SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Passenger Rail Invest-
ment and Improvement Act of 2008’’. 
SEC. 2. AMENDMENT OF TITLE 49, UNITED STATES CODE. 
Except as otherwise specifically provided, whenever in 
this Act an amendment is expressed in terms of an amend-
ment to a section or other provision of law, the reference 
shall be considered to be made to a section or other provi-
sion of title 49, United States Code. 
SEC. 3. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
The table of contents for this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title. 
Sec. 2. Amendment of title 49, United States Code. 
Sec. 3. Table of contents. 
TITLE I—AUTHORIZATIONS 
Sec. 101. Authorization for Amtrak capital and operating expenses and State 
capital grants. 
Sec. 102. Repayment of long-term debt and capital leases. 
Sec. 103. Other authorizations. 
Sec. 104. Tunnel project. 
Sec. 105. Compliance with Immigration and Nationality Act. 
Sec. 106. Authorization for capital and preventive maintenance projects for 
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. 
TITLE II—AMTRAK REFORM AND OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS 
Sec. 201. National railroad passenger transportation system defined. 
Sec. 202. Amtrak Board of Directors. 
Sec. 203. Establishment of improved financial accounting system. 
Sec. 204. Development of 5-year financial plan. 
Sec. 205. Establishment of grant process. 
Sec. 206. State-supported routes. 
Sec. 207. Metrics and standards. 
Sec. 208. Northeast Corridor state-of-good-repair plan. 
Sec. 209. Northeast Corridor infrastructure and operations improvements. 
Sec. 210. Restructuring long-term debt and capital leases. 
Sec. 211. Study of compliance requirements at existing intercity rail stations. 
Sec. 212. Oversight of Amtrak’s compliance with accessibility requirements. 
Sec. 213. Access to Amtrak equipment and services. 
Sec. 214. General Amtrak provisions. 
Sec. 215. Amtrak management accountability.
Sec. 216. Passenger rail study. 
Sec. 217. Congestion grants. 
Sec. 218. Plan for restoration of service. 
Sec. 219. Locomotive biofuel study. 
Sec. 220. Study of the use of biobased lubricants. 
Sec. 221. Applicability of Buy American Act. 
Sec. 222. Intercity passenger rail service performance. 
Sec. 223. Amtrak Inspector General utilization study. 
Sec. 224. Amtrak service preference study. 
Sec. 225. Historic preservation and railroad safety. 
Sec. 226. Commuter rail expansion. 
Sec. 227. Service evaluation. 
TITLE III—INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL POLICY 
Sec. 301. Capital assistance for intercity passenger rail service; State rail plans. 
Sec. 302. State rail plans. 
Sec. 303. Next generation corridor train equipment pool. 
Sec. 304. Rail cooperative research program. 
Sec. 305. Passenger rail system comparison study. 
TITLE IV—COMMUTER RAIL TRANSIT ENHANCEMENT 
Sec. 401. Commuter rail transit enhancement. 
Sec. 402. Routing efficiency discussions with Amtrak. 
TITLE V—HIGH-SPEED RAIL 
Sec. 501. High-speed rail corridor program. 
Sec. 502. Additional high-speed projects. 
Sec. 503. High-speed rail study. 
Sec. 504. Grant conditions. 
TITLE I—AUTHORIZATIONS 
SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION FOR AMTRAK CAPITAL AND OP-
ERATING EXPENSES AND STATE CAPITAL 
GRANTS. 
(a) OPERATING GRANTS.—There are authorized to 
be appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation for the 
use of Amtrak for operating costs the following amounts: 
(1) For fiscal year 2009, $525,000,000. 
(2) For fiscal year 2010, $600,000,000. 
(3) For fiscal year 2011, $614,000,000. 
(4) For fiscal year 2012, $638,000,000.
(5) For fiscal year 2013, $654,000,000. 
(b) INSPECTOR GENERAL.—Out of the amounts au-
thorized under subsection (a), there are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation for the 
Office of the Inspector General of Amtrak the following 
amounts: 
(1) For fiscal year 2009, $20,368,900. 
(2) For fiscal year 2010, $22,586,000. 
(3) For fiscal year 2011, $24,337,000. 
(4) For fiscal year 2012, $26,236,000. 
(5) For fiscal year 2013, $28,287,000. 
(c) ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS
AND BARRIER 
REMOVAL FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.—There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Trans-
portation for the use of Amtrak to improve the accessi-
bility of facilities, including rail platforms, and services the 
following amounts: 
(1) For fiscal year 2009, $68,500,000. 
(2) For fiscal year 2010, $240,000,000. 
(3) For fiscal year 2011, $240,000,000. 
(4) For fiscal year 2012, $240,000,000. 
(5) For fiscal year 2013, $240,000,000. 
(d) CAPITAL GRANTS.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation for the 
use of Amtrak for capital projects (as defined in subpara-
graphs (A) and (B) of section 24401(2) of title 49, United 
States Code) to bring the Northeast Corridor (as defined 
in section 24102(a)) to a state-of-good-repair, for capital 
expenses of the national rail passenger transportation sys-
tem, and for purposes of making capital grants under sec-
tion 24402 of that title to States, the following amounts: 
(1) For fiscal year 2009, $1,202,000,000. 
(2) For fiscal year 2010, $1,321,000,000. 
(3) For fiscal year 2011, $1,321,000,000. 
(4) For fiscal year 2012, $1,427,000,000. 
(5) For fiscal year 2013, $1,427,000,000. 
(e) AMOUNTS
FOR STATE GRANTS.—Out of the 
amounts authorized under subsection (d), the following 
percentage shall be available each fiscal year for capital 
grants to States under section 24402 of title 49, United 
States Code, to be administered by the Secretary of Trans-
portation: 
(1) 41.60 percent for fiscal year 2009. 
(2) 38 percent for fiscal year 2010. 
(3) 38 percent for fiscal year 2011. 
(4) 35 percent for fiscal year 2012. 
(5) 35 percent for fiscal year 2013. 
(f) PROJECT MANAGEMENT OVERSIGHT.—The Sec-
retary may withhold up to 1⁄2 of 1 percent of amounts 
appropriated pursuant to subsection (d) for the costs of
project management oversight of capital projects carried 
out by Amtrak. 
SEC. 102. REPAYMENT OF LONG-TERM DEBT AND CAPITAL 
LEASES. 
(a) AMTRAK
PRINCIPAL
AND
INTEREST
PAY-
MENTS.— 
(1) PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON DEBT SERV-
ICE.—There are authorized to be appropriated to 
the Secretary of Transportation for the use of Am-
trak for retirement of principal and payment of in-
terest on loans for capital equipment, or capital 
leases, not more than the following amounts: 
(A) For fiscal year 2009, $345,000,000. 
(B) For fiscal year 2010, $345,000,000. 
(C) For fiscal year 2011, $345,000,000. 
(D) For fiscal year 2012, $345,000,000. 
(E) For fiscal year 2013, $345,000,000. 
(2) EARLY
BUYOUT
OPTION.—There are au-
thorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of 
Transportation such sums as may be necessary for 
the use of Amtrak for the payment of costs associ-
ated with early buyout options if the exercise of 
those options is determined to be advantageous to 
Amtrak.
(3) LEGAL EFFECT OF PAYMENTS UNDER THIS 
SECTION.—The payment of principal and interest on 
secured debt, with the proceeds of grants authorized 
by this section shall not— 
(A) modify the extent or nature of any in-
debtedness of the National Railroad Passenger 
Corporation to the United States in existence of 
the date of enactment of this Act; 
(B) change the private nature of Amtrak’s 
or its successors’ liabilities; or 
(C) imply any Federal guarantee or com-
mitment to amortize Amtrak’s outstanding in-
debtedness. 
SEC. 103. OTHER AUTHORIZATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary of Transportation— 
(1) $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 
through 2013 to carry out the rail cooperative re-
search program under section 24910 of title 49, 
United States Code; and 
(2) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, to remain 
available until expended, for grants to Amtrak and 
States participating in the Next Generation Corridor 
Train Equipment Pool Committee established under 
section 303 of this Act for the purpose of designing,
developing specifications for, and initiating the pro-
curement of an initial order of 1 or more types of 
standardized next-generation corridor train equip-
ment and establishing a jointly owned corporation to 
manage that equipment. 
SEC. 104. TUNNEL PROJECT. 
(a) NEW
TUNNEL
ALIGNMENT
AND
ENVIRON-
MENTAL REVIEW.—Not later than September 30, 2013, 
the Federal Railroad Administration, working with Am-
trak, the City of Baltimore, State of Maryland, and rail 
operators described in subsection (b), shall— 
(1) approve a new rail tunnel alignment in Bal-
timore that will permit an increase in train speed 
and service reliability; and 
(2) ensure completion of the related environ-
mental review process. 
(b) AFFECTED RAIL OPERATORS.—Rail operators 
other than Amtrak may participate in activities described 
in subsection (a) to the extent that they can demonstrate 
the intention and ability to contribute to the construction 
of the new tunnel. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Federal Railroad 
Administration for carrying out this section $60,000,000
for the period encompassing fiscal years 2009 through 
2013. 
SEC. 105. COMPLIANCE WITH IMMIGRATION AND NATION-
ALITY ACT. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, none 
of the funds authorized by this Act may be used to employ 
workers in violation of section 274A of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324a). 
SEC. 106. AUTHORIZATION FOR CAPITAL AND PREVENTIVE 
MAINTENANCE PROJECTS FOR WASHINGTON 
METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSIT AUTHORITY. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to the succeeding 
provisions of this section, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation is authorized to make grants to the Transit 
Authority, in addition to the contributions author-
ized under sections 3, 14, and 17 of the National 
Capital Transportation Act of 1969 (sec. 9–1101.01 
et seq., D.C. Official Code), for the purpose of fi-
nancing in part the capital and preventive mainte-
nance projects included in the Capital Improvement 
Program approved by the Board of Directors of the 
Transit Authority. 
(2) DEFINITIONS.—In this section—
(A) the term ‘‘Transit Authority’’ means 
the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Au-
thority established under Article III of the 
Compact; and 
(B) the term ‘‘Compact’’ means the Wash-
ington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority 
Compact (80 Stat. 1324; Public Law 89–774). 
(b) USE OF FUNDS.—The Federal grants made pur-
suant to the authorization under this section shall be sub-
ject to the following limitations and conditions: 
(1) The work for which such Federal grants are 
authorized shall be subject to the provisions of the 
Compact (consistent with the amendments to the 
Compact described in subsection (d)). 
(2) Each such Federal grant shall be for 50 
percent of the net project cost of the project in-
volved, and shall be provided in cash from sources 
other than Federal funds or revenues from the oper-
ation of public mass transportation systems. Con-
sistent with the terms of the amendment to the 
Compact described in subsection (d)(1), any funds 
so provided shall be solely from undistributed cash 
surpluses, replacement or depreciation funds or re-
serves available in cash, or new capital.
(3) Such Federal grants may be used only for 
the maintenance and upkeep of the systems of the 
Transit Authority as of the date of the enactment of 
this Act and may not be used to increase the mile-
age of the rail system. 
(c) APPLICABILITY OF REQUIREMENTS FOR MASS 
TRANSPORTATION CAPITAL PROJECTS RECEIVING FUNDS 
UNDER FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION LAW.—Except as 
specifically provided in this section, the use of any 
amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization under 
this section shall be subject to the requirements applicable 
to capital projects for which funds are provided under 
chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, except to the 
extent that the Secretary of Transportation determines 
that the requirements are inconsistent with the purposes 
of this section. 
(d) AMENDMENTS TO COMPACT.—No amounts may 
be provided to the Transit Authority pursuant to the au-
thorization under this section until the Transit Authority 
notifies the Secretary of Transportation that each of the 
following amendments to the Compact (and any further 
amendments which may be required to implement such 
amendments) have taken effect: 
(1)(A) An amendment requiring that all pay-
ments by the local signatory governments for the
Transit Authority for the purpose of matching any 
Federal funds appropriated in any given year au-
thorized under subsection (a) for the cost of oper-
ating and maintaining the adopted regional system 
are made from amounts derived from dedicated 
funding sources. 
(B) For purposes of this paragraph, the term 
‘‘dedicated funding source’’ means any source of 
funding which is earmarked or required under State 
or local law to be used to match Federal appropria-
tions authorized under this Act for payments to the 
Transit Authority. 
(2) An amendment establishing an Office of the 
Inspector General of the Transit Authority. 
(3) An amendment expanding the Board of Di-
rectors of the Transit Authority to include 4 addi-
tional Directors appointed by the Administrator of 
General Services, of whom 2 shall be nonvoting and 
2 shall be voting, and requiring one of the voting 
members so appointed to be a regular passenger and 
customer of the bus or rail service of the Transit 
Authority. 
(e) ACCESS TO WIRELESS SERVICE IN METRORAIL 
SYSTEM.—
(1) REQUIRING TRANSIT AUTHORITY TO PRO-
VIDE
ACCESS
TO
SERVICE.—No amounts may be 
provided to the Transit Authority pursuant to the 
authorization under this section unless the Transit 
Authority ensures that customers of the rail service 
of the Transit Authority have access within the rail 
system to services provided by any licensed wireless 
provider that notifies the Transit Authority (in ac-
cordance with such procedures as the Transit Au-
thority may adopt) of its intent to offer service to 
the public, in accordance with the following time-
table: 
(A) Not later than 1 year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, in the 20 under-
ground rail station platforms with the highest 
volume of passenger traffic. 
(B) Not later than 4 years after such date, 
throughout the rail system. 
(2) ACCESS OF WIRELESS PROVIDERS TO SYS-
TEM
FOR
UPGRADES
AND
MAINTENANCE.—No 
amounts may be provided to the Transit Authority 
pursuant to the authorization under this section un-
less the Transit Authority ensures that each licensed 
wireless provider who provides service to the public 
within the rail system pursuant to paragraph (1) has
access to the system on an ongoing basis (subject to 
such restrictions as the Transit Authority may im-
pose to ensure that such access will not unduly im-
pact rail operations or threaten the safety of cus-
tomers or employees of the rail system) to carry out 
emergency repairs, routine maintenance, and up-
grades to the service. 
(3) PERMITTING REASONABLE AND CUSTOMARY 
CHARGES.—Nothing in this subsection may be con-
strued to prohibit the Transit Authority from requir-
ing a licensed wireless provider to pay reasonable 
and customary charges for access granted under this 
subsection. 
(4) REPORTS.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, and each of the 
3 years thereafter, the Transit Authority shall sub-
mit to the Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs of the Senate a report on the implementation 
of this subsection. 
(5) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term 
‘‘licensed wireless provider’’ means any provider of 
wireless services who is operating pursuant to a Fed-
eral license to offer such services to the public for 
profit. 
(f) AMOUNT.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary of Transportation for grants 
under this section an aggregate amount not to exceed 
$1,500,000,000 to be available in increments over 10 fis-
cal years beginning in fiscal year 2009, or until expended. 
(g) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts appropriated pursuant 
to the authorization under this section shall remain avail-
able until expended. 
TITLE II—AMTRAK REFORM AND 
OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS 
SEC. 201. NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER TRANSPOR-
TATION SYSTEM DEFINED. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 24102 is amended— 
(1) by striking paragraph (2); 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), and 
(5) as paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), respectively; and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (4) as so re-
designated the following: 
‘‘(5) ‘national rail passenger transportation sys-
tem’ means— 
‘‘(A) the segment of the Northeast Cor-
ridor between Boston, Massachusetts and 
Washington, DC;
‘‘(B) rail corridors that have been des-
ignated by the Secretary of Transportation as 
high-speed corridors (other than corridors de-
scribed in subparagraph (A)), but only after 
they have been improved to permit operation of 
high-speed service; 
‘‘(C) long distance routes of more than 
750 miles between endpoints operated by Am-
trak as of the date of enactment of the Pas-
senger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 
2008; and 
‘‘(D) short-distance corridors, or routes of 
not more than 750 miles between endpoints, op-
erated by— 
‘‘(i) Amtrak; or 
‘‘(ii) another rail carrier that receives 
funds under chapter 244.’’. 
(b) AMTRAK ROUTES WITH STATE FUNDING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 247 is amended by 
inserting after section 24701 the following: 
‘‘§ 24702. Transportation requested by States, au-
thorities, and other persons 
‘‘(a) CONTRACTS
FOR TRANSPORTATION.—Amtrak 
may enter into a contract with a State, a regional or local 
authority, or another person for Amtrak to operate an
intercity rail service or route not included in the national 
rail passenger transportation system upon such terms as 
the parties thereto may agree. 
‘‘(b) DISCONTINUANCE.—Upon termination of a con-
tract entered into under this section, or the cessation of 
financial support under such a contract by either party, 
Amtrak may discontinue such service or route, notwith-
standing any other provision of law.’’. 
(2) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—The chapter 
analysis for chapter 247 is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 24701 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘24702. Transportation requested by States, authorities, and other persons.’’. 
(c) AMTRAK TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE NON-HIGH- 
SPEED SERVICES.—Nothing in this Act is intended to pre-
clude Amtrak from restoring, improving, or developing 
non-high-speed intercity passenger rail service. 
(d) APPLICABILITY
OF SECTION 24706.—Section 
24706 is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) APPLICABILITY.—This section applies to all 
service over routes provided by Amtrak, notwithstanding 
any provision of section 24701 of this title or any other 
provision of this title except section 24702(b).’’. 
SEC. 202. AMTRAK BOARD OF DIRECTORS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 24302 is amended to read 
as follows:
‘‘§ 24302. Board of Directors 
‘‘(a) COMPOSITION AND TERMS.— 
‘‘(1) The Board of Directors of Amtrak is com-
posed of the following 10 directors, each of whom 
must be a citizen of the United States: 
‘‘(A) The Secretary of Transportation. 
‘‘(B) The President of Amtrak, who shall 
serve ex officio, as a non-voting member. 
‘‘(C) Eight individuals appointed by the 
President of the United States, by and with the 
advice and consent of the Senate, with general 
business and financial experience, experience or 
qualifications in transportation, freight and 
passenger rail transportation, travel, hospi-
tality, cruise line, and passenger air transpor-
tation businesses, or representatives of employ-
ees or users of passenger rail transportation or 
a State government. 
‘‘(2) In selecting individuals described in para-
graph (1) for nominations for appointments to the 
Board, the President shall consult with the Speaker 
of the House of Representatives, the minority leader 
of the House of Representatives, the majority leader 
of the Senate, and the minority leader of the Senate 
and try to provide adequate and balanced represen-
tation of the major geographic regions of the United 
States served by Amtrak. 
‘‘(3) An individual appointed under paragraph 
(1)(C) of this subsection serves for 5 years or until 
the individual’s successor is appointed and qualified. 
Not more than 5 individuals appointed under para-
graph (1)(C) may be members of the same political 
party. 
‘‘(4) The Board shall elect a chairman and a 
vice chairman from among its membership. The vice 
chairman shall serve as chairman in the absence of 
the chairman. 
‘‘(5) The Secretary may be represented at 
board meetings by the Secretary’s designee. 
‘‘(b) PAY AND EXPENSES.—Each director not em-
ployed by the United States Government is entitled to 
$300 a day when performing Board duties. Each Director 
is entitled to reimbursement for necessary travel, reason-
able secretarial and professional staff support, and sub-
sistence expenses incurred in attending Board meetings. 
‘‘(c) VACANCIES.—A vacancy on the Board is filled 
in the same way as the original selection, except that an 
individual appointed by the President of the United States 
under subsection (a)(1)(C) of this section to fill a vacancy 
occurring before the end of the term for which the prede-