(a) Funds received by a city or county designated as an included municipal operator pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 99207 because it is not receiving adequate local public transportation service from any transit districts in which it is located may only be used by such a city or county to contract with an operator for public transportation services.
(b) If the Metropolitan Transportation Commission determines that it is not feasible on the basis of, among other things, cost to contract with an operator pursuant to subdivision (a), the city or county may use the funds for either or both of the following:
(1) The development and operation of a public transportation system.
(2) Public transportation service received under contract from an operator providing such service since at least July 1, 1972, or from a common carrier, as defined in Section 211, which is under the jurisdiction and control of the Public Utilities Commission and which is engaged in the transportation of persons, as defined in Section 208.
(c) The system or the service under the contract, as the case may be, shall be consistent, as determined by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, with the regional transportation plan.