In order to facilitate vehicular traffic across this Commonwealth and pursuant to the authority granted under this chapter, the commission is hereby authorized and empowered to:
(1) at its own expense and in consultation with the department, prepare a consulting civil engineer report and financial analysis with respect to the feasibility of converting any interstate highway or interstate highway segment to a toll road or adding to said interstates additional capacity projects financed by tolls; and
(2) at its own expense and in consultation with the department and with approval of the General Assembly, prepare and submit an application to the United States Department of Transportation for the conversion of any interstate or interstate segment determined to be eligible for conversion to a toll road under any applicable Federal program.