724                                  LAWS OF MARYLAND                           CH. 447

the concurrence of the Governor, be increased or diminished pro-
vided the toted of the Supplemented Highway Program as budgeted
is not increased; (7) The Commission is further authorized to ex-
pend such sum as is approved in the Budget for construction and
reconstruction projects enumerated in each first year program under
the Commission's continuing five-year construction program. (8)
In order to accomplish the purposes of this Act and to effect the
transition herein required, authority is hereby granted to the re-
spective agencies with the approval of the Governor to amend the
1969 State Budget to conform with the provisions herein authorized.
Copies of such budget amendments shall be filed with the Depart-
ment of Legislative Reference, the State Fiscal Research Bureau and
the Department of Budget and Procurement.

(b) Definitions.

1.  As used in this section the term "Emergency Projects" shall

mean unanticipated bridge maintenance and repair; repair or im-
provement of the highway system due to storm and flood damage
and other unforeseen causes; new construction of traffic lights and
signs; improvements of the existing highway system determined by
the Commission to be necessary because of population shifts or new
commercial and industrial growth; and for the construction, recon-
struction and improvement of State highway construction projects
of an emergency nature when so determined by the Commission.

2.  As used in this section the term "Supplemental Highway Pro-
gram" shall include such items as are determined by the Commission
to be critical in nature, the construction or improvement of which
is deemed by the Commission to be necessary for the safety or wel-
fare of the travelling public. They shall include the State Roads
Commission portion of projects under the Federal Highway Safety
Act, the Highway Beautification Act and other Federal acts requir-
ing matching State highway money; the reconstruction and improve-
ment of highways on the State System by the use of bituminous
overlays or other recognized methods of improvement,' spot im-
provements which shall include construction items that will eliminate
horizontal and vertical curves, correct poor sight conditions, con-
struct left hand turning slots, channelization and other construction,
reconstruction or improvements intended to promote the safety of
the travelling public; secondary highway improvement projects on
the secondary system, which improvements can be wholly or sub-
stantially made within the existing right of way; traffic control im-
provements on the existing highway system; engineering and other
studies on future highway projects and engineering and other studies
occasioned by population shifts and commercial or industrial growth
when it is determined by the Commission that the best interest of
the State requires that such engineering and other studies be made.

211-1.

During the calendar year 1968 there shall be prepared and ap-
proved by Commission resolution a State Highway System construc-
tion and reconstruction program for the period beginning July 1,
1969 and ending June 30, 1974. This initial five-year construction
and reconstruction program should SHALL incorporate the unfin-
ished portion of the current six-year construction program (1964-
1970) and such other additional projects from the Commission's