Section 15 - Comprehensive statewide master plan for transportation1. The department shall formulate and from time to time revise a long-range comprehensive statewide master plan for the balanced development and coordination of adequate, safe and efficient commuter and general transportation facilities and services in the state at reasonable cost to the people, including, but not limited to, highways, rapid transit, railroad, omnibus, marine and other mass transportation facilities and services, and aviation and airport facilities and services, whether publicly or privately owned, developed, operated or maintained.2. The department shall submit such plan to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly and to the department of state on or before September first, nineteen hundred sixty-eight, and thereafter shall submit appropriate revisions of such plan to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly and to the department of state from time to time as such revisions are made. The department of state shall review such plan and such revisions and shall submit a report thereon, together with such recommendations as it may deem appropriate, to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly. Such plan and such revisions shall become effective upon approval by the governor and shall serve thereafter as a guide to the public and publicly assisted development of transportation facilities and services in the state.3. In formulating such plan and any such revisions, the department: a. shall conduct one or more public hearings;b. may consult with and cooperate with (i) officials of departments and agencies of the state having duties and responsibilities concerning transportation;(ii) officials and representatives of public corporations as defined in article one, section three of the general corporation law;(iii) officials and representatives of the federal government, of neighboring states and of interstate agencies on problems affecting transportation in this state;(iv) officials and representatives of carriers and transportation facilities and systems in the state; and(v) persons, organizations and groups utilizing, served by, interested in or concerned with transportation facilities and systems in the state;c. may request and receive from any department, division, board, bureau, commission or other agency of the state or any political subdivision thereof or any public authority such assistance and data as may be necessary to enable the department to carry out its responsibilities under this section; and d. may make use of and incorporate in the department's plan, any recognized long-range regional plan for transportation, survey or report developed by any public or private agency.