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 re-
ferred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To designate a rail right-of-way as a corridor for inter- 
suburban commuter rail, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF CORRIDOR FOR INTER-SUB-
URBAN COMMUTER RAIL. 
(a) PROPOSED DESIGNATION
OF CORRIDOR
FOR 
INTER-SUBURBAN COMMUTER RAIL AND REPORT.—Not 
later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act 
and before designating a rail right-of-way as a corridor 
for inter-suburban commuter rail under subsection (c), the 
Secretary of Transportation shall transmit a report to the 
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Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate that de-
scribes how the proposed corridor meets the qualifications 
of subsection (c) and evaluates the potential benefits and 
adverse effects, if any, of such a designation. 
(b) REVIEW BY CONGRESS.—A proposed designation 
of a rail right-of-way as a corridor for inter-suburban com-
muter rail under subsection (c) may not become effective 
until the end of a 30-day period of continuous session of 
Congress following the date of the transmittal of a report 
on the designation under this subsection. For purposes of 
the preceding sentence, continuity of a session of Congress 
is broken only by an adjournment sine die, and there shall 
be excluded from the computation of such 30-day period 
any day during which either House of Congress is not in 
session during an adjournment of more than 3 days to 
a day certain. 
(c) CORRIDOR DESIGNATION.—After the 30-day Con-
gressional review period under subsection (b), the Sec-
retary, using the qualifications described in this sub-
section, shall designate a rail right-of-way as a corridor 
for inter-suburban commuter rail. In determining if a rail 
right-of-way qualifies to be designated as a corridor for 
inter-suburban commuter rail, the Secretary shall consider 
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the following factors for the 5 metropolitan areas in the 
country with the highest population levels: 
(1) The availability of existing rail infrastruc-
ture and plans for inter-suburban commuter rail. 
(2) Rail projects that have in the past received 
Federal authorization and appropriation. 
(3) The potential number of individuals that 
will be given an alternative to driving. 
(4) The potential for reducing congestion. 
(5) The potential of linking important economic 
centers such as places of employment, retail centers, 
educational centers, and civic centers. 
(6) The potential for attracting new businesses 
and economic development. 
(7) Providing new inter-suburban commuter rail 
service access. 
(8) The availability of existing rail lines in a 
traditional hub-and-spoke layout radiating from a 
central urban area to connect with the corridor for 
inter-suburban commuter rail. 
(d) CORRIDOR SELECTION.—Once a rail right-of-way 
is selected as a corridor for inter-suburban commuter rail 
under this section, the Secretary shall— 
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(1) provide technical assistance in expediting 
the completion of inter-suburban commuter rail serv-
ice; and 
(2) as of the date of the designation of the cor-
ridor for inter-suburban commuter rail under this 
section, prohibit increased usage of such corridor ex-
cept for the purpose of increasing the availability of 
inter-suburban commuter rail. 
(e) DEFINITION.—The term ‘‘inter-suburban com-
muter rail’’ means the provision of rail service between 
cities, towns, and villages that comprise the suburbs of 
a large city located in one of the 5 metropolitan areas in 
the country with the highest population levels. 
Æ 
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