(a) The department shall identify:
(1) overlaps and gaps in the provision of public transportation services, including services that could be more effectively provided by existing, privately funded transportation resources;
(2) underused equipment owned by public transportation providers; and
(3) inefficiencies in the provision of public transportation services by any public transportation provider.
(b) The department may contract with any public or private transportation provider for the department to arrange for the provision of public transportation services.