(a) Establishment and composition.--There is hereby established a citizen advisory committee. The committee shall consist of:

(1) an even number of members of the general public not fewer than 14 and not greater than 24, the exact number to be determined by the general manager, who shall be appointed by the county commissioners or the county council, as the case may be, of all counties of the third class and second class A who are involved with any city of the first class in the operation of a transportation system and by the mayor of any such city of the first class from residents of their respective municipalities who are regular users of mass transportation service; and

(2) five members of the general public, one resident from each of the counties mentioned in paragraph (1) and one resident from the city mentioned in paragraph (1) who are regular users of mass transportation service, who shall be appointed by the general manager.

(b) Terms.--The composition of the committee shall reflect the proportionate distribution of total ridership among all counties of the third class and second class A who are involved with any city of the first class in the operation of a transportation system and any such city of the first class. The terms of the members shall be two years from the date of appointment or until a successor has been appointed, except that one-half of the members first appointed shall serve for terms of one year and the other one-half shall serve for terms of two years. No member shall serve more than three consecutive terms. The committee shall select from among its number a chairman, vice chairman and a secretary. A majority of the members of the committee plus one shall constitute a quorum.

(c) Subjects to be submitted.--Regardless of whether public hearings are required on the matters described in this subsection, the general manager shall submit to the committee proposals regarding the adoption or amendment of a comprehensive transportation plan, the annual operating budget, any capital budget, the facilities to be operated, the services to be available and the rates to be charged therefor or other matters of a similar nature prior to any final action relating to any of the foregoing. The committee may thoroughly consider the proposals and may prepare and transmit to the general manager and to any interested member of the public written comments concerning the proposals prior to the date when final action is to be taken.

(d) Nature of committee's comments.--Although the general manager shall give careful and due consideration to the committee's comments prior to the taking of any final action, the comments shall be considered only advisory in nature.

(e) Transition provision.--With respect to the citizen advisory committee established under the former provisions of Article III of the act of January 22, 1968 (P.L.42, No.8), known as the Pennsylvania Urban Mass Transportation Act, or the former provisions of Chapter 15 (relating to metropolitan transportation authorities) that committee shall continue in effect and shall be deemed, for all purposes, to be a committee created under this section. This committee shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) concerning the establishment, functions and duties of a citizen advisory committee under this chapter. All members of the committee shall continue in office and shall exercise the powers, functions and duties of members of the committee until the expiration of their respective terms of office in effect on the effective date of this chapter.