(a) The Department of Transportation is hereby established. The Department, through appropriate divisions, authorities, subdivisions, offices and administrations shall have the power to perform and shall be responsible for the performance of all the powers, duties and functions vested by law in the Department of Highways and Transportation immediately prior to July 1, 1976.

(b) The powers and duties of the Department of Transportation shall also include, but not be limited to, the following activities:

(1) Coordinating and developing, in cooperation with the federal government, other states, Delaware state agencies, counties, cities, councils and agencies comprehensive balanced transportation planning and policy for the movement of people and goods within the State;

(2) To be the lead agency for establishing and maintaining the continuing, comprehensive, cooperative transportation planning process pursuant to the existing and future provisions of Title 23, United States Code and the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 as amended [49 U.S.C. § 5301 et seq.];

(3) To be the supervising and responsible planning staff for all urban and rural transportation studies and programs in the State and enter into any contracts, agreements and stipulations as required;

(4) To provide the necessary staffing, coordination and liaison required by present and future federal and state acts for transportation planning, programs, grant applications and required administration;

(5) Planning, designing, constructing, operating and maintaining those highway and public transportation systems under its jurisdiction;

(6) Preparing a biennial transportation needs program directed at the achievement of a coordinated and balanced transportation system for the State that is consistent with the state’s social, economic and environmental needs and goals;

(7) To establish a selection process intended to promote engineering and design quality and ensure maximum competition by professional companies of all sizes providing engineering or architectural design services, pursuant to the authority granted in Section 307 of the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995, P.L. 104-59. In developing this process, the Department shall also comply with the Professional Services Negotiation Act, subchapter II of Chapter 69 of this title, as amended. In addition, the Department shall comply with limits on costs reimbursement, including, but not limited to, overhead limits, established by its Consultant Policy Committee. In setting such limits, the Consultant Policy Committee shall consider the goal of the selection process set forth in the 1st sentence of this subsection, as well as the reasonable cost of architectural or engineering services.

29 Del. C. 1953, § ?8401; 57 Del. Laws, c. 514, § ?1; 60 Del. Laws, c. 503, § ?2; 61 Del. Laws, c. 520, § ?5; 70 Del. Laws, c. 473, § ?74; 82 Del. Laws, c. 13, § 1;