IB
Union Calendar No. 380
103D CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4111
[Report No. 103–698]
To authorize appropriations for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation,
and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 22, 1994
Mr. SWIFT (by request) introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Energy and Commerce
AUGUST 11, 1994
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on March 22, 1994]
A BILL
To authorize appropriations for the National Railroad
Passenger Corporation, 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. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Amtrak Investment Act
of 1994’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that—
(1) intercity rail passenger service is an essential
component of the integrated national transportation
system; however, to achieve its full potential the Na-
tional Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)
must provide a quality transportation product in the
form of clean, comfortable, and on-time service;
(2) Amtrak’s management and employees are
dedicated to providing the high quality service that
Amtrak’s customers deserve; however, additional cap-
ital investment is needed to acquire the modern
equipment and efficient facilities that are essential to
satisfy the demand for superior intercity rail pas-
senger service;
(3) significant levels of Federal capital invest-
ment will enable Amtrak to provide the world class
service American rail passengers deserve, and will re-
duce operating costs in the long term;
(4) Amtrak’s management should be held ac-
countable to ensure that all capital investment by the
Federal Government is effectively used to improve the
quality of service and the long-term financial health
of Amtrak;
(5) the Secretary of Transportation, as an ex
officio member of Amtrak’s board of directors, should
use this position to evaluate Amtrak’s costs and reve-
nue elements to ensure that Amtrak provides excellent
service to its customers and that Amtrak uses its Fed-
eral investment wisely and efficiently;
(6) States can play a significant role in provid-
ing cost-efficient intercity rail passenger transpor-
tation and in addressing local transportation needs
and air quality control; and
(7) the freight railroads represent a critical part
of the Nation’s transportation infrastructure, which
should help to provide expeditious and cost-effective
delivery of passenger trains.
SEC. 3. WORLD CLASS SERVICE.
Section 24101(c) of title 49, United States Code, is
amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph
(10);
(2) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (11) and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘; and’’; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new para-
graph:
‘‘(12) manage capital investment in such a way
as to provide its customers with world class service.’’.
SEC. 4. RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
Section 24315(b)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is
amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (A);
(2) by striking the period at the end of subpara-
graph (B) and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘; and’’; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(C) shall include projections of the anticipated
benefits of the projects proposed for funding under
this part and a report on the benefits actually real-
ized from all projects previously funded under this
part, or legislation on which this part is based, begin-
ning with funds provided in fiscal year 1994.
Such report shall include an identification of improvements
in the quality of service offered by Amtrak, facility improve-
ments that demonstrate a productivity gain, equipment im-
provements that lower operating costs, environmental bene-
fits (including air quality and land use), enhancements to
local transportation needs, enhancements to mobility of
physically and economically disadvantaged persons, an im-
provement to the revenue-to-cost ratio, reduced dependence
on Federal operating support, and reductions in the need
for alternative transportation investments. To the extent
practicable, the benefits addressed in each report shall also
be expressed as return on invested capital.’’.
SEC. 5. STATE REQUESTED RAIL PASSENGER TRANSPOR-
TATION.
(a) STATE/FEDERAL FORMULA.—(1) Section 24704 of
title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(A) in subsection (a)(1)(C)—
(i) by striking ‘‘short term’’ both places it
appears and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘long-
term’’; and
(ii) by striking ‘‘65 percent’’ and inserting
in lieu thereof ‘‘55 percent’’;
(B) in subsection (b)—
(i) by adding at the end of paragraph (2)
the following new sentence: ‘‘Any such renewal
shall require the State, agency, or person to pro-
vide a statement that such State, agency, or per-
son agrees to pay in each year of operation, be-
ginning with the first year of operation of serv-
ice under such renewed agreement, at least 55
percent of the long-term avoidable losses of oper-
ating such service and at least 50 percent of the
associated capital costs.’’; and
(ii) by inserting at the end the following
new paragraph:
‘‘(3) Amtrak is authorized to contribute in each year
of operation of any service instituted or retained pursuant
to this section no more than—
‘‘(A) 55 percent in the first year of such oper-
ation; and
‘‘(B) 45 percent in each year of operation there-
after,
of the long-term avoidable losses of operating such service
and no more than 50 percent of the associated capital
costs.’’.
(2) The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall only
apply with respect to fiscal year 1996 and subsequent fiscal
years.
(b) REVIEW OF PROGRAM.—Within 2 years after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall conduct a comprehensive review of the program
of State-assisted rail passenger services operated by Amtrak
under section 24704 of title 49, United States Code, and
shall submit a report to the Congress detailing the Sec-
retary’s findings and conclusions, including any rec-
ommendations the Secretary may have for revising such sec-
tion 24704. The Secretary’s report shall address, among
other things, whether and at what point services originated
under section 24704 should become a part of the basic sys-
tem of intercity rail passenger transportation and shall
identify any other avenues for initiating and implementing
new rail passenger transportation.
SEC. 6. NORTHEAST CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
(a) CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.—(1) Section 24902(h) of
title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(A) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘If practicable’’;
and
(B) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
‘‘(2) Amtrak shall make capital improvements for the
Northeast Corridor improvement program under this chap-
ter as necessary to operate reliable, high-speed rail pas-
senger service, to enhance capacity for intercity and com-
muter passenger transportation, and as otherwise may be
necessary to ensure continued reliable high-speed service.
Amtrak shall also acquire train equipment to be used on
the Northeast Corridor, mitigate environmental impacts re-
lated to the Northeast Corridor improvement program, and
provide adequate parking at and improve Northeast Cor-
ridor rail stations.’’.
(2) Section 24909 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended—
(A) by striking subsection (e); and
(B) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as
subsections (e) and (f), respectively.
(b) 
BOSTON-NEW
HAVEN
ELECTRIFICATION
PROJECT.—(1) Section 24902(f) of title 49, United States
Code, is amended—
(A) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘Improvements
under’’; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
‘‘(2) Amtrak shall design and construct the electrifica-
tion system between Boston, Massachusetts, and New
Haven, Connecticut, to accommodate the installation of a
third mainline track between Davisville and Central Falls,
Rhode Island, to be used for double-stack freight service to
and from the Port of Davisville. Wherever practicable, Am-
trak shall use portal structures and realign existing tracks
on undergrade and overgrade bridges to minimize the width
of the right-of-way required to add the third track. Amtrak
shall take such other steps as may be required to coordinate
and facilitate design and construction work.’’.
(2) Amtrak shall, not later than 6 months after the
date of enactment of this Act, transmit to the Congress a
report detailing its electrification design between Davisville
and Central Falls, Rhode Island, and describing efforts to
comply with section 24902(f)(2) of title 49, United States
Code.
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 24104 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended—
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ‘‘and not
more than $332,000,000 for fiscal year 1995 and
$335,000,000 for fiscal year 1996 may be appro-
priated to the Secretary,’’ after ‘‘September 30,
1994,’’;
(2) in subsection (a)(2), by adding at the end the
following new subparagraphs:
‘‘(C) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 1995.
‘‘(D) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 1996.’’;
(3) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting ‘‘Not more
than 
$373,000,000 
for 
fiscal 
year 
1995 
and
$373,000,000 for fiscal year 1996 may be appro-
priated to the Secretary for the benefit of Amtrak for
operating expenses.’’ after ‘‘for operating expenses.’’;
(4) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by adding at the end
the following new clauses:
‘‘(iii) $17,000,000 for fiscal year 1995.
‘‘(iv) $17,000,000 for fiscal year 1996.’’;
(5) in subsection (c)(1)—
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ after ‘‘September 30,
1993,’’; and
(B) by inserting ‘‘$156,000,000 for fiscal
year 1995, and $165,000,000 for fiscal year
1996,’’ after ‘‘September 30, 1994,’’; and
(6) by amending subsection (d) to read as fol-
lows:
‘‘(d) ADMINISTRATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—Not-
withstanding section 6304 of title 31, United States Code,
funds appropriated pursuant to this section shall be pro-
vided to Amtrak upon appropriation when requested by
Amtrak.’’.
SEC. 8. CAPITAL AND EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION ACCOUNT.
(a) AMENDMENT.—Chapter 243 of title 49, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following
new section:
‘‘SEC. 24316. CAPITAL AND EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION AC-
COUNT.
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Amtrak shall establish a Cap-
ital and Equipment Acquisition Account. Amounts in this
account shall be used by Amtrak to—
‘‘(1) acquire passenger equipment and loco-
motives;
‘‘(2) encourage State and local investment in fa-
cilities and equipment used to provide intercity rail
passenger transportation; and
‘‘(3) address other critical capital priorities.
‘‘(b) DEPOSITS.—Amtrak may deposit into the Capital
and Equipment Acquisition Account—
‘‘(1) payments received for the use of its equip-
ment or facilities;
‘‘(2) claims recovered by Amtrak; and
‘‘(3) amounts from any other source to the extent
authorized by Federal law.’’.
(b) 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 item:
‘‘24316. Capital and equipment acquisition account.’’.
SEC. 9. ON-TIME PERFORMANCE.
(a) COMPARISON.—The Secretary of Transportation
shall conduct a direct comparison of the on-time perform-
ance of Amtrak compared to other modes of commercial pas-
senger transportation, using consistent methodologies.
(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—The Secretary of Trans-
portation shall, not later than 1 year after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, transmit to the Congress a report on the
results of the comparison required by subsection (a), along
with an explanation of the differences found in on-time per-
formance between modes of transportation, including con-
sideration of the age and condition of equipment and any
other differences among the modes that affect the ability to
achieve on-time service.
SEC. 10. COOPERATION WITH STUDY.
Amtrak shall cooperate with the efforts of the Virginia
State Department of Transportation in designing and car-