§ 73-e. Rural public transportation coordination assistance program.
1. Program established. There is hereby established a rural public
transportation coordination assistance program which shall:

a. enhance the access of people in rural counties to health care,
shopping, education, employment, public services and recreation services
and opportunities;

b. assist in the establishment, maintenance, development, improvement
and use of public transportation services in rural counties;

c. encourage and facilitate the most efficient and economical use of
all federal, state and local funds used to provide passenger
transportation in rural counties through the establishment of a
coordinated public transportation service in each county; and seek to
increase the productivity of existing programs used for transportation
by increasing the hours of vehicle operation and by expanding services
and service eligibility in such manner as to transport more persons,
especially those in need of transportation but who do not typically
receive transportation services;

d. provide for the participation of public and private for profit and
not-for-profit transportation providers, school districts and volunteers
in coordinated public transportation services in rural counties to the
maximum extent feasible.

2. Eligible expenses and services. The department shall, in
consultation with the interagency coordinating committee on rural public
transportation, define and determine the categories or types of expenses
or services that will be eligible for financial assistance. Public
transportation services funded under this article should be designed to
maximize usage by the public, including transportation disadvantaged
persons. Rail, air, water, freight, emergency medical, charter or tour
transportation services shall not be eligible for assistance provided by
this article. No payment of financial assistance under this section
shall be made for any expenses incurred by a rural county or its
subcontractors prior to the date it receives written notice from the
commissioner that it shall be awarded a grant under this article.

3. Technical assistance and transportation management services. The
department may, at the request of a services coordinator, provide
technical transportation assistance to said coordinator to help the
coordinator comply with program standards and guidelines issued by the
commissioner. Additionally, the department may arrange to sponsor
training programs which will enable services coordinators to perform the
duties required by this article. The department may furnish to and
periodically update for services coordinators information relating to
existing rural transportation services in the state. Such information
may include but not be limited to:

a. a brief description of the nature and scope of existing rural
public transportation services, including a listing of transportation
providers and services coordinators;

b. the identification of unique operating circumstances, and
innovative management or transportation services delivery techniques.

4. Transportation services coordination between counties and regions.
The department may identify and attempt to coordinate the use of
transportation services outside of individual rural counties and between
counties in order to enable persons to be transported outside a county
and or outside a region and the department may identify and promote the
intercounty use of transportation facilities.

5. Coordination of federal, state, local and private aid; report. The
department may compile and maintain current information on available and
pending federal, state, local and private aid affecting coordinated
public transportation services in rural counties. The department may
request and shall be entitled to receive information from state or local
agencies regarding the amount of federal, state and local aid received
by public and private nonprofit organizations providing or contracting
for transportation services and the purpose for which the aid is
received. The commissioner may, in consultation with the interagency
coordinating committee on rural public transportation, use the following
criteria to recommend policies to the governor and the legislature that
would or could promote compliance with the purposes of this subdivision:

a. elimination of duplicative and inefficient administrative costs,
policies and management;

b. greater utilization of resources for providing effective and
efficient transportation services;

c. elimination of duplicative and inefficient transportation services;

d. development of transportation services which meet the needs of the
general public and insure services adequate to the needs of
transportation disadvantaged persons;

e. protection of the rights of privately operated public
transportation providers;

f. coordination of transportation services providers, in order that
individual providers, when participating within a coordinated public
transportation services program, together provide an integrated,
comprehensive service;

g. management of equipment and facilities purchased with public funds
in order that efficient and routine maintenance and replacement is
accomplished.