(a) The department shall:
(1) prepare a long-term plan for a statewide passenger rail system; and
(2) update the plan at least once every five years.
(b) Information contained in the plan must include:
(1) a description of existing and proposed passenger rail systems;
(2) information regarding the status of passenger rail systems under construction;
(3) an analysis of potential interconnectivity difficulties;
(4) an analysis of short-term and long-term effects of each proposed passenger rail system on state and local road connectivity, including effects on oversize or overweight vehicles and other commercial traffic;
(5) an analysis of the effect of each proposed passenger rail system on statewide transportation planning, including the effect on future state and local road construction and road maintenance needs;
(6) ridership projections for proposed passenger rail projects; and
(7) ridership statistics for existing passenger rail systems.