I 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5449 
To reauthorize Federal support for passenger rail programs, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 
Mr. SHUSTER (for himself, Mr. RAHALL, Mr. DENHAM, and Ms. BROWN of 
Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To reauthorize Federal support for passenger rail programs, 
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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2014’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
TITLE I—AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS 
Sec. 101. Authorization for Amtrak. 
Sec. 102. Authorization for Amtrak Office of the Inspector General. 
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Sec. 103. National infrastructure investments. 
Sec. 104. Northeast Corridor. 
TITLE II—AMTRAK REFORM 
Sec. 201. Amtrak planning and grant process. 
Sec. 202. 5-year capital and operating plan. 
Sec. 203. State-supported routes. 
Sec. 204. Route and service planning decisions. 
Sec. 205. Competition. 
Sec. 206. Food and beverage reform. 
Sec. 207. Right of way leveraging. 
Sec. 208. Station development. 
Sec. 209. Amtrak debt. 
Sec. 210. Amtrak pilot program for passengers transporting domesticated cats 
and dogs. 
Sec. 211. Amtrak boarding procedures. 
TITLE III—INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL POLICY 
Sec. 301. Federal-State partnership for Northeast Corridor development and 
improvement. 
Sec. 302. RRIF improvements. 
Sec. 303. NEC fast forward. 
Sec. 304. Large capital project requirements. 
Sec. 305. Small business participation study. 
Sec. 306. Gulf Coast rail service working group. 
Sec. 307. Miscellaneous. 
TITLE IV—PROJECT DELIVERY 
Sec. 401. Project delivery rulemaking. 
Sec. 402. Historic preservation of railroads. 
TITLE V—MISCELLANEOUS 
Sec. 501. Definition. 
Sec. 502. Title 49 definitions. 
TITLE I—AUTHORIZATION OF 
APPROPRIATIONS 
SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION FOR AMTRAK. 
(a) NORTHEAST CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT FUND.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
for the use of Amtrak for deposit into the Northeast Cor-
ridor Improvement Fund account established under sec-
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SEC. 204. ROUTE AND SERVICE PLANNING DECISIONS. 
Section 208 of the Passenger Rail Investment and 
Improvement Act of 2008 (49 U.S.C. 24101 note) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 208. METHODOLOGIES FOR AMTRAK ROUTE AND 
SERVICE PLANNING DECISIONS. 
‘‘(a) METHODOLOGY
DEVELOPMENT.—Not later 
than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Pas-
senger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2014, as a con-
dition of receiving a grant under section 101 of such Act, 
Amtrak shall obtain the services of an independent entity 
to develop and recommend objective methodologies for 
Amtrak to use in determining what intercity rail passenger 
transportation routes and services it should provide, in-
cluding the establishment of new routes, the elimination 
of existing routes, and the contraction or expansion of 
services or frequencies over such routes. 
‘‘(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—Amtrak shall require the 
entity, in developing the methodologies described in sub-
section (a), to consider— 
‘‘(1) the current and expected performance and 
service quality of intercity rail passenger transpor-
tation operations, including cost recovery, on-time 
performance, ridership, on-board services, stations, 
facilities, equipment, and other services; 
‘‘(2) connectivity of a route with other routes; 
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‘‘(3) the transportation needs of communities 
and populations that are not well served by intercity 
rail passenger transportation service or by other 
forms of intercity transportation; 
‘‘(4) the methodologies of Amtrak and major 
intercity rail passenger transportation service pro-
viders in other countries for determining intercity 
passenger rail routes and services; 
‘‘(5) the views of States, rail carriers that own 
infrastructure over which Amtrak operates, Amtrak 
employee representatives, and other interested par-
ties; and 
‘‘(6) the funding levels that will be available 
under authorization levels that have been enacted 
into law. 
‘‘(c) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of the Passenger Rail Reform 
and Investment Act of 2014, Amtrak shall transmit to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives, and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate the rec-
ommendations developed by the entity pursuant to sub-
section (a). 
‘‘(d) CONSIDERATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not 
later than 90 days after transmitting the recommenda-
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tions pursuant to subsection (c), the Amtrak Board of Di-
rectors shall consider the adoption of the recommenda-
tions and 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 containing an explanation of any 
reasons for adopting or not adopting the recommenda-
tions.’’. 
SEC. 205. COMPETITION. 
(a) AMENDMENT.—Section 24711 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 24711. Alternate passenger rail service pilot pro-
gram 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of the Passenger Rail Reform and In-
vestment Act of 2014, the Federal Railroad Administra-
tion shall complete a rulemaking proceeding to develop a 
pilot program that— 
‘‘(1) permits a rail carrier or rail carriers that 
own infrastructure over which Amtrak operates a 
passenger rail service route described in subpara-
graph (B), (C), or (D) of section 24102(5) or in sec-
tion 24702(a) to petition the Federal Railroad Ad-
ministration to be considered as a passenger rail 
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service provider over that route in lieu of Amtrak for 
an operations period of 5 years; 
‘‘(2) requires the Federal Railroad Administra-
tion to notify Amtrak within 30 days after receiving 
a petition under paragraph (1) and establish a dead-
line by which both the petitioner and Amtrak would 
be required to submit a bid to provide passenger rail 
service over the route to which the petition relates; 
‘‘(3) requires that each bid describe how the 
bidder would operate the route, what Amtrak pas-
senger equipment would be needed, if any, and what 
sources of non-Federal funding the bidder would 
use, including any State subsidy, among other 
things; 
‘‘(4) requires the Federal Railroad Administra-
tion to execute a contract within a specified, limited 
time after the deadline established under paragraph 
(2) and award to the winning bidder— 
‘‘(A) the right and obligation to provide 
passenger rail service over that route subject to 
such performance standards as the Federal 
Railroad Administration may require; and 
‘‘(B) an operating subsidy— 
‘‘(i) for the first year at a level not in 
excess of 90 percent of the level in effect 
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for that specific route during the fiscal 
year preceding the fiscal year in which the 
petition was received, adjusted for infla-
tion; and 
‘‘(ii) for any subsequent years at the 
level calculated under clause (i), adjusted 
for inflation; and 
‘‘(5) requires that each bid contain a staffing 
plan describing the number of employees needed to 
operate the service, the job assignments and require-
ments, and the terms of work for prospective and 
current employees of the bidder for the service out-
lined in the bid, and that such staffing plan be made 
available by the winning bidder to the public after 
the bid award. 
‘‘(b) ROUTE LIMITATIONS.—The Federal Railroad 
Administration may not make the program available with 
respect to more than 2 Amtrak intercity passenger rail 
routes. 
‘‘(c) PERFORMANCE STANDARDS; ACCESS TO FACILI-
TIES; EMPLOYEES.—If the Federal Railroad Administra-
tion awards the right and obligation to provide passenger 
rail service over a route under this section to a rail carrier 
or rail carriers— 
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‘‘(1) it shall execute a contract with the rail 
carrier or rail carriers for rail passenger operations 
on that route that conditions the operating and sub-
sidy rights on— 
‘‘(A) the service provider continuing to 
provide passenger rail service on the route that 
is no less frequent, nor over a shorter distance, 
than Amtrak provided on that route before the 
award; and 
‘‘(B) the service provider’s compliance with 
the standards established under subsection 
(a)(4)(A), and such additional performance 
standards as the Administration may establish; 
‘‘(2) it shall, if the award is made to a rail car-
rier other than Amtrak, require Amtrak to provide 
access to its reservation system, stations, and facili-
ties directly related to operations to any rail carrier 
or rail carriers awarded a contract under this sec-
tion, in accordance with subsection (d), necessary to 
carry out the purposes of this section; 
‘‘(3) an employee of any person used by such 
rail carrier or rail carriers in the operation of a 
route under this section shall be considered an em-
ployee of that carrier or carriers and subject to the 
applicable Federal laws and regulations governing 
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‘‘(e) CESSATION OF SERVICE.—If a rail carrier or rail 
carriers awarded a route under this section cease to oper-
ate the service or fail to fulfill their obligations under the 
contract required under subsection (c), the Federal Rail-
road Administration, in collaboration with the Surface 
Transportation Board, shall take any necessary action 
consistent with this title to enforce the contract and en-
sure the continued provision of service, including the in-
stallment of an interim service provider and rebidding the 
contract to operate the service. The entity providing serv-
ice shall either be Amtrak or a rail carrier defined in sub-
section (a)(1). 
‘‘(f) ADEQUATE RESOURCES.—Before taking any ac-
tion allowed under this section, the Secretary shall certify 
that the Federal Railroad Administration has sufficient 
resources appropriated under section 101(b) of Passenger 
Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2014, or any subse-
quent appropriation, for that purpose that are adequate 
to undertake the program established under this section. 
‘‘(g) BUDGET AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of Trans-
portation may provide to a winning bidder selected under 
this section appropriations authorized under sections 
101(b) of the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act 
of 2014, or any subsequent appropriation for the same 
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purposes, necessary to cover the operating subsidy de-
scribed in subsection (a)(4)(B).’’. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the conclu-
sion of the pilot program established under the amend-
ment made by subsection (a), the Federal Railroad Ad-
ministration shall submit 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 on the results on the pilot 
program established under section 24711 of title 49 
United States Code, and any recommendations for further 
action. 
SEC. 206. FOOD AND BEVERAGE REFORM. 
(a) AMENDMENT.—Chapter 243 of title 49, United 
States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following new section: 
‘‘§ 24321. Food and beverage reform 
‘‘(a) PLAN.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of enactment of the Passenger Rail Reform and Invest-
ment Act of 2014, Amtrak shall develop and begin imple-
menting a plan to eliminate, within 5 years of such date 
of enactment, the operating loss associated with providing 
food and beverage service on board Amtrak trains. 
‘‘(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing and imple-
menting the plan, Amtrak shall consider a combination of 
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cost management and revenue generation initiatives, in-
cluding— 
‘‘(1) scheduling optimization; 
‘‘(2) on-board logistics; 
‘‘(3) product development and supply chain effi-
ciency; 
‘‘(4) training, awards, and accountability; 
‘‘(5) technology enhancements and process im-
provements; and 
‘‘(6) ticket revenue allocation. 
‘‘(c) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Amtrak shall ensure that no 
Amtrak employee holding a position as of the date of en-
actment of the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act 
of 2014 is involuntarily separated because of— 
‘‘(1) the development and implementation of the 
plan required under subsection (a); or 
‘‘(2) any other action taken by Amtrak to im-
plement this section. 
‘‘(d) NO
FEDERAL
FUNDING
FOR
OPERATING 
LOSSES.—Beginning on the date that is 5 years after the 
date of enactment of the Passenger Rail Reform and In-
vestment Act of 2014, no Federal funds may be used to 
cover any operating loss associated with providing food 
and beverage service on a route operated by Amtrak or 
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an alternative passenger rail service provider that operates 
a route in lieu of Amtrak pursuant to section 24711. 
‘‘(e) REPORT.—Not later than 120 days after the 
date of enactment of the Passenger Rail Reform and In-
vestment Act of 2014, and annually thereafter for 5 years, 
Amtrak 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 containing the plan developed 
pursuant to subsection (a) and a description of progress 
in the implementation of the plan.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions for chapter 243 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new item: 
‘‘24321. Food and beverage reform.’’. 
SEC. 207. RIGHT OF WAY LEVERAGING. 
(a) REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, Amtrak shall 
issue a Request for Proposals seeking private sector per-
sons or entities to utilize Amtrak-owned right-of-way for 
telecommunications systems, energy distribution systems, 
and other activities considered appropriate by Amtrak. 
The Request for Proposals shall provide sufficient infor-
mation on Amtrak’s right-of-way real estate assets to en-
able respondents to propose an arrangement that will 
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monetize such assets through revenue sharing agreements 
with Amtrak. 
(b) CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSALS.—Not later than 
1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Amtrak 
Board of Directors shall review and consider each proposal 
submitted pursuant to subsection (a). Amtrak may enter 
into such agreements as are necessary to implement any 
such proposal or proposals. 
(c) REPORT
TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 18 
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 
by this section, including summary information of any pro-
posals submitted to Amtrak and any proposals accepted 
by the Amtrak Board of Directors. 
SEC. 208. STATION DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) REPORT ON DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS.—Not later 
than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, Am-
trak 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 options to enhance development 
around Amtrak stations, including— 
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