SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
TITLE I—AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS 
Sec. 101. Authorization for Amtrak. 
Sec. 102. Authorization for Amtrak Office of the Inspector General. 
Sec. 103. National infrastructure investments. 
Sec. 104. Northeast Corridor. 
TITLE II—AMTRAK REFORM 
Sec. 201. Amtrak planning and grant process. 
Sec. 202. Five-year capital and operating plan. 
Sec. 203. State-supported routes. 
Sec. 204. Route and service planning decisions. 
Sec. 205. Competition. 
Sec. 206. Food and beverage reform. 
Sec. 207. Right-of-way leveraging. 
Sec. 208. Station development. 
Sec. 209. Amtrak debt. 
Sec. 210. Amtrak pilot program for passengers transporting domesticated cats 
and dogs. 
Sec. 211. Amtrak boarding procedures. 
TITLE III—INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL POLICY 
Sec. 301. Federal-State partnership for Northeast Corridor development and 
improvement. 
Sec. 302. RRIF improvements. 
Sec. 303. NEC fast forward. 
Sec. 304. Large capital project requirements. 
Sec. 305. Small business participation study. 
Sec. 306. Gulf Coast rail service working group. 
Sec. 307. Miscellaneous. 
Sec. 308. Northeast Corridor express service. 
TITLE IV—PROJECT DELIVERY 
Sec. 401. Project delivery rulemaking. 
Sec. 402. Historic preservation of railroads. 
TITLE V—MISCELLANEOUS 
Sec. 501. Definition. 
Sec. 502. Title 49 definitions. 
Sec. 503. State action plans. 
Sec. 504. Quiet zone report.
TITLE I—AUTHORIZATION OF 
APPROPRIATIONS 
SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION FOR AMTRAK. 
(a) NORTHEAST CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT FUND.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
for the use of Amtrak for deposit into the Northeast Cor-
ridor Improvement Fund account established under sec-
tion 24319(a)(1) of title 49, United States Code (as added 
by section 201 of this Act), the following amounts: 
(1) For fiscal year 2016, $439,000,000. 
(2) For fiscal year 2017, $464,000,000. 
(3) For fiscal year 2018, $480,000,000. 
(4) For fiscal year 2019, $498,000,000. 
(b) NATIONAL NETWORK.—There are authorized to 
be appropriated to the Secretary for the use of Amtrak 
for deposit into the National Network account established 
under section 24319(a)(2) of title 49, United States Code 
(as added by section 201 of this Act), the following 
amounts: 
(1) For fiscal year 2016, $973,000,000. 
(2) For fiscal year 2017, $974,000,000. 
(3) For fiscal year 2018, $985,000,000. 
(4) For fiscal year 2019, $997,000,000. 
(c) PROJECT MANAGEMENT OVERSIGHT.—The Sec-
retary may withhold up to $2,000,000 of the amount ap-
propriated pursuant to subsection (a), and up to 
$2,000,000 of the amount appropriated pursuant to sub-
section (b), for the costs of management oversight of Am-
trak. 
SEC. 102. AUTHORIZATION FOR AMTRAK OFFICE OF THE 
INSPECTOR GENERAL. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary for the Office of the Inspector General of Amtrak 
the following amounts: 
(1) For fiscal year 2016, $23,000,000. 
(2) For fiscal year 2017, $24,000,000. 
(3) For fiscal year 2018, $24,000,000. 
(4) For fiscal year 2019, $25,000,000. 
SEC. 103. NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary for capital grants under chapter 
244 of title 49, United States Code, and section 20154 
of title 49, United States Code, the following amounts: 
(1) For fiscal year 2016, $300,000,000. 
(2) For fiscal year 2017, $300,000,000. 
(3) For fiscal year 2018, $300,000,000. 
(4) For fiscal year 2019, $300,000,000. 
(b) FEDERAL-STATE PARTNERSHIP FOR NORTHEAST 
CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT.—Of the 
amounts authorized to be appropriated under subsection
(a), 50 percent for each fiscal year shall be available for 
carrying out section 24407 of title 49, United States Code, 
as added by section 301 of this Act. 
(c) PROJECT MANAGEMENT OVERSIGHT.—The Sec-
retary may withhold up to 1⁄2 of 1 percent of amounts 
appropriated pursuant to chapter 244 of title 49, United 
States Code, for the costs of project management over-
sight of capital projects carried out pursuant to such chap-
ter. 
SEC. 104. NORTHEAST CORRIDOR. 
For purposes of this title, the term ‘‘Northeast Cor-
ridor’’ means the Northeast Corridor main line between 
Boston, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia, and 
facilities and services used to operate and maintain that 
line. 
TITLE II—AMTRAK REFORM 
SEC. 201. AMTRAK PLANNING AND GRANT PROCESS. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES.— 
(1) AMENDMENT.—Chapter 243 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new sections: 
‘‘§ 24317. Costs and revenues 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date of enactment of the Passenger Rail Reform and In-
vestment Act of 2015, Amtrak shall establish and main-
tain internal controls to ensure Amtrak’s costs and reve-
nues are allocated to either the Northeast Corridor or the 
National Network, including proportional shares of com-
mon and fixed costs. 
‘‘(b) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this chapter, the 
term ‘Northeast Corridor’ means the Northeast Corridor 
main line between Boston, Massachusetts, and the District 
of Columbia, and facilities and services used to operate 
and maintain that line. 
‘‘§ 24318. Grant process 
‘‘(a) PROCEDURES
FOR GRANT REQUESTS.—Not 
later than 30 days after the date of enactment of the Pas-
senger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015, the Sec-
retary of Transportation shall establish and transmit to 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and 
the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation and the Committee on Appropriations 
of the Senate substantive and procedural requirements, in-
cluding schedules, for grant requests under this section. 
‘‘(b) GRANT REQUESTS.—Amtrak shall transmit 
grant requests for Federal funds to be appropriated to the 
Secretary for the use of Amtrak to— 
‘‘(1) the Secretary; and
‘‘(2) the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure and the Committee on Appropriations 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the 
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. 
‘‘(c) CONTENTS.—A grant request under subsection 
(b) shall— 
‘‘(1) provide a detailed financial analysis for the 
upcoming fiscal year for the Northeast Corridor, 
State-supported routes, and long-distance routes, in-
cluding 
projections 
for 
the 
items 
listed 
in 
24320(c)(1), as applicable, in comparison to prior 
fiscal year projections; 
‘‘(2) include a description of the work to be 
funded, along with cost estimates and an estimated 
timetable for completion of the projects covered by 
the request; 
‘‘(3) include an assessment of the continuing fi-
nancial stability of Amtrak; 
‘‘(4) be displayed on Amtrak’s website within a 
reasonable timeframe following its submission to the 
entities described in subsection (b); and 
‘‘(5) be in similar format and substance to 
those submitted by executive agencies of the Federal 
Government.
‘‘(d) REVIEW AND APPROVAL.— 
‘‘(1) THIRTY-DAY
APPROVAL
PROCESS.—The 
Secretary shall complete the review of a grant re-
quest and approve or disapprove the request not 
later than 30 days after the date on which Amtrak 
submits the grant request. If the Secretary dis-
approves the request or determines that the request 
is incomplete or deficient, the Secretary shall include 
the reason for disapproval or the incomplete items or 
deficiencies in a notice to Amtrak. 
‘‘(2) FIFTEEN-DAY
MODIFICATION
PERIOD.— 
Not later than 15 days after receiving notification 
from the Secretary under paragraph (1), Amtrak 
shall submit a modified request for the Secretary’s 
review. 
‘‘(3) REVISED REQUESTS.—Not later than 15 
days after receiving a modified request from Am-
trak, the Secretary shall either approve the modified 
request, or, if the Secretary finds that the request 
is still incomplete or deficient, the Secretary shall 
identify in writing to the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Ap-
propriations of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation and the Committee on Appropriations of the
Senate the remaining deficiencies and recommend a 
process for resolving the outstanding portions of the 
request. 
‘‘(e) PAYMENT TO AMTRAK.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), in each fiscal year for which amounts are 
authorized to be appropriated, amounts appropriated 
shall be paid to Amtrak as follows: 
‘‘(A) 50 percent on October 1. 
‘‘(B) 25 percent on January 1. 
‘‘(C) 25 percent on April 1. 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary may make a 
payment to Amtrak of appropriated funds more fre-
quently than once every 90 days if Amtrak, for good 
cause, requests more frequent payment before a 90- 
day period ends. 
‘‘(f) AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS AND EARLY APPRO-
PRIATIONS.—Amounts appropriated to the Secretary for 
the use of Amtrak shall remain available until expended. 
Amounts for capital acquisitions and improvements may 
be appropriated for a fiscal year before the fiscal year in 
which the amounts will be obligated. 
‘‘(g) LIMITATIONS ON USE.—Amounts appropriated 
to the Secretary for the use of Amtrak may not be used
to subsidize operating losses of commuter rail passenger 
or rail freight transportation. 
‘‘§ 24319. Accounts 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF ACCOUNTS.—Amtrak shall 
establish— 
‘‘(1) a Northeast Corridor Improvement Fund 
account; and 
‘‘(2) a National Network account. 
‘‘(b) NORTHEAST CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT FUND 
ACCOUNT.— 
‘‘(1) DEPOSITS.—Amtrak shall deposit in the 
Northeast Corridor Improvement Fund account es-
tablished under subsection (a)(1)— 
‘‘(A) grant funds appropriated for the 
Northeast Corridor Improvement Fund pursu-
ant to section 101(a) of the Passenger Rail Re-
form and Investment Act of 2015 or any subse-
quent Act; 
‘‘(B) compensation received from com-
muter rail passenger transportation on the 
Northeast Corridor provided to Amtrak pursu-
ant to section 24905(c); and 
‘‘(C) any operating surplus of the North-
east Corridor, as allocated pursuant to section 
24317.
‘‘(2) USE OF NORTHEAST CORRIDOR IMPROVE-
MENT FUND ACCOUNT.—Except as provided in sub-
section (d), amounts deposited in the Northeast Cor-
ridor Improvement Fund account shall be made 
available for the use of Amtrak for— 
‘‘(A) capital projects described in section 
24401(2) (A) or (B) to bring the Northeast 
Corridor to a state-of-good-repair, including 
projects 
described 
in 
section 
24911(a)(2)(E)(i)(I); 
‘‘(B) capital projects intended to increase 
corridor capacity, improve service reliability, 
and reduce travel time for rail users on the 
Northeast Corridor, including projects described 
in 
subclauses 
(II) 
and 
(III) 
of 
section 
24911(a)(2)(E)(i), consistent with the planning 
process established under section 24911; and 
‘‘(C) retirement of principal and payment 
of interest on loans for capital equipment, or 
capital leases, attributable to the Northeast 
Corridor. 
‘‘(c) NATIONAL NETWORK ACCOUNT.— 
‘‘(1) DEPOSITS.—Amtrak shall deposit in the 
account established under subsection (a)(2)—
‘‘(A) grant funds appropriated for the Na-
tional Network pursuant to section 101(b) of 
the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act 
of 2015, or any subsequent Act; 
‘‘(B) compensation received from States 
provided to Amtrak pursuant to section 209 of 
the Passenger Rail Investment and Improve-
ment Act of 2008 (42 U.S.C. 24101 note); and 
‘‘(C) any operating surplus from the Na-
tional Network, as allocated pursuant to section 
24317. 
‘‘(2) USE OF NATIONAL NETWORK ACCOUNT.— 
Except as provided in subsection (d), amounts de-
posited in the National Network account shall be 
made available for the use of Amtrak for capital ex-
penses and operating costs of the National Network 
and retirement of principal and payment of interest 
on loans for capital equipment, or capital leases, at-
tributable to the National Network. 
‘‘(d) TRANSFER AUTHORITY.— 
‘‘(1) AUTHORITY.—Amtrak may transfer any 
funds appropriated pursuant to the Passenger Rail 
Reform and Investment Act of 2015 or any other 
Act, or any surplus generated by operations, between 
the Northeast Corridor Improvement Fund and Na-
tional Network accounts upon the expiration of 60 
days after Amtrak has notified the Amtrak Board of 
Directors of such transfer. 
‘‘(2) REPORT.—Not later than 30 days after 
the Amtrak Board of Directors receives notification 
from Amtrak under paragraph (1), the Board shall 
transmit a report to the Secretary, the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the House of Represent-
atives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation and the Committee on Appro-
priations of the Senate, that includes— 
‘‘(A) the amount of the transfer; and 
‘‘(B) a detailed explanation of the reason 
for the transfer, including effects on Amtrak 
services if no transfer were made. 
‘‘(e) LETTERS OF INTENT.— 
‘‘(1) REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary shall issue 
a letter of intent to Amtrak announcing an intention 
to obligate, for a major capital project described in 
subclauses 
(II) 
and 
(III) 
of 
section 
24911(a)(2)(E)(i), an amount from future available 
budget authority specified in law that is not more 
than the amount stipulated as the financial partici-
pation of the Secretary in the project.
‘‘(2) NOTICE TO CONGRESS.—At least 30 days 
before issuing a letter under paragraph (1), the Sec-
retary shall notify in writing the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the House of Represent-
atives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation and the Committee on Appro-
priations of the Senate, of the proposed letter. The 
Secretary shall include with the notification a copy 
of the proposed letter, the criteria used for selecting 
the project for a grant award, and a description of 
how the project meets criteria of this section. 
‘‘(3) CONTINGENT NATURE OF OBLIGATION OR 
COMMITMENT.—An 
obligation 
or 
administrative 
commitment may be made only when amounts are 
appropriated. The letter of intent shall state that the 
contingent commitment is not an obligation of the 
Federal Government, and is subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations under Federal law and to 
Federal laws in force or enacted after the date of 
the contingent commitment. 
‘‘(f) ROLLING STOCK PURCHASES.—Prior to entering 
into contracts in excess of $100,000,000 for rolling stock 
procurements, Amtrak shall submit a business case anal-
ysis to the Secretary, the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure and the Committee on Appropriations 
of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the Senate, on the utility of 
such purchase. This analysis shall— 
‘‘(1) include a cost and benefit comparison that 
describes the total lifecycle costs and the anticipated 
benefits related to revenue, operational efficiency, re-
liability, and other factors; 
‘‘(2) set forth the total payments by fiscal year; 
‘‘(3) identify the specific source and amounts of 
funding for each payment, including Federal funds, 
State funds, Amtrak profits, Federal, State, or pri-
vate loans or loan guarantees, and other funding; 
‘‘(4) include whether any payment under the 
contract will increase Amtrak’s grant request, as re-
quired under section 24318, in that particular fiscal 
year; and 
‘‘(5) describe how Amtrak will adjust the pro-
curement if future funding is not available.’’. 
(2) TABLE
OF
SECTIONS
AMENDMENT.—The 
table of sections for chapter 243 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new items: 
‘‘24317. Costs and revenues. 
‘‘24318. Grant process. 
‘‘24319. Accounts.’’.
(b) NORTHEAST CORRIDOR PLANNING.— 
(1) AMENDMENT.—Chapter 249 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 24911. Northeast Corridor planning 
‘‘(a) NORTHEAST CORRIDOR CAPITAL INVESTMENT 
PLAN.— 
‘‘(1) 
REQUIREMENT.—Not 
later 
than 
months after the date of enactment of the Passenger 
Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015, and annu-
ally thereafter, the Northeast Corridor Infrastruc-
ture and Operations Advisory Commission estab-
lished under section 24905 (referred to in this sec-
tion as the ‘Commission’) shall develop a capital in-
vestment plan for the Northeast Corridor main line 
between Boston, Massachusetts, and the District of 
Columbia, and the Northeast Corridor branch lines 
connecting to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Springfield, 
Massachusetts, and Spuyten Duyvil, New York, and 
facilities and services used to operate and maintain 
those lines. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—Each such plan shall— 
‘‘(A) be developed to establish a coordi-
nated approach to capital spending on the 
Northeast Corridor;
‘‘(B) cover a period of 5 fiscal years, be-
ginning with the first fiscal year after the date 
of the plan; 
‘‘(C) notwithstanding section 24902(b), 
prioritize projects and investments along the 
Northeast Corridor based on— 
‘‘(i) the anticipated benefits and costs 
of projects; 
‘‘(ii) the anticipated Federal and non- 
Federal funding available; and 
‘‘(iii) the information contained in the 
Northeast Corridor asset management 
plans required under subsection (b), once 
available; 
‘‘(D) ensure coordination and optimization 
across the entire Northeast Corridor and among 
the various owners and users; 
‘‘(E) include a financial plan for the in-
vestment period that— 
‘‘(i) categorizes each capital project as 
being primarily associated with— 
‘‘(I) normalized capital replace-
ment; 
‘‘(II) replacement, rehabilitation, 
or repair of Northeast Corridor infra-
structure assets, including tunnels, 
bridges, stations, and other assets; or 
‘‘(III) improvement of train per-
formance on the Northeast Corridor, 
including reduced trip times, in-
creased train frequencies, higher oper-
ating speeds, and other improvements; 
‘‘(ii) identifies the anticipated funding 
source and financing method for each cap-
ital project described in subclauses (II) 
and (III) of clause (i); 
‘‘(iii) describes the anticipated out-
comes of each project, including— 
‘‘(I) an assessment of the poten-
tial effect on passenger accessibility, 
operations, safety, reliability, and re-
siliency, and on the ability of infra-
structure owners and operators to 
meet regulatory requirements should 
the project not be funded; and 
‘‘(II) an assessment of the bene-
fits and costs; 
‘‘(iv) identifies the extent to which the 
capital assets are or will be jointly used by 
intercity passenger rail service and other
users, and the proportionate share of that 
joint usage; and 
‘‘(v) for projects that are expected to 
be fully or partially funded through Fed-
eral financial assistance, identifies the 
most appropriate public agency or entity to 
receive those funds and implement each 
capital project. 
‘‘(3) ADDITIONAL CONTENTS.—Any plan devel-
oped under paragraph (1) after the publication by 
the Secretary of Transportation of the Northeast 
Corridor service development plan shall also— 
‘‘(A) be developed to identify, prioritize, 
and phase the implementation of projects nec-
essary to achieve the goals and findings con-
tained in such Northeast Corridor service devel-
opment plan; 
‘‘(B) 
allow 
for 
flexibility 
to 
change 
prioritization and programs based upon the 
availability of Federal and non-Federal funding; 
‘‘(C) inform the Secretary in developing 
recommendations for Congress on Federal fund-
ing needs for the Northeast Corridor and any 
corresponding Federal investments in the re-
spective capital programs for Northeast Cor-
ridor infrastructure owners and users; and 
‘‘(D) capture the network-level anticipated 
outcomes associated with plan implementation, 
including the anticipated effect on passenger 
accessibility, operations, safety, reliability, and 
resiliency. 
‘‘(b) NORTHEAST CORRIDOR ASSET MANAGEMENT 
PLANS.— 
‘‘(1) CONTENTS.—Amtrak, and States and pub-
lic transportation entities that own infrastructure 
that supports or provides for intercity rail passenger 
transportation on the Northeast Corridor, shall de-
velop and update as necessary Northeast Corridor 
asset management plans for the Northeast Corridor 
main line between Boston, Massachusetts, and the 
District of Columbia, and the Northeast Corridor 
branch lines connecting to Harrisburg, Pennsyl-
vania, Springfield, Massachusetts, and Spuyten 
Duyvil, New York, and facilities and services used to 
operate and maintain those lines, that— 
‘‘(A) are consistent with the Federal Tran-
sit Administration process, as authorized under 
section 5326, when implemented; and 
‘‘(B) include, at a minimum—
‘‘(i) an inventory of all capital assets 
owned by the developer of the plan; 
‘‘(ii) an assessment of the condition of 
each of those assets; 
‘‘(iii) a description of how the condi-
tion of each asset has changed since the 
previous iteration of the plan; and 
‘‘(iv) a description of the necessary re-
sources and processes for bringing or 
maintaining those assets in a state-of-good 
repair, including decision support tools and 
investment prioritization methodologies. 
‘‘(2) TRANSMITTAL TO COMMISSION.—Not later 
than 12 months after the date of enactment of the 
Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015, 
each entity described in paragraph (1) shall transmit 
to the Commission a plan developed under para-
graph (1). Any updates to such plan shall also be 
transmitted to the Commission. 
‘‘(c) NORTHEAST CORRIDOR SERVICE DEVELOP-
MENT PLAN UPDATES.—The Commission shall, at least 
once every 10 years, update the Northeast Corridor service 
development plan.’’. 
(2) TABLE
OF
SECTIONS
AMENDMENT.—The 
table of sections for chapter 249 of title 49, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new item: 
‘‘24911. Northeast Corridor planning.’’. 
(c) REPEALS.—The following provisions are repealed: 
(1) Sections 206 and 211 of the Passenger Rail 
Investment and Improvement Act of 2008, and the 
items relating thereto in the table of contents of 
such Act. 
(2) Section 24104 of title 49, United States 
Code, and the item relating thereto in the table of 
sections for chapter 241 of such title. 
SEC. 202. FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL AND OPERATING PLAN. 
(a) AMENDMENT.—Chapter 243 of title 49, United 
States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following new section: 
‘‘§ 24320. Five-year capital and operating plan 
‘‘(a) PLAN.—Not later than 60 days after the date 
of enactment of an Act appropriating funds pursuant to 
section 101 of the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment 
Act of 2015, or any subsequent authorization of appro-
priations for the same purposes, the Amtrak Board of Di-
rectors shall prepare and transmit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate a 5-
year capital and operating plan for the Northeast Corridor 
and National Network. 
‘‘(b) CONSULTATION.—Each such plan shall be pre-
pared in consultation with— 
‘‘(1) the Federal Railroad Administration; 
‘‘(2) the Northeast Corridor Infrastructure and 
Operations Advisory Commission, with respect to the 
Northeast Corridor; and 
‘‘(3) the requisite States, with respect to the 
National Network. 
‘‘(c) CONTENTS.—A plan prepared under this section 
shall— 
‘‘(1) for each of the Northeast Corridor and the 
National Network, include— 
‘‘(A) projected revenues and expenditures 
for the Northeast Corridor, State-supported 
routes, long-distance routes, and corporate de-
velopment, including Federal and non-Federal 
funding sources; 
‘‘(B) projected ridership levels for the 
Northeast Corridor, State-supported routes, 
and long-distance routes; 
‘‘(C) projected capital and operational 
funding requirements necessary to maintain 
passenger service in order to accommodate pre-
dicted ridership levels and predicted sources of 
Federal and non-Federal funding; 
‘‘(D) projected capital and operating re-
quirements, ridership, revenue, and expendi-
tures for new passenger service operations or 
service expansions; 
‘‘(E) an assessment of the continuing fi-
nancial stability of Amtrak, as indicated by fac-
tors including anticipated Federal funding of 
capital and operating costs, Amtrak’s ability to 
efficiently recruit, retain, and manage its work-
force, and Amtrak’s ability to effectively provide 
passenger rail service; 
‘‘(F) estimates of long-term and short-term 
debt and associated principal and interest pay-
ments (both current and anticipated); 
‘‘(G) annual cash flow forecasts; 
‘‘(H) a statement describing methods of 
estimation and significant assumptions; 
‘‘(I) specific measures that demonstrate 
measurable improvement year over year in the 
financial results of Amtrak’s operations; 
‘‘(J) prior fiscal year and projected— 
‘‘(i) operating ratio, cash operating 
loss, and cash operating loss per passenger
on a route, business line, and corporate 
basis; 
‘‘(ii) specific costs and savings esti-
mates resulting from reform initiatives; 
‘‘(iii) productivity statistics on a 
route, business line, and corporate basis; 
and 
‘‘(iv) equipment reliability statistics; 
‘‘(K) capital and operating expenditures 
for anticipated security needs; and 
‘‘(L) a prioritization of capital expendi-
tures by business line; and 
‘‘(2) reflect the Northeast Corridor planning, as 
applicable, and grant processes established under 
sections 24911 and 24318. 
‘‘(d) CONFORMANCE TO AUTHORIZED FUNDING LEV-
ELS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), any financial projection for a fiscal year 
that is included in a plan prepared under this sec-
tion shall be based on the amount of dedicated fund-
ing for such fiscal year. 
‘‘(2) ABSENCE OF APPROPRIATION.—In the ab-
sence of an appropriation of funds for such fiscal 
year, the projection shall be based on the amount of
funds authorized by law to be appropriated for that 
fiscal year, plus other dedicated funding. 
‘‘(3) DEDICATED FUNDING DEFINED.—In this 
subsection, the term ‘dedicated funding’ means any 
amounts appropriated for a fiscal year and any 
other funding sources, including revenues and other 
ancillary funding streams, for the Northeast Cor-
ridor or the National Network. 
‘‘(e) STANDARDS TO PROMOTE FINANCIAL STA-
BILITY.—In preparing a plan under this section, the 
Board shall apply sound budgetary practices, including re-
ducing costs and other expenditures, improving produc-
tivity, increasing revenues, or combinations of such prac-
tices. 
‘‘(f) UPDATES.—Amtrak shall provide monthly re-
ports for the current fiscal year in electronic format to 
the Secretary and the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure and the Committee on Appropriations of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the Senate regarding the items de-
scribed in subsection (c)(1), which shall include a descrip-
tion of the work completed to date, any differences from 
projections, and the reasons for such differences.’’.
(b) TABLE OF SECTIONS AMENDMENT.—The table of 
sections for such chapter 243 is amended by adding at 
the end the following new item: 
‘‘24320. Five-year capital and operating plan.’’. 
(c) REPEAL.—Section 204 of the Passenger Rail In-
vestment and Improvement Act of 2008 (49 U.S.C. 24101 
note), and the item relating thereto in the table of con-
tents of such Act, are repealed. 
SEC. 203. STATE-SUPPORTED ROUTES. 
(a) AMENDMENT.—Chapter 247 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘§ 24712. State-supported routes 
‘‘(a) STATE-SUPPORTED ROUTE ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of enactment of the Passenger Rail 
Reform and Investment Act of 2015, the Secretary 
of Transportation shall establish a State-Supported 
Route Advisory Committee to promote mutual co-
operation and planning pertaining to the rail oper-
ations and related activities of trains operated on 
State-supported routes and to further implement 
section 209 of the Passenger Rail Investment and 
Improvement Act of 2008 (49 U.S.C. 24101 note).
‘‘(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The Committee shall con-
sist of representatives of— 
‘‘(A) Amtrak; 
‘‘(B) the Department of Transportation, 
including the Federal Railroad Administration; 
and 
‘‘(C) seven States that sponsor State-sup-
ported routes, selected by the Administrator of 
the Federal Railroad Administration on the 
basis of appropriate expertise and geographic 
balance, and in a manner that ensures that all 
appropriate States are represented periodically 
on the Committee. 
‘‘(3) DISTRIBUTION
OF
MEMBERSHIP.—The 
membership belonging to any of the groups de-
scribed in each individual subparagraph of para-
graph (2) shall not constitute a majority of the 
Committee’s memberships. 
‘‘(4) MEETINGS; RULES AND PROCEDURES.— 
The Committee shall establish a schedule and loca-
tion for convening meetings, but shall meet no less 
than 2 times every fiscal year. The Committee shall 
develop rules and procedures to govern the Commit-
tee’s proceedings. 
‘‘(b) COST, SERVICE, AND RIDERSHIP FORECASTS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than January 31, 
2016, and annually thereafter, Amtrak shall trans-
mit to each State that sponsors a State-supported 
route, and to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure and the Committee on Appropriations 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the 
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate— 
‘‘(A) a final statement of costs, revenues, 
ridership, and other information determined ap-
propriate by the Committee established under 
subsection (a), pertaining to each such route for 
the prior fiscal year; and 
‘‘(B) a cost, service, and ridership forecast 
for each such route for the upcoming fiscal 
year, developed pursuant to the methodology es-
tablished under section 209 of the Passenger 
Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 
(49 U.S.C. 24101 note). 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—The Committee may estab-
lish a different deadline than is required under para-
graph (1) for submission of final financial state-
ments and cost, service, and ridership forecasts. 
‘‘(3) QUARTERLY
UPDATES.—Beginning in 
2016, and each year thereafter, Amtrak shall trans-
mit to each State that sponsors a State-supported 
route quarterly updates of the cost, service, and rid-
ership forecast described in paragraph (1)(B) to en-
able States to pace costs against State budgets, plan 
effectively, and address unexpected changes in costs 
in a timely manner, on the following dates: 
‘‘(A) April 30, for the period encompassing 
January through March of such year. 
‘‘(B) July 31, for the period encompassing 
April through June of such year. 
‘‘(C) October 31, for the period encom-
passing July through September of such year. 
‘‘(c) INVOICES.—Not later than February 15, 2016, 
and monthly thereafter, Amtrak shall provide to each 
State that sponsors a State-supported route a monthly in-
voice of the cost of operating such route, including fixed 
costs and third-party costs. 
‘‘(d) DISPUTE RESOLUTION.— 
‘‘(1) REQUEST FOR EXPEDITED RESOLUTION.— 
If a dispute arises with respect to a forecast devel-
oped under subsection (b), an invoice developed 
under subsection (c), or the terms of a contract for 
operation of a State-supported route negotiated be-
tween Amtrak and a State that sponsors the route, 
either Amtrak or the State may request that the
Surface Transportation Board conduct expedited 
dispute resolution under this subsection. 
‘‘(2) PROCEDURES.—The Surface Transpor-
tation Board shall establish procedures for expedited 
resolution of disputes brought before it under this 
subsection. 
‘‘(3) BINDING
EFFECT.—The decision of the 
Surface Transportation Board under this subsection 
shall be binding on the parties to the dispute. 
‘‘(e) FRA ASSISTANCE.—The Federal Railroad Ad-
ministration may provide assistance to the parties in the 
course of negotiations for a contract for operation of a 
State-supported route. 
‘‘(f) PERFORMANCE METRICS.—In negotiating a con-
tract for operation of a State-supported route, Amtrak 
and the State or States that sponsor the route shall con-
sider including provisions that provide penalties and incen-
tives for performance based on metrics that take into ac-
count only those factors within the control of Amtrak or 
the State or States. 
‘‘(g) DEFINITION OF STATE.—In this section, the 
term ‘State’ means each of the 50 States and the District 
of Columbia.’’.