(3) Track upgrades and restoration. 
(4) Highway-rail grade crossing improvement or 
elimination. 
(5) Track, infrastructure, and facility reloca-
tion. 
(6) Acquisition, financing, or refinancing of lo-
comotives and rolling stock. 
(7) Intermodal and station facilities. 
(8) Tunnel and bridge repair or replacement. 
(9) Communications and signaling improve-
ments. 
(10) Environmental impact mitigation. 
(11) Security improvements. 
(e) APPROVED PROJECTS.—A project described in 
this section may receive assistance from the Rail Infra-
structure Finance Corporation under title III only if the 
Secretary of Transportation has approved it under this 
subsection. The Secretary shall approve projects under 
this subsection only if all of the following conditions are 
met: 
(1) The Secretary has approved under section 
22505 of title 49, United States Code, a State rail 
plan for the corridor.
(2) A near-term (6-year) service plan is pro-
vided that includes both a market/revenue forecast 
and an operating expense forecast. 
(3) A near-term (6-year) investment plan is 
provided for both infrastructure and equipment. 
(4) A signed agreement, with any owner of rail 
infrastructure or right of way over which service 
under the project will be operated, is provided that 
authorizes the State or multi-State compact to pro-
ceed with the project. 
(5) Existence is established of firm funding 
commitments to provide the 20 percent match for 
the Federal grant required under section 305(a)(4). 
(6) The project meets all safety and environ-
mental requirements, including applicable require-
ments under the National Environmental Policy Act 
of 1969. 
(7) Amtrak will be the sole operator of intercity 
passenger rail service on the corridor. 
SEC. 202. ADDITIONAL PROJECTS. 
(a) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of Transportation, 
using funding provided through the Rail Infrastructure 
Finance Corporation under title III, shall, pursuant to the 
allocation percentages under section 305(a)(5)(A), sup-
port additional rail infrastructure improvement projects—
(1) on high-speed corridors identified under sec-
tion 104(d) of title 23, United States Code; 
(2) sponsored by States or multi-State com-
pacts not at the time of the award of assistance 
served by Amtrak; 
(3) sponsored by States or multi-State com-
pacts served by Amtrak but not eligible for assist-
ance under section 201 of this Act; and 
(4) on the Alaska Railroad. 
(b) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—Only projects that are de-
scribed in section 201(d)(1) through (11) are eligible to 
receive support under this section. 
(c) APPROVED PROJECTS.—A project described in 
this section may receive assistance from the Rail Infra-
structure Finance Corporation under title III only if the 
Secretary of Transportation has approved it under this 
subsection. The Secretary shall approve projects under 
this subsection only if all of the following conditions are 
met: 
(1) With respect to projects under subsection 
(a)(1) or (3)— 
(A) a signed agreement, with any owner of 
rail infrastructure or right of way over which 
service under the project will be operated, is
provided that authorizes the State or multi- 
State compact to proceed with the project; 
(B) existence is established of firm funding 
commitments to provide the 20 percent match 
for the Federal grant required under section 
305(a)(4); 
(C) the project meets all safety and envi-
ronmental requirements, including applicable 
requirements under the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969; and 
(D) Amtrak will be the sole operator of 
intercity passenger rail service on the corridor. 
(2) With respect to projects under subsection 
(a)(2) or (4)— 
(A) a signed agreement, with any owner of 
rail infrastructure or right of way over which 
service under the project will be operated, is 
provided that authorizes the State or multi- 
State compact to proceed with the project; 
(B) existence is established of firm funding 
commitments to provide the 20 percent match 
for the Federal grant required under section 
305(a)(4); and 
(C) the project meets all safety and envi-
ronmental requirements, including applicable
requirements under the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969. 
SEC. 203. STATE RAIL PLANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Part B of subtitle V of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘CHAPTER 225—STATE RAIL PLANS 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘22501. Authority. 
‘‘22502. Purposes. 
‘‘22503. Transparency; coordination; review. 
‘‘22504. Content. 
‘‘22505. Approval. 
‘‘22506. Definitions. 
‘‘§ 22501. Authority 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Each State may prepare and 
maintain a State rail plan in accordance with the provi-
sions of this chapter. 
‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS.—For the preparation and peri-
odic revision of a State rail plan, a State shall— 
‘‘(1) establish or designate a State rail trans-
portation authority to prepare, maintain, coordinate, 
and administer the plan; 
‘‘(2) establish or designate a State rail plan ap-
proval authority to approve the plan; 
‘‘(3) submit the State’s approved plan to the 
Secretary of Transportation for approval; and
‘‘(4) revise and resubmit a State-approved plan 
no less frequently than once every 5 years for re-
approval by the Secretary. 
‘‘§ 22502. Purposes 
‘‘(a) PURPOSES.—The purposes of a State rail plan 
are as follows: 
‘‘(1) To set forth State policy involving freight 
and passenger rail transportation, including com-
muter rail operations, in the State. 
‘‘(2) To establish the period covered by the 
State rail plan. 
‘‘(3) To present priorities and strategies to pre-
serve, enhance, or expand rail service in the State 
that benefits the public. 
‘‘(4) To serve as the basis for Federal and 
State rail investments within the State. 
‘‘(b) COORDINATION.—A State rail plan shall be co-
ordinated with other State transportation planning goals 
and programs and set forth rail transportation’s role with-
in the State transportation system. 
‘‘§ 22503. Transparency; coordination; review 
‘‘(a) PREPARATION.—A State shall provide adequate 
and reasonable notice and opportunity for comment and 
other input to the public, rail carriers, commuter and tran-
sit authorities operating in, or affected by rail operations
within the State, units of local government, and other in-
terested parties in the preparation and review of its State 
rail plan. 
‘‘(b) 
INTERGOVERNMENTAL
COORDINATION.—A 
State shall review the freight and passenger rail service 
activities and initiatives by regional planning agencies, re-
gional transportation authorities, and municipalities with-
in the State, or in the region in which the State is located, 
while preparing the plan, and shall include any rec-
ommendations made by such agencies, authorities, and 
municipalities as deemed appropriate by the State. 
‘‘(c) ANNUAL REVIEWS.—Each State shall transmit 
an annual report on its plan to the Secretary of Transpor-
tation. The report shall include, for the year preceding the 
year in which submitted, the following matters: 
‘‘(1) A review of progress made, and actions 
taken, under the plan during the year, including an 
update on the budget, schedule, and financing for 
each project on the freight or passenger rail capital 
project list compiled under section 22504(a). 
‘‘(2) Any modifications made in the plan after 
approval of the plan by the Secretary or after the 
submission of the most recent annual report on the 
plan to the Secretary, including any modifications
made to the priority freight or passenger rail capital 
list required by section 22504(b). 
‘‘(d) APPROVAL
OF MODIFIED PLANS.—Modifica-
tions of a State rail plan that are determined substantive 
by the Secretary, including any modification to a priority 
freight or passenger rail capital project list required by 
section 22504(b), is subject to approval (for the purposes 
of this chapter) by the Secretary. 
‘‘§ 22504. Content 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Each State rail plan shall con-
tain the following: 
‘‘(1) An evaluation of the existing overall rail 
transportation system and rail services and facilities 
within the State, a prioritization of such services 
and facilities in terms of their contributions to the 
State’s rail and transportation system. 
‘‘(2) A comprehensive review of all rail lines 
within the State, including proposed high speed rail 
corridors and significant rail line segments not cur-
rently in service, containing an overview of the 
transportation services provided by those lines, their 
ownership, operating characteristics, and the general 
state of their infrastructure. 
‘‘(3) A statement of the State’s freight and pas-
senger rail service objectives, including minimum
service levels, for rail transportation routes in the 
State. 
‘‘(4) A general analysis of rail’s transportation, 
economic, and environmental impacts in the State, 
including congestion mitigation, trade and economic 
development, air quality, land-use, energy-use, and 
community impacts. 
‘‘(5) A long-range rail service and investment 
program for current and future freight and pas-
senger services in the State that meets the require-
ments of subsection (b). 
‘‘(6) A statement of public financing issues for 
rail projects and service in the State, including a list 
of current and prospective capital and operating 
funding resources, public subsidies, State taxation, 
and other financial policies relating to rail service 
and rail infrastructure development. 
‘‘(7) A statement of rail service issues within 
the State, such as congestion and capacity, and cur-
rent system deficiencies on a regional, intrastate, 
and interstate basis, that reflects consultation with 
neighboring States and describes any coordination of 
regional rail service. 
‘‘(8) A review of major passenger and freight 
intermodal rail connections and facilities within the
State, including seaports, and prioritized options to 
maximize service integration and efficiency between 
rail and other modes of transportation within the 
State. 
‘‘(9) A description of new technology that re-
lates to rail transportation within the State, includ-
ing logistics and process improvements. 
‘‘(10) A review of publicly funded projects with-
in the State to improve rail transportation safety 
and security, including all major projects funded 
under section 130 of title 23. 
‘‘(11) A performance evaluation of passenger 
rail services operating in the State, including pos-
sible improvements in those services, and a descrip-
tion of strategies to achieve those improvements. 
‘‘(12) A compilation of studies and reports on 
high-speed rail corridor development within the 
State not included in a previous plan under this 
chapter, and a plan for funding any recommended 
development of such corridors in the State. 
‘‘(13) A statement that the State is in compli-
ance with the requirements of section 22102. 
‘‘(b) LONG-RANGE SERVICE AND INVESTMENT PRO-
GRAM.—
‘‘(1) PROGRAM
CONTENT.—A long-range rail 
service and investment program included in a State 
rail plan under subsection (a)(5) shall include the 
following matters: 
‘‘(A) Two ranked lists for rail capital 
projects, 1 for freight rail capital projects and 
1 for intercity passenger rail capital projects. 
‘‘(B) A detailed funding plan for the 
projects. 
‘‘(2) PROJECT LIST CONTENT.—The ranked list 
of freight and intercity passenger rail capital 
projects shall contain— 
‘‘(A) a description of the anticipated public 
and private benefits of each such project; and 
‘‘(B) a statement of the correlation be-
tween— 
‘‘(i) public funding contributions for 
the projects; and 
‘‘(ii) the public benefits. 
‘‘(3) CONSIDERATIONS FOR PROJECT LIST.—In 
preparing the ranked list of freight and intercity 
passenger rail capital projects, a State rail transpor-
tation authority shall take into consideration the fol-
lowing matters:
‘‘(A) Contributions made by non-Federal 
and non-State sources through user fees, 
matching funds, or other private capital involve-
ment. 
‘‘(B) Rail capacity and congestion effects. 
‘‘(C) Effects to highway, aviation, and 
maritime capacity, congestion, or safety. 
‘‘(D) Regional balance. 
‘‘(E) Environmental impact. 
‘‘(F) Competitive and service impacts for 
rail carriers and shippers. 
‘‘(G) Preservation of rail service. 
‘‘(H) Economic and employment impacts. 
‘‘(I) Projected ridership and other service 
measures for passenger rail projects. 
‘‘(c) WAIVER.—The Secretary may waive any re-
quirement of subsection (a) upon application under cir-
cumstances that the Secretary determines appropriate. 
‘‘§ 22505. Approval 
‘‘(a) CRITERIA.—The Secretary may approve a State 
rail plan for the purposes of this chapter if— 
‘‘(1) the plan meets all of the requirements ap-
plicable to State plans under this chapter;
‘‘(2) for each ready-to-commence project listed 
on the ranked list of freight and intercity passenger 
rail capital projects under the plan— 
‘‘(A) the project meets all safety and envi-
ronmental requirements including those pre-
scribed under the National Environmental Pol-
icy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4331 et seq.) that 
are applicable to the project under law; and 
‘‘(B) the State has entered into an agree-
ment with any owner of rail infrastructure or 
right of way over which service under the 
project will be operated that authorizes the 
State to proceed with the project; and 
‘‘(3) the content of the plan is coordinated 
with— 
‘‘(A) State transportation plans developed 
pursuant to section 135 of title 23; and 
‘‘(B) the national rail plan, the 50-year 
intermodal blueprint developed under section 
5503(e) of this title (if either is available), and 
any other transportation plan of the Federal 
Government that is required by law and that 
the Secretary considers relevant. 
‘‘(b) PROCEDURES FOR STATE RAIL PLAN SUBMIS-
SION AND APPROVAL.—The Secretary shall prescribe pro-
cedures for States to submit State rail plans for review 
under this chapter, including standardized format and 
data requirements and procedures for resubmittal if a 
State rail plan is disapproved. The procedures shall pro-
vide for the Secretary to review a State rail plan and issue 
a record of decision of approval or disapproval, with com-
ment, on such plan within 180 days after the plan is sub-
mitted. 
‘‘§ 22506. Definitions 
‘‘In this chapter: 
‘‘(1) PRIVATE
BENEFIT.—The term ‘private 
benefit’ means a benefit accrued to a person or pri-
vate entity, other than Amtrak, that directly im-
proves the economic and competitive condition of 
that person or entity through improved assets, cost 
reductions, service improvements, or any other 
means as defined by the Secretary of Transpor-
tation. The Secretary may seek the advice of the 
States and rail carriers in further defining this term. 
‘‘(2) PUBLIC BENEFIT.—The term ‘public ben-
efit’ means a benefit accrued to the public in the 
form of enhanced mobility of people or goods, envi-
ronmental protection or enhancement, congestion 
mitigation, enhanced trade and economic develop-
ment, improved air quality or land use, more effi-
cient energy use, enhanced public safety or security, 
reduction of public expenditures due to improved 
transportation efficiency or infrastructure preserva-
tion, and any other positive community effects as de-
fined by the Secretary. The Secretary make seek the 
advice of the States and rail carriers in further de-
fining this term. 
‘‘(3) STATE.—The term ‘State’ means any of 
the 50 States and the District of Columbia. 
‘‘(4) STATE
RAIL
TRANSPORTATION
AUTHOR-
ITY.—The term ‘State rail transportation authority’ 
means the State agency or official responsible under 
the direction of the Governor of the State or a State 
law for preparation, maintenance, coordination, and 
administration of the State rail plan.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of chapters 
for subtitle V of title 49, United States Code, is amended 
by inserting after the item relating to chapter 223 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘225. STATE RAIL PLANS ..............................................................22501’’. 
SEC. 204. ADDITIONAL HIGH-SPEED RAIL CORRIDORS. 
Section 104(d)(2)(B) of title 23, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of clause (iv); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of clause 
(v) and inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
clauses: 
‘‘(vi) a Gulf of Mexico high-speed cor-
ridor from Mobile, Alabama, to San Anto-
nio, Texas, via New Orleans, Louisiana, 
and Houston, Texas; 
‘‘(vii) a Mississippi River high-speed 
corridor from New Orleans, Louisiana, to 
Memphis, Tennessee, via Jackson, Mis-
sissippi; and 
‘‘(viii) a Las Vegas high-speed cor-
ridor from Los Angeles, California, to Las 
Vegas, Nevada.’’. 
SEC. 205. HIGH-SPEED RAIL CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT.— 
(1) AMENDMENTS.—Section 26101 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in the section heading, by striking 
‘‘planning’’ and inserting ‘‘development’’; 
(B) in the heading of subsection (a), by 
striking ‘‘PLANNING’’ and inserting ‘‘DEVELOP-
MENT’’; 
(C) by striking ‘‘corridor planning’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘corridor devel-
opment’’;
(D) in subsection (b)(1)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘, or if it is an activity 
described in subparagraph (M)’’ after 
‘‘high-speed rail improvements’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of 
subparagraph (K); 
(iii) by striking the period at the end 
of subparagraph (L) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; 
and 
(iv) by adding at the end the following 
new subparagraph: 
‘‘(M) the acquisition of locomotives, rolling 
stock, track, and signal equipment.’’; and 
(E) in subsection (c)(2), by striking ‘‘plan-
ning’’ and inserting ‘‘development’’. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The item re-
lating to section 26101 in the table of sections of 
chapter 261 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘planning’’ and inserting ‘‘de-
velopment’’. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
26104 of title 49, United States Code, is amended to read 
as follows: