Subdivision 1.Contracts.

The council may contract with other operators or local governments for route planning and scheduling services in any configuration of new or reconfiguration of existing transit services and routes.

Subd. 2.Route elimination; service reduction.

The council shall, before making a determination to eliminate or reduce service on existing transit routes, consider:

(1) the level of subsidy per passenger on each route;

(2) the availability and proximity of alternative transit routes; and

(3) the percentage of transit dependent riders, including youth, elderly, low-income, and disabled riders currently using each route.