Any county board with the approval of the Department may also use motor fuel tax money allotted to it for the purpose of the payment for investigations requisite to determine the reasonably anticipated need for any of the work described in Sections 5-701.1 to 5-701.5, inclusive, of this Code. Such investigations may include, but shall not be limited to, the making of traffic surveys, the study of transportation facilities, research concerning the development of the several areas within the county and contiguous territory as affected by growth and changes in population and economic activity and the collection and review of data relating to all factors affecting the judicious planning of construction, reconstruction, improvement and maintenance of highways. The investigations for which any such payments are made may also be conducted in cooperation with other counties, municipalities, the State of Illinois, the United States, other states of the United States, agencies of any such governments or other persons in pursuance of agreements to share the costs thereof and authority to enter into such agreements is hereby conferred upon counties.