(a) The department shall

(1) plan, design, construct, and maintain all state modes of transportation and transportation facilities and all docks, floats, breakwaters, buildings, and similar facilities;

(2) study existing transportation modes and facilities in the state to determine how they might be improved or whether they should continue to be maintained;

(3) study alternative means of improving transportation in the state with regard to the economic costs of each alternative and its environmental and social effects;

(4) develop a comprehensive, long-range, intermodal transportation plan for the state;

(5) study alternatives to existing modes of transportation in urban areas and develop plans to improve urban transportation;

(6) cooperate and coordinate with and enter into agreements with federal, state, and local government agencies and private organizations and persons in exercising its powers and duties;

(7) manage, operate, and maintain state transportation facilities and all docks, floats, breakwaters, and buildings, including all state highways, vessels, railroads, pipelines, airports, and aviation facilities;

(8) study alternative means of transportation in the state, considering the economic, social, and environmental effects of each alternative;

(9) coordinate and develop state and regional transportation systems, considering deletions, additions, and the absence of alterations;

(10) develop facility program plans for transportation and state buildings, docks, and breakwaters required to implement the duties set out in this section, including but not limited to functional performance criteria and schedules for completion;

(11) supervise and maintain all state automotive and mechanical equipment, aircraft, and vessels, except vessels and aircraft used by the Department of Fish and Game or the Department of Public Safety; for state vehicles maintained by the department, the department shall, every five years, evaluate the cost, efficiency, and commercial availability of alternative fuels for automotive purposes, and the purpose for which the vehicles are intended to be used, and convert vehicles to use alternative fuels or purchase energy efficient vehicles whenever practicable; the department may participate in joint ventures with public or private partners that will foster the availability of alternative fuels for all automotive fuel consumers;

(12) supervise aeronautics inside the state, under AS 02.10;

(13) implement the safety and financial responsibility requirements for air carriers under AS 02.40;

(14) inspect weights and measures;

(15) at least every four years, study alternatives available to finance transportation systems in order to provide an adequate level of funding to sustain and improve the state's transportation system.

(b) The department may

(1) engage in experimental projects relating to available or future modes of transportation and any means of improving existing transportation facilities and service;

(2) exercise the power of eminent domain, including the declaration of taking as provided in AS 09.55;

(3) publish plans, schedules, directories, guides, and manuals for distribution, with or without charge, to private or public entities or persons;

(4) operate state housing in support of the department's statutory responsibilities and charge rent that is consistent with applicable collective bargaining agreements, or, if no collective bargaining agreement is applicable, competitive with market conditions;

(5) charge reasonable fees to cover the costs of issuing easements, licenses, and permits and to cover the costs of reproduction, printing, mailing, and distribution of contract and bid documents and design and construction standards manuals;

(6) charge and collect fees for training services and technical assistance provided by department personnel.