The Department of Transportation shall annually allocate funds to qualifying Metropolitan Planning Organizations and Rural Transportation Planning Organizations to be used to fund a portion of the local match required for federal State Planning and Research Program funds under 23 U.S.C. § 505. A Metropolitan Planning Organization is only eligible for funding under this section if it has a population of 500,000 or less, as determined by the most recent census. The funds shall be allocated as follows:

(1)        For a Metropolitan Planning Organization or Rural Transportation Planning Organization that includes at least one representative from a development tier one area, as determined under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143B-437.08, the Department shall allocate an amount equal to seventy-five percent (75%) of the total local match required.

(2)        For a Metropolitan Planning Organization or Rural Transportation Planning Organization that does not qualify under subdivision (1) of this section, but includes at least one representative from a development tier two area, as determined under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143B-437.08, the Department shall allocate an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the total local match required.

(3)        The Department shall not allocate any funds under this section to a Metropolitan Planning Organization or Rural Transportation Planning Organization that does not qualify under this section. ?(2017-57, s. 34.8(a).)