOPMENT. — "(A) IN GENERAL.—In cooperation with the State and any affected public transit operator, the metropolitan planning organization designated for a metropolitan area shall develop a transportation improvement program for the area for which the organization is designated. "(B) OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMENT.—In developing the program, the metropolitan planning organization, in cooperation with the State and any affected public transit operator, shall provide citizens, affected public agencies, representatives of transportation agency employees, freight shippers, providers of freight transportation services, private providers of transportation, representatives of users of public transit, and other interested parties with a reasonable opportunity to comment on the proposed program. "(C) FUNDING ESTIMATES.— For the purpose of developing the transportation improvement program, the metropolitan planning organization, public transit agency, and State shall cooperatively develop estimates of funds that are reasonably expected to be available to support program implementation. "(D) UPDATING AND APPROVAL.— The program shall be updated at least once every 2 years and shall be approved by the metropolitan planning organization and the Governor.
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