228:72 Discontinuances of Service. –
Whenever any operator of a public mass transportation system shall file with the department a petition requesting authorization to discontinue service, it shall be the duty of the commissioner, after hearing, to determine if it is in the public interest to discontinue such service, and if it shall be found that it is not in the public interest that such service be discontinued, the commissioner shall so order and prepare a plan for the continued operation or acquisition of such system. If it is found to be in the public interest for such service to be discontinued, the commissioner may so order.