The commission shall take all action necessary to obtain the maximum amount of funding available pursuant to Section 1602 of Title 49 of the United States Code. Public transit operators or other public agencies may only apply for such funds under such terms as prescribed by the commission. The commission may authorize the operator or the agency, as the case may be, to be responsible for the administration of its grant on the condition that the commission receives adequate and timely notice of all formal or other significant communications between the operator or agency and the federal government regarding the grant.