Section 1504 - Department authorization(a) General.--(1) The department may, within the limitations provided in this chapter, incur costs directly and provide financial assistance for the purposes and activities enumerated in this chapter.(2) In the event of imminent service termination, the department shall make every effort to contract with a local transportation organization to provide the programs, activities and services enumerated in this chapter. After all local transportation organization contracting options are exhausted, the department may contract with a transportation company to provide the programs, activities and services enumerated in this chapter. The operation of the programs, activities and services administered by the department and provided by the local transportation organization or transportation company under this subsection shall not be subject to the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.(b) Supplementation of Federal and local funds.--The authority conferred on the department by this chapter includes providing financial assistance for public passenger transportation purposes and supplementing Federal funding or local funding or both.Amended by P.L. 974 2013 No. 89, § 4, eff. 11/25/2013.2007, July 18, P.L. 169, No. 44, § 3, retroactive effective July 1, 2007.