LONG-TERM PLAN FOR STATEWIDE PASSENGER RAIL SYSTEM

(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.