H. R. 2095—82 
has sufficient resources that are adequate to undertake the program 
established under this section.’’. 
(b) REPORT.—Within 1 year after the conclusion of the pilot 
program established under subsection (a), the Federal Railroad 
Administration shall submit to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
a report on the results on the pilot program established under 
section 24711, and any recommendations for further action. 
(c) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—The chapter analysis for 
chapter 247, as amended by section 210, is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 24710 the following: 
‘‘24711. Alternate passenger rail service pilot program.’’. 
SEC. 215. EMPLOYEE TRANSITION ASSISTANCE. 
(a) 
PROVISION
OF
FINANCIAL
INCENTIVES.—For 
Amtrak 
employees who are adversely affected by the cessation of the oper-
ation of a long-distance route or any other route under section 
24711 of title 49, United States Code, previously operated by 
Amtrak, the Secretary shall develop a program under which the 
Secretary may, at the Secretary’s discretion, provide grants for 
financial incentives to be provided to Amtrak employees who volun-
tarily terminate their employment with Amtrak and relinquish 
any legal rights to receive termination-related payments under 
any contractual agreement with Amtrak. 
(b) CONDITIONS FOR FINANCIAL INCENTIVES.—As a condition 
for receiving financial assistance grants under this section, Amtrak 
must certify that— 
(1) a reasonable attempt was made to reassign an employee 
adversely affected under section 24711 of title 49, United States 
Code, or by the elimination of any route, to other positions 
within Amtrak in accordance with any contractual agreements; 
(2) the financial assistance results in a net reduction in 
the total number of employees equal to the number receiving 
financial incentives; 
(3) the financial assistance results in a net reduction in 
total employment expense equivalent to the total employment 
expenses associated with the employees receiving financial 
incentives; and 
(4) the total number of employees eligible for termination- 
related payments will not be increased without the express 
written consent of the Secretary. 
(c) AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL INCENTIVES.—The financial incen-
tives authorized under this section may be no greater than $100,000 
per employee. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are hereby 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as may 
be necessary to make grants to Amtrak to provide financial incen-
tives under subsection (a). 
(e) TERMINATION-RELATED PAYMENTS.—If Amtrak employees 
adversely affected by the cessation of Amtrak service resulting 
from the awarding of a grant to an operator other than Amtrak 
for the operation of a route under section 24711 of title 49, United 
States Code, or any other route, previously operated by Amtrak 
do not receive financial incentives under subsection (a), then the 
Secretary shall make grants to Amtrak from funds authorized by
H. R. 2095—83 
section 101 of this division for termination-related payments to 
employees under existing contractual agreements. 
SEC. 216. SPECIAL PASSENGER TRAINS. 
Amtrak is encouraged to increase the operation of special trains 
funded by, or in partnership with, private sector operators through 
competitive contracting to minimize the need for Federal subsidies. 
Amtrak shall utilize the provisions of section 24308 of title 49, 
United States Code, when necessary to obtain access to facilities, 
train and engine crews, or services of a rail carrier or regional 
transportation authority that are required to operate such trains. 
SEC. 217. ACCESS TO AMTRAK EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES. 
If a State desires to select or selects an entity other than 
Amtrak to provide services required for the operation of an intercity 
passenger train route described in section 24102(5)(D) or 24702 
of title 49, United States Code, the State may make an agreement 
with Amtrak to use facilities and equipment of, or have services 
provided by, Amtrak under terms agreed to by the State and 
Amtrak to enable the State to utilize an entity other than Amtrak 
to provide services required for operation of the route. If the parties 
cannot agree upon terms, and the Surface Transportation Board 
finds that access to Amtrak’s facilities or equipment, or the provi-
sion of services by Amtrak, is necessary to carry out this provision 
and that the operation of Amtrak’s other services will not be 
impaired thereby, the Surface Transportation Board shall, within 
120 days after submission of the dispute, issue an order that the 
facilities and equipment be made available, and that services be 
provided, by Amtrak, and shall determine reasonable compensation, 
liability, and other terms for use of the facilities and equipment 
and provision of the services. Compensation shall be determined, 
as appropriate, in accordance with the methodology established 
pursuant to section 209 of this division, if available. 
SEC. 218. GENERAL AMTRAK PROVISIONS. 
(a) CONFORMING CHANGES.— 
(1) PLAN REQUIRED.—Section 24101(d) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘plan to operate within the funding 
levels authorized by section 24104 of this chapter, including 
the budgetary goals for fiscal years 1998 through 2002.’’ 
and inserting ‘‘plan, consistent with section 204 of the 
Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008, 
including the budgetary goals for fiscal years 2009 through 
2013.’’; and 
(B) by striking the last sentence and inserting ‘‘Amtrak 
and its Board of Directors shall adopt a long-term plan 
that minimizes the need for Federal operating subsidies.’’. 
(2) AMTRAK
REFORM
AND
ACCOUNTABILITY
ACT
AMEND-
MENTS.—Title II of the Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act 
of 1997 (49 U.S.C. 24101 nt) is amended by striking sections 
204 and 205. 
(b) LEASE ARRANGEMENTS
AND OTHER PURCHASES.—Amtrak 
may obtain from the Administrator of General Services, and the 
Administrator may provide to Amtrak, services under sections 
502(a) and 602 of title 40, United States Code.
H. R. 2095—84 
SEC. 219. STUDY OF COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS AT EXISTING INTER-
CITY RAIL STATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Amtrak, in consultation with station owners 
and other railroads operating service through the existing stations 
that it serves, shall evaluate the improvements necessary to make 
these stations readily accessible to and usable by individuals with 
disabilities, as required by such section 242(e)(2) of the Americans 
with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12162(e)(2)). The evaluation 
shall include, for each applicable station, improvements required 
to bring it into compliance with the applicable parts of such section 
242(e)(2), any potential barriers to achieving compliance, including 
issues related to passenger rail station platforms, the estimated 
cost of the improvements necessary, the identification of the respon-
sible person (as defined in section 241(5) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 
12161(5))), and the earliest practicable date when such improve-
ments can be made. The evaluation shall also include a detailed 
plan and schedule for bringing all applicable stations into compli-
ance with the applicable parts of section 242(e)(2) by the 2010 
statutory deadline for station accessibility. Amtrak shall submit 
the evaluation to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture of the House of Representatives; the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate; the Department of 
Transportation; and the National Council on Disability by February 
1, 2009, along with recommendations for funding the necessary 
improvements. Should the Department of Transportation issue any 
rule related to transportation for individuals with disabilities by 
intercity passenger rail after Amtrak submits its evaluation, 
Amtrak shall, within 120 days after the date that such rule is 
published, submit to the above parties a supplemental evaluation 
on any impact of the rule on its cost and schedule for achieving 
full compliance. 
(b) ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS AND BARRIER REMOVAL FOR 
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary for the use of Amtrak such sums as may 
be necessary to improve the accessibility of facilities, including 
rail platforms, and services. 
SEC. 220. OVERSIGHT OF AMTRAK’S COMPLIANCE WITH ACCESSI-
BILITY REQUIREMENTS. 
Using the funds authorized by section 103 of this division, 
the Federal Railroad Administration shall monitor and conduct 
periodic reviews of Amtrak’s compliance with applicable sections 
of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Rehabilita-
tion Act of 1974 to ensure that Amtrak’s services and facilities 
are accessible to individuals with disabilities to the extent required 
by law. 
SEC. 221. AMTRAK MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTABILITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 243 is amended by inserting after 
section 24309 the following: 
‘‘§ 24310. Management accountability 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Within 3 years after the date of enactment 
of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008, 
and 2 years thereafter, the Inspector General of the Department 
of Transportation shall complete an overall assessment of the
H. R. 2095—85 
progress made by Amtrak management and the Department of 
Transportation in implementing the provisions of that Act. 
‘‘(b) ASSESSMENT.—The management assessment undertaken 
by the Inspector General may include a review of— 
‘‘(1) effectiveness in improving annual financial planning; 
‘‘(2) effectiveness in implementing improved financial 
accounting; 
‘‘(3) efforts to implement minimum train performance 
standards; 
‘‘(4) progress maximizing revenues, minimizing Federal 
subsidies, and improving financial results; and 
‘‘(5) any other aspect of Amtrak operations the Inspector 
General finds appropriate to review.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—The chapter analysis for 
chapter 243 is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
section 24309 the following: 
‘‘24310. Management accountability.’’. 
SEC. 222. ON-BOARD SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Within 1 year after metrics and standards 
are established under section 207 of this division, Amtrak shall 
develop and implement a plan to improve on-board service pursuant 
to the metrics and standards for such service developed under 
that section. 
(b) REPORT.—Amtrak shall provide a report to the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
of the Senate on the on-board service improvements proscribed 
in the plan and the timeline for implementing such improvements. 
SEC. 223. INCENTIVE PAY. 
The Amtrak Board of Directors is encouraged to develop an 
incentive pay program for Amtrak management employees. 
SEC. 224. PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE STUDIES. 
(a) INTERCITY RAIL SERVICE STUDIES.—Within 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, Amtrak shall conduct studies of 
the following routes: 
(1) The Pioneer Route between Seattle and Chicago, which 
was operated by Amtrak until 1997, to determine whether 
to reinstate passenger rail service along the route or along 
segments of the route. 
(2) The North Coast Hiawatha Route between Chicago 
and Seattle, through southern Montana, which was operated 
by Amtrak until 1979, to determine whether to reinstate pas-
senger rail service along the route or along segments of the 
route, provided that such service will not negatively impact 
existing Amtrak routes. 
(3) Between Cornwells Heights, Pennsylvania, and New 
York, New York, to determine whether to expand passenger 
rail service by increasing the frequency of stops or reducing 
commuter ticket prices for this route. 
(4) Between Princeton Junction, New Jersey, and Philadel-
phia, Pennsylvania, to determine whether to expand passenger 
rail service along the route.