Sec. 2. 23 MRSA §52, as amended by PL 1997, c. 52, §1, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

§52. General powers and duties

The Department of Transportation, referred to in this chapter as "the department," may from time to time make and shall enforce rules and regulations relating to the planning, design, engineering, construction, improvement, maintenance and use of transportation infrastructure.__The department may from time to time make and shall enforce rules relating to the manner of conducting all investigations and hearings and the administration of its office, powers and duties.__The department shall direct the expenditure of all money for the planning, design, engineering, construction, improvement, demolition, maintenance and use of all transportation infrastructure for which state funds are provided by law. The department may obtain leases for such land and office space as the department considers necessary for the performance of its duties.__As used in this section, "transportation infrastructure" means infrastructure related to all modes of transportation, including highways, bridges, railroads, ferries, mass transit, airports and bicycle and pedestrian facilities, as well as all buildings, utilities, facilities and other appurtenances related to such modes.

The department has full power to purchase all supplies, materials and equipment that are incidental to, or necessary for, project-specific construction, improvement or maintenance of transportation infrastructure.__The purchase of supplies, materials and equipment for nonproject-specific purposes must be made through the State Purchasing Agent as provided by law. For the purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, "project-specific" means relating to a specific location for a limited duration, as opposed to perennial, nonlocation-specific activities.__The department may be consulted by and shall, without charge, advise municipal officers and road commissioners on the subject of construction, improvement and maintenance of public highways, bridges and other structures. The department shall whenever practicable give preference in employment to the inhabitants of the town in which such highways are located.

The department may adopt its own guidelines for determining the reasonableness and permissibility of various cost factors,