(a) The commissioners court of a county may initiate the process to create an authority to provide public transportation and transportation-related services:
(1) on adoption of a resolution or order initiating the process to create an authority; or
(2) on receipt of a petition requesting creation of an authority signed by a number of registered voters of the county equal to or greater than five percent of the votes cast in the county in the most recent gubernatorial election.
(b) If a petition described by Subsection (a)(2) is received by the commissioners court, the petition shall be verified by the county clerk, consistent with Chapter 277, Election Code, and returned to the commissioners court with a finding of verification.