(a) The regional council of governments in each state planning region will be designated as the single metropolitan planning organization subject to the following conditions.
  (1) All signatory members must concur with the governor's designation.
  (2) The regional council of governments agree that the steering committee will approve the use of section 112 funds. The 1973 Federal-Aid Highway Act, §112, authorizes additional funds for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the United States Code, Title 23, Chapter 1, §134. Therefore, first consideration for the distribution of section 112 funds should be given to existing planning efforts being conducted by cities, counties, and regional councils of government who are assigned responsibility for basic elements of the urban transportation study agreements established by the Texas Highway Department pursuant to the United States Code, Title 23, Chapter 1, §134.
(b) If these conditions are not met in any metropolitan area, then the signatory members will recommend to the governor the appropriate agency to be designated as the single metropolitan planning organization.

Source Note: The provisions of this §5.54 adopted to be effective January 1, 1976.