(a) In addition to any other powers which a governmental entity may now have, a governmental entity seeking state funds for a transportation project may submit a transportation project plan to the commissioner as a project sponsor. The commissioner shall review the transportation project plan and the available financing for the project and shall encourage project sponsors to pursue alternative funding sources. Alternative funding sources may include, without limitation, utilization of tax increment financing, issuance of general obligations bonds, special revenue bonds or anticipation notes, cooperation with other governmental units, dedicated user fees and public-private partnerships.
(b) To implement and carry out the intent of this article, the commissioner shall propose legislative rules in accordance with article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code. The commissioner shall establish comprehensive, uniform guidelines in order to evaluate any transportation project plan. The guidelines shall address the following:
(1) The use of alternative sources of funding which could finance all or a portion of the transportation project;