(1) strengthening multimodal connections, in-
cluding intercity buses; 
(2) options for capturing development-related 
revenue streams; and 
(3) other opportunities to better leverage sta-
tion assets. 
(b) PROPOSALS.— 
(1) REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.—Not later than 
18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, 
Amtrak shall issue a Request for Proposals seeking 
persons or entities, where appropriate, to carry out 
the options identified under subsection (a). 
(2) CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSALS.—Not later 
than 24 months after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Amtrak Board of Directors shall review and 
consider each proposal submitted pursuant to para-
graph (1). Amtrak may enter into such agreements 
as are necessary to implement any such proposal or 
proposals. 
(c) REPORT
TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 30 
months after the date of enactment of this Act, Amtrak 
shall transmit to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate a report on the Request for Proposals required 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:22 Sep 12, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00044
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5449.IH
H5449
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
by this section, including summary information of any pro-
posals submitted to Amtrak and any proposals accepted 
by the Amtrak Board of Directors. 
SEC. 209. AMTRAK DEBT. 
Section 205 of the Passenger Rail Investment and 
Improvement Act of 2008 (49 U.S.C. 24101 note) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ‘‘, to the ex-
tent provided in advance in appropriations Acts’’ 
after ‘‘Amtrak’s indebtedness’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘as of the date of enactment of 
this Act’’ each place it appears; 
(3) in subsection (a), by striking the second 
sentence; 
(4) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ‘‘by section 
102 of this division’’; and 
(5) in subsection (e)(2), by striking ‘‘by section 
102’’ and inserting ‘‘for Amtrak’’. 
SEC. 210. AMTRAK PILOT PROGRAM FOR PASSENGERS 
TRANSPORTING DOMESTICATED CATS AND 
DOGS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, Amtrak shall develop a pilot 
program that allows passengers to transport domesticated 
cats or dogs on certain trains operated by Amtrak. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:22 Sep 12, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00045
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5449.IH
H5449
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(b) PET POLICY.—In developing the pilot program 
required under subsection (a), Amtrak shall— 
(1) in the case of a passenger train that is com-
prised of more than 1 car, designate, where feasible, 
at least 1 car in which a ticketed passenger may 
transport a domesticated cat or dog in the same 
manner as carry-on baggage if— 
(A) the cat or dog is contained in a pet 
kennel; 
(B) the pet kennel is stowed in accordance 
with Amtrak size requirements for carriage of 
carry-on baggage; 
(C) the passenger is traveling on a train 
operating on a route described in subparagraph 
(A), (B), or (D) of section 24102(5) of title 49, 
United States Code; and 
(D) the passenger pays a fee described in 
paragraph (3); 
(2) allow a ticketed passenger to transport a 
domesticated cat or dog on a train in the same man-
ner as cargo if— 
(A) the cat or dog is contained in a pet 
kennel; 
(B) the pet kennel is stowed in accordance 
with Amtrak requirements for cargo stowage; 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:22 Sep 12, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00046
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5449.IH
H5449
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(C) the passenger is traveling on a train 
operating on a route described in subparagraph 
(A), (B), or (D) of section 24102(5) of title 49, 
United States Code; 
(D) the cargo area is temperature con-
trolled in a manner protective of cat and dog 
safety and health; and 
(E) the passenger pays a fee described in 
paragraph (3); and 
(3) collect fees for each cat or dog transported 
by a ticketed passenger in an amount that, in the 
aggregate and at a minimum, covers the full costs 
of the pilot program. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the pilot 
program required under subsection (a) is first imple-
mented, Amtrak shall transmit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate a report containing an 
evaluation of the pilot program. 
(d) LIMITATION ON STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.— 
(1) SERVICE ANIMALS.—The pilot program re-
quired under subsection (a) shall be separate from 
and in addition to the policy governing Amtrak pas-
sengers traveling with service animals. Nothing in 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:22 Sep 12, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00047
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5449.IH
H5449
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
this section may be interpreted to limit or waive the 
rights of passengers to transport service animals. 
(2) ADDITIONAL TRAIN CARS.—Nothing in this 
section may be interpreted to require Amtrak to add 
additional train cars or modify existing train cars. 
(3) FEDERAL FUNDS.—No Federal funds may 
be used to implement the pilot program required 
under this section. 
SEC. 211. AMTRAK BOARDING PROCEDURES. 
(a) REPORT.—Not later than 6 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Amtrak Office of Inspector 
General shall transmit to the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate a report that— 
(1) evaluates Amtrak’s boarding procedures at 
its 10 stations through which the most people pass; 
(2) compares Amtrak’s boarding procedures 
to— 
(A) commuter railroad boarding proce-
dures at stations shared with Amtrak; 
(B) international intercity passenger rail 
boarding procedures; and 
(C) fixed guideway transit boarding proce-
dures; and 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:22 Sep 12, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00048
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5449.IH
H5449
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(3) makes recommendations, as appropriate, to 
improve Amtrak’s boarding procedures, including 
recommendations regarding the queuing of pas-
sengers and free-flow of all station-users. 
(b) CONSIDERATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not 
later than 6 months after the release of the report re-
quired under subsection (a), the Amtrak Board of Direc-
tors shall consider each recommendation provided under 
subsection (a)(3) for implementation across the Amtrak 
system. 
TITLE III—INTERCITY 
PASSENGER RAIL POLICY 
SEC. 301. FEDERAL-STATE PARTNERSHIP FOR NORTHEAST 
CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVE-
MENT. 
(a) AMENDMENT.—Chapter 244 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘§ 24407. Federal-State partnership for Northeast 
Corridor rehabilitation and improvement 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 
shall develop and implement a program for issuing grants 
to applicants, on a competitive basis, for the purpose of 
financing the capital projects included in the Northeast 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:22 Sep 12, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00049
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5449.IH
H5449
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
Corridor Priority Project List developed under subsection 
(c). 
‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following 
definitions apply: 
‘‘(1) APPLICANT.—The term ‘applicant’ means 
a State (including the District of Columbia), a group 
of States, an Interstate Compact, or a public agency 
established by one or more States and having re-
sponsibility for providing intercity passenger or com-
muter rail service. 
‘‘(2) 
MAJOR
STATE-OF-GOOD-REPAIR 
PROJECT.—The term ‘major state-of-good-repair 
project’ means a capital project primarily intended 
to replace, rehabilitate or repair major Northeast 
Corridor infrastructure assets utilized for providing 
intercity rail passenger transportation, including 
tunnels, bridges, stations, and other assets as deter-
mined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(3) IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.—The term ‘im-
provement project’ means a capital project primarily 
intended to improve intercity passenger rail perform-
ance on the Northeast Corridor, including reduced 
trip times, increased train frequencies, higher oper-
ating speeds, and other improvements as determined 
by the Secretary. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
01:20 Sep 13, 2014
Jkt 039060
PO 00000
Frm 00050
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5449.IH
H5449
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(c) NORTHEAST CORRIDOR PRIORITY PROJECT 
LIST.—The Northeast Corridor Infrastructure and Oper-
ations Advisory Commission, established under section 
24905, shall develop and approve a Northeast Corridor 
Priority Project List that shall include— 
‘‘(1) a list of prioritized individual major state- 
of-good-repair projects and improvement projects 
along the Northeast Corridor that— 
‘‘(A) can be completed based on— 
‘‘(i) the funding authorized under sec-
tion 103(b) of the Passenger Rail Reform 
and Investment Act of 2014; 
‘‘(ii) any subsequent applicable au-
thorization in effect; 
‘‘(iii) in the absence of such an au-
thorization, a 5-year funding amount based 
on the most recent appropriation; or 
‘‘(iv) the requirements of subsection 
(d); and 
‘‘(B) are consistent with the Northeast 
Corridor capital investment plan required under 
section 24906(a); 
‘‘(2) an identification of the applicant for each 
individual project; 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:22 Sep 12, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00051
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5449.IH
H5449
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(3) an identification of the sources of non- 
Federal matching funds for each project; and 
‘‘(4) a description of the benefits each project 
will bring to intercity rail passenger services. 
‘‘(d) USE OF FUNDS.—The Federal grants author-
ized under this section shall be for no more than 50 per-
cent of the net project cost of the project involved. 
‘‘(e) APPLICABILITY OF CAPITAL GRANT REQUIRE-
MENTS.—Except as specifically provided in this section, 
the use of any amounts appropriated for grants under this 
section shall be subject to the requirements of this chap-
ter. 
‘‘(f) MATCH REQUIREMENTS.—No grants may be ob-
ligated to an applicant under this section unless the appli-
cant has transmitted to the Secretary of Transportation 
a binding written commitment to provide all amounts nec-
essary for the purpose of matching Federal contributions 
as required by this section. 
‘‘(g) UPDATES TO LIST.—The Northeast Corridor 
Infrastructure and Operations Advisory Commission shall 
revise the NEC Priority Project List as necessary to re-
flect— 
‘‘(1) any differences in the availability of Fed-
eral funding from the levels assumed for purposes of 
subsection (c)(1)(A) (i) and (ii); 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:22 Sep 12, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00052
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5449.IH
H5449
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(2) any elimination or addition of projects; 
and 
‘‘(3) any reduction or increase in benefits to be 
derived from a project. 
‘‘(h) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts appropriated for car-
rying out this section shall remain available until ex-
pended. 
‘‘(i) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section shall 
supplant the requirement of applicants to compensate Am-
trak for the use of Amtrak facilities or services pursuant 
to section 24905(c). 
‘‘(j) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, the 
term ‘Northeast Corridor’ means the Northeast Corridor 
main line between Boston, Massachusetts, and the District 
of Columbia, and the Northeast Corridor branch lines con-
necting to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Springfield, Massa-
chusetts, and Spuyten Duyvil, New York, and facilities 
and services used to operate and maintain those lines.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions for chapter 244 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new item: 
‘‘24407. Federal-State partnership for Northeast Corridor rehabilitation and im-
provement.’’. 
SEC. 302. RRIF IMPROVEMENTS. 
(a) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:22 Sep 12, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00053
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5449.IH
H5449
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
tation shall issue regulations implementing the amend-
ments made by this section. 
(b) COLLATERAL.—Section 502(h)(2) of the Railroad 
Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 (45 
U.S.C. 822(h)(2)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘(2) The Secretary’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘(2)(A) The Secretary’’; 
(2) by inserting ‘‘The Secretary may subordi-
nate rights of the Secretary under any provision of 
title 49 or title 23 of the United States Code, to the 
rights of the Secretary under this section and sec-
tion 503.’’ after ‘‘from another source.’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(B) The Secretary shall, for purposes of making a 
finding under subsection (g)(4), accept the net present 
value on a future stream of State or local subsidy income 
or dedicated revenue as collateral offered to secure the 
loan.’’. 
(c) OFFICE
OF MANAGEMENT
AND BUDGET RE-
VIEW.—Section 502(i) of such Act (45 U.S.C. 822(i)) is 
amended by inserting ‘‘In order to enable compliance with 
such time limit, the Office of Management and Budget 
shall take any actions required with respect to the applica-
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:22 Sep 12, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00054
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5449.IH
H5449
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
tion within such 90-day period.’’ after ‘‘disapprove the ap-
plication.’’. 
(d) RRIF APPLICATION.—Section 502(i) of such Act 
(45 U.S.C. 822(i)) is further amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘DISAPPROVAL.—Not later than 
90 days after receiving’’ and inserting ‘‘DIS-
APPROVAL.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days 
after an application is determined pursuant to para-
graph (2) to be’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs: 
‘‘(2) COMPLETION OF APPLICATION.—The Sec-
retary shall establish procedures for making a deter-
mination, not later than 45 days after submission of 
an application under this section, whether the appli-
cation is complete. Such procedures shall— 
‘‘(A) provide for a checklist of the required 
components of a complete application; 
‘‘(B) require the Secretary to provide to 
the applicant a description of the specific com-
ponents of the application that remain incom-
plete if an application is determined to be in-
complete; and 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:22 Sep 12, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00055
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5449.IH
H5449
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(C) permit reapplication without preju-
dice for applications determined to be incom-
plete. 
‘‘(3) INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ANALYST.—The 
Secretary shall assign an independent financial ana-
lyst within 45 days of submittal of a complete appli-
cation.’’. 
(e) POSITIVE TRAIN CONTROL.—Section 502(c)(1) of 
such Act (45 U.S.C. 822(c)(1)) is amended by inserting 
‘‘, including projects for the installation of a positive train 
control (as defined in section 20157(i) of title 49, United 
States Code) system’’ after ‘‘public safety’’. 
(f) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Section 502 of such Act 
(45 U.S.C. 822) is further amended by adding at the end 
the following new subsection: 
‘‘(k) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of the Passenger Rail Reform 
and Investment Act of 2014, and annually thereafter, the 
Secretary shall transmit to Congress a report on the pro-
gram under this section that provides information on loans 
approved and disapproved by the Secretary during the pre-
vious year. Such report shall not disclose the identity of 
direct loan or loan guarantee recipients. The report shall 
describe— 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:22 Sep 12, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00056
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5449.IH
H5449
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(1) the number of pre-application meetings 
with potential applicants; 
‘‘(2) the number of applications received and 
determined complete under subsection (i)(2), includ-
ing the requested loan amounts; 
‘‘(3) the dates of receipt of applications; 
‘‘(4) the dates applications were determined 
complete under subsection (i)(2); 
‘‘(5) the number of applications determined in-
complete under subsection (i)(2); 
‘‘(6) the final decision dates for both approvals 
and disapprovals of applications; 
‘‘(7) the number of applications withdrawn 
from consideration; and 
‘‘(8) the annual loan portfolio asset quality.’’. 
SEC. 303. NEC FAST FORWARD. 
(a) NORTHEAST CORRIDOR AUTHORITY.—Section 
502(d) of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Re-
form Act of 1976 (45 U.S.C. 822(d)) is amended by in-
serting ‘‘40 percent shall be available solely for projects 
described in subsection (l)(1), and’’ after ‘‘Of this 
amount,’’. 
(b) NORTHEAST CORRIDOR FAST FORWARD PRO-
GRAM.—Section 502 of such Act is further amended by 
adding at the end the following new subsection: 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:22 Sep 12, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00057
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5449.IH
H5449
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(l) NORTHEAST CORRIDOR FAST FORWARD.— 
‘‘(1) PURPOSE.—The Secretary, as part of the 
Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing 
program, shall provide direct loans and loan guaran-
tees to eligible entities described in subsection (a) 
for capital projects to improve the Northeast Cor-
ridor (as used in section 24906 of title 49, United 
States Code). 
‘‘(2) COLLATERAL.—Loans made or guaranteed 
under this subsection shall require collateral equal to 
the loan amount requested. 
‘‘(3) INVESTMENT
GRADE
RATING.—A direct 
loan or loan guarantee shall be made under this sub-
section only if a rating agency has assigned an in-
vestment grade rating of BBB minus, Baa3, bbb 
minus, BBB (low), (or equivalent) or higher to the 
project obligation. For purposes of this paragraph, 
the term ‘rating agency’ means a credit rating agen-
cy registered with the Securities and Exchange Com-
mission as a nationally recognized statistical rating 
organization (as that term is defined in section 3(a) 
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 
78c(a))). 
‘‘(4) INCLUSION
IN
NEC
PLANNING.—Loans 
and loan guarantees made under this subsection 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:22 Sep 12, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00058
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5449.IH
H5449
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
shall be for projects that are included in the most 
recent 5-year budget and business plan prepared 
pursuant to section 24906(a) of title 49, United 
States Code. 
‘‘(5) REFINANCING.—Loans made or guaran-
teed under this subsection shall not be used for the 
refinancing of outstanding debt incurred. 
‘‘(6) COHORT
OF
LOANS.—Subsection (f)(4) 
shall not apply to loans made or guaranteed under 
this subsection.’’. 
(c) REPORT ON LEVERAGING RRIF.—Not later than 
180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Comptroller General shall transmit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate a report identifying po-
tential revenue sources, projects, and service improve-
ments that could be achieved by the amendments made 
by subsections (a) and (b). 
(d) CONDITIONS OF FUNDING.— 
(1) GRANTS.—Section 24405 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘15 days’’ and inserting 
‘‘30 days’’ in subsection (a)(4)(B); and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:20 Sep 15, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00059
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5449.IH
H5449
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS