I 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5644 
To provide for competitive development and operation of high-speed rail 
corridor projects. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 14, 2008 
Mr. MICA (for himself, Mr. SHUSTER, Mr. COSTA, Mr. SALAZAR, Mr. BACH-
US, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. BOUSTANY, Mr. BROWN of South Carolina, Mr. 
BUCHANAN, Mrs. CAPITO, Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida, Mrs. 
DRAKE, Mr. DUNCAN, Mr. EHLERS, Ms. FALLIN, Mr. GERLACH, Mr. 
GRAVES, Mr. LOBIONDO, Mr. MACK, Mrs. MILLER of Michigan, Mr. 
MORAN of Kansas, Mr. PLATTS, Mr. WESTMORELAND, and Mr. YOUNG 
of Alaska) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To provide for competitive development and operation of 
high-speed rail corridor projects. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SOLICITATION OF PROPOSALS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) NORTHEAST CORRIDOR.—Not later than 60 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Transportation shall issue a request for 
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proposals for projects for the financing, design, con-
struction, and operation of an initial high-speed rail 
system operating between Washington, DC, and 
New York City. Such proposals shall be submitted to 
the Secretary not later than 150 days after the pub-
lication of such request for proposals. 
(2) OTHER PROJECTS.—After a report is trans-
mitted under section 5 with respect to projects de-
scribed in paragraph (1), the Secretary of Transpor-
tation may issue a request for proposals for addi-
tional projects for the financing, design, construc-
tion, and operation of a high-speed rail system oper-
ating on any other corridor in the United States. 
Such proposals shall be submitted to the Secretary 
not later than 150 days after the publication of such 
request for proposals. 
(b) CONTENTS.—A proposal submitted under sub-
section (a) shall include— 
(1) the names and qualifications of the persons 
submitting the proposal; 
(2) a detailed description of the proposed route 
and its engineering characteristics; 
(3) the peak and average operating speeds to be 
attained; 
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(4) the type of equipment to be used, including 
any technologies for— 
(A) maintaining an operating speed the 
Secretary determines appropriate; or 
(B) in the case of a proposal submitted 
under subsection (a)(1), achieving less than 2- 
hour express service between Washington, DC, 
and New York City; 
(5) the locations of proposed stations; 
(6) a detailed description of any proposed legis-
lation needed to facilitate the project; 
(7) a financing plan identifying— 
(A) sources of revenue; 
(B) the amount of any proposed public 
contribution toward capital costs or operations; 
(C) ridership projections; and 
(D) the amount of private investment; 
(8) a description of how the project would con-
tribute to the development of a national high-speed 
rail system, and an intermodal plan describing how 
the system will connect with other transportation 
links; 
(9) labor protections for existing railroad em-
ployees; 
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(10) provisions to ensure that the proposal will 
be designed to operate in harmony with existing and 
projected future commuter and freight service; and 
(11) provisions for full fair market compensa-
tion for any asset or service acquired from a private 
person or entity, except as otherwise agreed to by 
the private person or entity. 
(c) DOCUMENTS.—Documents submitted or devel-
oped pursuant to this section shall not be subject to sec-
tion 552 of title 5, United States Code. 
SEC. 2. DETERMINATION OF FEASIBILITY AND ESTABLISH-
MENT OF COMMISSIONS. 
Not later than 60 days after receipt of a proposal 
under section 1, the Secretary of Transportation shall— 
(1) make a determination as to whether the 
proposal is feasible; and 
(2) for each corridor for which one or more fea-
sible proposals are received, establish a commission 
under section 3. 
SEC. 3. COMMISSIONS. 
A commission referred to in section 2(2) shall consist 
of not more than 19 members, including— 
(1) the governor of the affected State or States, 
or their respective designees; 
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(2) a rail labor representative, and a represent-
ative from a rail freight carrier using the relevant 
corridor, appointed by the Secretary of Transpor-
tation, in consultation with the chairman and rank-
ing minority member of the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Represent-
atives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate; 
(3) the Secretary of Transportation or his des-
ignee; 
(4) the president of Amtrak or his designee; 
(5) the mayors of the three largest municipali-
ties serviced by the proposed high-speed rail cor-
ridor; and 
(6) any other person the Secretary of Transpor-
tation considers appropriate. 
SEC. 4. COMMISSION CONSIDERATION. 
(a) IN
GENERAL.—Each commission established 
under section 2(2) shall be responsible for reviewing the 
proposal or proposals with respect to which the commis-
sion was established, and not later than 90 days after the 
establishment of the commission, shall transmit to the 
Secretary, and to the chairman and ranking minority 
member of the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
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mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate, a report which includes— 
(1) a summary of each proposal received; 
(2) a ranking of the order of the proposals ac-
cording to feasibility, and cost and benefit to the 
public; 
(3) an indication of which proposal or proposals 
are recommended by the commission; and 
(4) an identification of any proposed legislative 
provisions which would facilitate implementation of 
the recommended project. 
(b) VERBAL PRESENTATION.—Proposers shall be 
given an opportunity to make a verbal presentation to the 
commission to explain their proposals. 
SEC. 5. SELECTION BY SECRETARY. 
Not later than 60 days after receiving a report from 
a commission under section 4(a), the Secretary of Trans-
portation shall transmit to the Congress a report that 
ranks all of the recommended proposals according to feasi-
bility, and cost and benefit to the public. 
SEC. 6. NORTHEAST CORRIDOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 
STUDY. 
Not later than 9 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall transmit 
to the Congress the results of an economic development 
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study of Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor service between 
Washington, DC, and New York City. Such study shall 
examine how to achieve maximum utilization of the North-
east Corridor, including— 
(1) maximizing the assets of the Northeast Cor-
ridor for potential economic development purposes; 
(2) real estate improvement and financial re-
turn; 
(3) improved commuter and freight services; 
(4) optimum utility utilization in conjunction 
with potential separated high-speed rail passenger 
services; and 
(5) any other means of maximizing the eco-
nomic potential of the Northeast Corridor. 
Æ 
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