‘‘(9) future capacity requirements. 
‘‘(c) ACCESS COSTS.— 
‘‘(1) DEVELOPMENT
OF
FORMULA.—Within 1 
year after verification of Amtrak’s new financial ac-
counting system pursuant to section 203(b) of the 
Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 
2008, the Commission shall— 
‘‘(A) develop a standardized formula for de-
termining and allocating costs, revenues, and 
compensation for Northeast Corridor commuter 
rail passenger transportation, as defined in sec-
tion 24102 of this title, that use National Rail-
road Passenger Corporation facilities or services 
or that provide such facilities or services to the 
National Railroad Passenger Corporation that 
ensure that— 
‘‘(i) there is no cross-subsidization of 
commuter rail passenger, intercity rail pas-
senger, or freight rail transportation; and 
‘‘(ii) each service is assigned the costs 
incurred only for the benefit of that service, 
and a proportionate share, based upon fac-
tors that reasonably reflect relative use, of 
costs incurred for the common benefit of 
more than 1 service; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
21:30 Jun 05, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00029
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H6003.RH
H6003
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
‘‘(B) develop a proposed timetable for im-
plementing the formula before the end of the 6th 
year following the date of enactment of that Act; 
‘‘(C) transmit the proposed timetable to the 
Surface Transportation Board; and 
‘‘(D) at the request of a Commission mem-
ber, petition the Surface Transportation Board 
to appoint a mediator to assist the Commission 
members through non-binding mediation to 
reach an agreement under this section. 
‘‘(2) IMPLEMENTATION.—The National Railroad 
Passenger Corporation and the commuter authorities 
providing commuter rail passenger transportation on 
the Northeast Corridor shall implement new agree-
ments for usage of facilities or services based on the 
formula proposed in paragraph (1) in accordance 
with the timetable established therein. If the entities 
fail to implement such new agreements in accordance 
with the timetable, the Commission shall petition the 
Surface Transportation Board to determine the ap-
propriate compensation amounts for such services in 
accordance with section 24904(c) of this title. The 
Surface Transportation Board shall enforce its deter-
mination on the party or parties involved. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
21:30 Jun 05, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00030
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H6003.RH
H6003
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
‘‘(d) TRANSMISSION
OF
RECOMMENDATIONS.—The 
commission shall annually transmit the recommendations 
developed under subsection (b) and the formula and time-
table developed under subsection (c)(1) to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate.’’. 
(b) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS.—(1) 
Section 
24904(c)(2) is amended by— 
(A) inserting ‘‘commuter rail passenger 
and’’ after ‘‘between’’; and 
(B) striking ‘‘freight’’ in the second sen-
tence. 
(2) The chapter analysis for chapter 249 is amended 
by striking the item relating to section 24905 and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘24905. Northeast Corridor Infrastructure and Operations Advisory Commis-
sion.’’. 
(c) ACELA SERVICE STUDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Amtrak shall conduct a con-
duct a study to determine the infrastructure and 
equipment improvements necessary to provide regular 
Acela service— 
(A) between Washington, DC and New York 
City— 
(i) in 2 hours and 30 minutes; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
21:30 Jun 05, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00031
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H6003.RH
H6003
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
(ii) in 2 hours and 15 minutes; and 
(iii) in 2 hours; and 
(B) between New York City and Boston— 
(i) in 3 hours and 15 minutes; 
(ii) in 3 hours; and 
(iii) in 2 hours and 45 minutes. 
(2) ISSUES.—The study conducted under para-
graph (1) shall include— 
(A) an estimated time frame for achieving 
the trip time described in paragraph (1); 
(B) an analysis of any significant obstacles 
that would hinder such an achievement; and 
(C) a detailed description and cost estimate 
of the specific infrastructure and equipment im-
provements necessary for such an achievement. 
(3) REPORT.—Within 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, Amtrak shall submit a written 
report containing the results of the study required 
under this subsection to— 
(A) the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives; 
(B) the Committee on Appropriations of the 
House of Representatives; 
(C) the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
21:30 Jun 05, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00032
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H6003.RH
H6003
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
(D) the Committee on Appropriations of the 
Senate; and 
(E) the Federal Railroad Administration. 
(4) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary of Transportation to enable Amtrak to conduct 
the study under this subsection $5,000,000. 
SEC. 210. RESTRUCTURING LONG-TERM DEBT AND CAPITAL 
LEASES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Treasury, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Transportation and Am-
trak, may make agreements to restructure Amtrak’s indebt-
edness as of the date of enactment of this Act. This author-
ization expires 18 months after the date of enactment of 
this Act. 
(b) DEBT RESTRUCTURING.—The Secretary of the 
Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of Transpor-
tation and Amtrak, shall enter into negotiations with the 
holders of Amtrak debt, including leases, outstanding on the 
date of enactment of this Act for the purpose of restruc-
turing (including repayment) and repaying that debt. The 
Secretary of the Treasury may secure agreements for re-
structuring or repayment on such terms as the Secretary 
of the Treasury deems favorable to the interests of the Gov-
ernment. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
21:30 Jun 05, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00033
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H6003.RH
H6003
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
(c) CRITERIA.—In restructuring Amtrak’s indebted-
ness, the Secretary of the Treasury and Amtrak— 
(1) shall take into consideration repayment costs, 
the term of any loan or loans, and market conditions; 
and 
(2) shall ensure that the restructuring results in 
significant savings to Amtrak and the United States 
Government. 
(d) PAYMENT OF RENEGOTIATED DEBT.—If the cri-
teria under subsection (c) are met, the Secretary of the 
Treasury may assume or repay the restructured debt, as 
appropriate. 
(e) AMTRAK PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST PAYMENTS.— 
(1) PRINCIPAL ON DEBT SERVICE.—Unless the 
Secretary of the Treasury makes sufficient payments 
to creditors under subsection (d) so that Amtrak is re-
quired to make no payments to creditors in a fiscal 
year, the Secretary of Transportation shall use funds 
authorized by section 102(a)(1) of this Act for the use 
of Amtrak for retirement of principal on loans for 
capital equipment, or capital leases. 
(2) INTEREST ON DEBT.—Unless the Secretary of 
the Treasury makes sufficient payments to creditors 
under subsection (d) so that Amtrak is required to 
make no payments to creditors in a fiscal year, the 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
21:30 Jun 05, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00034
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H6003.RH
H6003
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
Secretary of Transportation shall use funds author-
ized by section 102(a)(1) of this Act for the use of 
Amtrak for the payment of interest on loans for cap-
ital equipment, or capital leases. 
(3) REDUCTIONS IN AUTHORIZATION LEVELS.— 
Whenever action taken by the Secretary of the Treas-
ury under subsection (a) results in reductions in 
amounts of principal or interest that Amtrak must 
service on existing debt, the corresponding amounts 
authorized by section 102(a)(1) shall be reduced ac-
cordingly. 
(f) LEGAL EFFECT OF PAYMENTS UNDER THIS SEC-
TION.—The payment of principal and interest on secured 
debt, other than debt assumed under subsection (d), with 
the proceeds of grants under subsection (e) shall not— 
(1) modify the extent or nature of any indebted-
ness of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation 
to the United States in existence of the date of enact-
ment of this Act; 
(2) change the private nature of Amtrak’s or its 
successors’ liabilities; or 
(3) imply any Federal guarantee or commitment 
to amortize Amtrak’s outstanding indebtedness. 
(g) SECRETARY APPROVAL.—Amtrak may not incur 
more debt after the date of enactment of this Act without 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
21:30 Jun 05, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00035
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H6003.RH
H6003
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
the express advance approval of the Secretary of Transpor-
tation. 
(h) REPORT.—The Secretary of the Treasury shall 
transmit a report to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
of the Senate, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
Senate, by November 1, 2009— 
(1) describing in detail any agreements to re-
structure the Amtrak debt; and 
(2) providing an estimate of the savings to Am-
trak and the United States Government. 
SEC. 211. STUDY OF COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS AT EX-
ISTING INTERCITY RAIL STATIONS. 
Amtrak, in consultation with station owners and other 
railroads operating service through the existing stations 
that it serves, shall evaluate the improvements necessary to 
make these stations readily accessible to and usable by indi-
viduals with disabilities, as required by such section 
242(e)(2) of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 
as amended (42 U.S.C. 12162(e)(2)). The evaluation shall 
include, for each applicable station, improvements required 
to bring it into compliance with the applicable parts of such 
section 242(e)(2), any potential barriers to achieving com-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
21:30 Jun 05, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00036
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H6003.RH
H6003
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
pliance, the estimated cost of the improvements necessary, 
the identification of the responsible person (as defined in 
section 241(5) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 12161(5))), and the 
earliest practicable date when such improvements can be 
made. The evaluation shall also include an overall schedule 
for bringing all applicable stations into compliance with 
the applicable parts of section 242(e)(2). Amtrak shall sub-
mit the evaluation to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives; the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate; the Department of Transportation; and the Na-
tional Council on Disability by July 1, 2009, along with 
recommendations for funding the necessary improvements. 
Should the Department of Transportation issue the Final 
Rule to its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking of February 27, 
2006, on ‘‘Transportation for Individuals with Disabil-
ities,’’ after Amtrak submits its evaluation, Amtrak shall, 
not later than 120 days after the date the Final Rule is 
published, submit to the above parties a supplemental eval-
uation on the impact of those changes on its cost and sched-
ule for achieving full compliance. 
SEC. 212. OVERSIGHT OF AMTRAK’S COMPLIANCE WITH AC-
CESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. 
Using the funds authorized by section 101(f) of this 
Act, the Federal Railroad Administration shall monitor 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
21:30 Jun 05, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00037
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H6003.RH
H6003
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
and conduct periodic reviews of Amtrak’s compliance with 
applicable sections of the Americans with Disabilities Act 
of 1990 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1974 to ensure that 
Amtrak’s services and facilities are accessible to individuals 
with disabilities to the extent required by law. 
SEC. 213. ACCESS TO AMTRAK EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES. 
If a State desires to select or selects an entity other 
than Amtrak to provide services required for the operation 
of an intercity passenger train route described in section 
24102(5)(D) or 24702 of title 49, United States Code, the 
State may make an agreement with Amtrak to use facilities 
and equipment of, or have services provided by, Amtrak 
under terms agreed to by the State and Amtrak to enable 
the State to utilize an entity other than Amtrak to provide 
services required for operation of the route. If the parties 
cannot agree upon terms, and the Surface Transportation 
Board finds that access to Amtrak’s facilities or equipment, 
or the provision of services by Amtrak, is necessary to carry 
out this provision and that the operation of Amtrak’s other 
services will not be impaired thereby, the Surface Transpor-
tation Board shall, within 120 days after submission of the 
dispute, issue an order that the facilities and equipment 
be made available, and that services be provided, by Am-
trak, and shall determine reasonable compensation, liability 
and other terms for use of the facilities and equipment and 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
21:30 Jun 05, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00038
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H6003.RH
H6003
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
provision of the services. Compensation shall be determined 
in accordance with the methodology established pursuant to 
section 206 of this Act. 
SEC. 214. GENERAL AMTRAK PROVISIONS. 
(a) 
REPEAL
OF
SELF-SUFFICIENCY
REQUIRE-
MENTS.— 
(1) PLAN
REQUIRED.—Section 24101(d) is 
amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘plan to operate within the 
funding levels authorized by section 24104 of this 
chapter, including budgetary goals for fiscal 
years 1998 through 2002.’’ and inserting ‘‘plan, 
consistent with section 204 of the Passenger Rail 
Investment and Improvement Act of 2008, in-
cluding the budgetary goals for fiscal years 2009 
through 2013.’’; and 
(B) by striking the last sentence and insert-
ing ‘‘Amtrak and its Board of Directors shall 
adopt a long-term plan that minimizes the need 
for Federal operating subsidies.’’. 
(2) AMTRAK REFORM AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT 
AMENDMENTS.—Title II of the Amtrak Reform and 
Accountability Act of 1997 (49 U.S.C. 24101 nt) is 
amended by striking sections 204 and 205. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
21:30 Jun 05, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00039
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H6003.RH
H6003
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS