179 
SEC. 211. NORTHEAST CORRIDOR STATE-OF-GOOD-REPAIR 
PLAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Within 6 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, Amtrak, in consultation with the Sec-
retary and the States (including the District of Columbia) 
that make up the Northeast Corridor (as defined in section 
24102 of title 49, United States Code), shall prepare a cap-
ital spending plan for capital projects required to return 
the railroad right-of-way (including track, signals, and 
auxiliary structures), facilities, stations, and equipment, of 
the Northeast Corridor main line to a state-of-good-repair 
by the end of fiscal year 2018, consistent with the funding 
levels authorized in this division, and shall submit the plan 
to the Secretary. 
(b) REVIEW AND APPROVAL BY THE SECRETARY.— 
(1) 60-DAY APPROVAL PROCESS.—The Secretary 
shall complete the review of the capital spending plan 
and approve or disapprove the plan within 60 days 
after the date on which Amtrak submits the plan. 
During review, the Secretary may seek comments 
from the Commission established under section 24905 
of title 49, United States Code, and other Northeast 
Corridor users regarding the plan. If the Secretary 
disapproves the plan or determines that the plan is 
incomplete or deficient, the Secretary shall include the
180 
reason for disapproval or the incomplete items or de-
ficiencies in a notice to Amtrak. 
(2) 15-DAY MODIFICATION PERIOD.—Within 15 
days after receiving notification from the Secretary 
under paragraph (1), Amtrak shall submit a modified 
plan for the Secretary’s review. 
(3) REVISED REQUESTS.—Within 15 days after 
receiving a modified plan from Amtrak, the Secretary 
shall either approve the modified plan, or, if the Sec-
retary finds that the plan is still incomplete or defi-
cient, the Secretary shall identify in writing to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
the remaining deficiencies and recommend a process 
for resolving the outstanding portions of the plan. 
(c) PLAN UPDATES.—The plan shall be updated at 
least annually and the Secretary shall review and approve 
such updates, in accordance with the procedures described 
in subsection (b). 
(d) GRANTS.—The Secretary shall make grants to Am-
trak with funds authorized by section 101(c) for Northeast 
Corridor capital investments contained within the capital 
spending plan prepared by Amtrak and approved by the 
Secretary.
181 
(e) OVERSIGHT.—Using the funds authorized by sec-
tion 101(d), the Secretary shall review Amtrak’s capital ex-
penditures funded by this section to ensure that such ex-
penditures are consistent with the capital spending plan 
and that Amtrak is providing adequate project management 
oversight and fiscal controls. 
(f) ELIGIBILITY
OF EXPENDITURES.—The Federal 
share of expenditures for capital improvements under this 
section may not exceed 100 percent. 
SEC. 212. NORTHEAST CORRIDOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND 
OPERATIONS IMPROVEMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 24905 is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘§ 24905. Northeast Corridor Infrastructure and Oper-
ations Advisory Commission; Safety Com-
mittee 
‘‘(a) NORTHEAST CORRIDOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND 
OPERATIONS ADVISORY COMMISSION.— 
‘‘(1) Within 180 days after the date of enactment 
of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement 
Act of 2008, the Secretary of Transportation shall es-
tablish a Northeast Corridor Infrastructure and Oper-
ations Advisory Commission (referred to in this sec-
tion as the ‘Commission’) to promote mutual coopera-
tion and planning pertaining to the rail operations
182 
and related activities of the Northeast Corridor. The 
Commission shall be made up of— 
‘‘(A) members representing Amtrak; 
‘‘(B) members representing the Department 
of Transportation, including the Federal Rail-
road Administration; 
‘‘(C) 1 member from each of the States (in-
cluding the District of Columbia) that constitute 
the Northeast Corridor as defined in section 
24102, designated by, and serving at the pleasure 
of, the chief executive officer thereof; and 
‘‘(D) non-voting representatives of freight 
railroad carriers using the Northeast Corridor 
selected by the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall ensure that the member-
ship belonging to any of the groups enumerated under 
paragraph (1) shall not constitute a majority of the 
Commission’s memberships. 
‘‘(3) The Commission shall establish a schedule 
and location for convening meetings, but shall meet 
no less than four times per fiscal year, and the Com-
mission shall develop rules and procedures to govern 
the Commission’s proceedings.
183 
‘‘(4) A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled 
in the manner in which the original appointment was 
made. 
‘‘(5) Members shall serve without pay but shall 
receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
subsistence, in accordance with sections 5702 and 
5703 of title 5. 
‘‘(6) The Chairman of the Commission shall be 
elected by the members. 
‘‘(7) The Commission may appoint and fix the 
pay of such personnel as it considers appropriate. 
‘‘(8) Upon request of the Commission, the head 
of any department or agency of the United States 
may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the per-
sonnel of that department or agency to the Commis-
sion to assist it in carrying out its duties under this 
section. 
‘‘(9) Upon the request of the Commission, the 
Administrator of General Services shall provide to the 
Commission, on a reimbursable basis, the administra-
tive support services necessary for the Commission to 
carry out its responsibilities under this section. 
‘‘(10) The Commission shall consult with other 
entities as appropriate.
184 
‘‘(b) STATEMENT
OF
GOALS
AND
RECOMMENDA-
TIONS.— 
‘‘(1) STATEMENT OF GOALS.—The Commission 
shall develop a statement of goals concerning the fu-
ture of Northeast Corridor rail infrastructure and op-
erations based on achieving expanded and improved 
intercity, commuter, and freight rail services oper-
ating with greater safety and reliability, reduced 
travel times, increased frequencies and enhanced 
intermodal connections designed to address airport 
and highway congestion, reduce transportation energy 
consumption, improve air quality, and increase eco-
nomic development of the Northeast Corridor region. 
‘‘(2) 
RECOMMENDATIONS.—The 
Commission 
shall develop recommendations based on the statement 
developed under this section addressing, as appro-
priate— 
‘‘(A) short-term and long-term capital in-
vestment needs beyond those specified in the 
state-of-good-repair plan under section 211 of the 
Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act 
of 2008; 
‘‘(B) future funding requirements for cap-
ital improvements and maintenance;