The express purposes of the regional transportation authority are to improve mobility and expand multimodal transportation options for residents and visitors in Tennessee’s large urban areas. The intent of the legislation is to respond to the growing need for regional approaches and solutions to managing traffic congestion and improving transportation options for residents, businesses and visitors in Tennessee’s large urban areas. In an effort to ensure continued economic growth and prosperity and to encourage environmental sustainability, this part seeks to establish additional tools for local governments in those areas to work cooperatively to plan, finance, construct, operate, maintain and manage mass transit systems and related activities to include, but not be limited to, demand-response transit services, vanpool programs, rideshare programs, local bus services, regional bus services, bus rapid transit services, light rail transit services, commuter rail services, park-and-ride lots, transit oriented development nodes and all infrastructure that would be required to support or sustain these facilities or services and developments.