I 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 693 

To designate a rail right-of-way as a corridor for inter-suburban commuter 

rail, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 26, 2009 

Mr. ROSKAM (for himself, Mr. MANZULLO, Mrs. BIGGERT, Mr. FOSTER, Ms. 

HALVORSON, and Ms. BEAN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

A BILL 

To designate a rail right-of-way as a corridor for intersuburban commuter rail, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF CORRIDOR FOR INTER-SUB4 URBAN COMMUTER RAIL. 

5 (a) PROPOSED DESIGNATION OF CORRIDOR FOR

6 INTER-SUBURBAN COMMUTER RAIL AND REPORT.—Not 

7 later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act 

8 and before designating a rail right-of-way as a corridor 

9 for inter-suburban commuter rail under subsection (c), the 

10 Secretary of Transportation shall transmit a report to the 


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1 Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 

2 House of Representatives and the Committee on Com3 merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate that de4 scribes how the proposed corridor meets the qualifications 

5 of subsection (c) and evaluates the potential benefits and 

6 adverse effects, if any, of such a designation. 

7 (b) REVIEW BY CONGRESS.—A proposed designation 

8 of a rail right-of-way as a corridor for inter-suburban com9 muter rail under subsection (c) may not become effective 

10 until the end of a 30-day period of continuous session of 

11 Congress following the date of the transmittal of a report 

12 on the designation under this subsection. For purposes of 

13 the preceding sentence, continuity of a session of Congress 

14 is broken only by an adjournment sine die, and there shall 

15 be excluded from the computation of such 30-day period 

16 any day during which either House of Congress is not in 

17 session during an adjournment of more than 3 days to 

18 a day certain. 

19 (c) CORRIDOR DESIGNATION.—After the 30-day Con20 gressional review period under subsection (b), the Sec21 retary, using the qualifications described in this sub22 section, shall designate a rail right-of-way as a corridor 

23 for inter-suburban commuter rail. In determining if a rail 

24 right-of-way qualifies to be designated as a corridor for 

25 inter-suburban commuter rail, the Secretary shall consider 


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1 the following factors for the 5 metropolitan areas in the 

2 country with the highest population levels: 

3 (1) The availability of existing rail infrastruc4 ture and plans for inter-suburban commuter rail. 

5 (2) Rail projects that have in the past received 

6 Federal authorization and appropriation. 

7 (3) The potential number of individuals that 

8 will be given an alternative to driving. 

9 (4) The potential for reducing congestion. 

10 (5) The potential of linking important economic 

11 centers such as places of employment, retail centers, 

12 educational centers, and civic centers. 

13 (6) The potential for attracting new businesses 

14 and economic development. 

15 (7) Providing new inter-suburban commuter rail 

16 service access. 

17 (8) The availability of existing rail lines in a 

18 traditional hub-and-spoke layout radiating from a 

19 central urban area to connect with the corridor for 

20 inter-suburban commuter rail. 

21 (d) CORRIDOR SELECTION.—Once a rail right-of-way 

22 is selected as a corridor for inter-suburban commuter rail 

23 under this section, the Secretary shall— 


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1 (1) provide technical assistance in expediting 

2 the completion of inter-suburban commuter rail serv3 ice; and 

4 (2) as of the date of the designation of the cor5 ridor for inter-suburban commuter rail under this 

6 section, prohibit increased usage of such corridor ex7 cept for the purpose of increasing the availability of 

8 inter-suburban commuter rail. 

9 (e) DEFINITION.—The term ‘‘inter-suburban com10 muter rail’’ means the provision of rail service between 

11 cities, towns, and villages that comprise the suburbs of 

12 a large city located in one of the 5 metropolitan areas in 

13 the country with the highest population levels. 

Æ 


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