463 
SEC. 8107. ITS NATIONAL ARCHITECTURE AND STANDARDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 517(a)(3) of title 23, 
United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(3) USE OF STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT ORGA-
NIZATIONS.—In carrying out this section, the Sec-
retary shall support the development and mainte-
nance of standards and protocols using the services 
of such standards development organizations as the 
Secretary determines to be necessary and whose 
memberships represent, but are not limited to, the 
surface transportation and intelligent transportation 
systems industries.’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL CORRECTION.—Section 517(b) of 
title 23, United States Code, is amended to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(b) STANDARDS FOR NATIONAL POLICY IMPLEMEN-
TATION.—If the Secretary finds that a standard is nec-
essary for implementation of a nationwide policy or other 
capability requiring nationwide uniformity, the Secretary, 
after consultation with stakeholders and in accordance 
with the requirements of section 553 of title 5, may estab-
lish and require the use of that standard.’’. 
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SEC. 8108. VEHICLE-TO-VEHICLE AND VEHICLE-TO-INFRA-
STRUCTURE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS DE-
PLOYMENT. 
Section 518(a) of title 23, United States Code, is 
amended by striking all of the text that follows the head-
ing and precedes ‘‘that—’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘Not later than July 6, 2015, the Secretary shall 
make available to the public on a Department of Trans-
portation Web site a report’’. 
SEC. 8109. INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 5 of title 23, United 
States Code, is amended by adding after section 518 the 
following: 
‘‘SEC. 519. INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT. 
‘‘Funds made available to carry out this subtitle for 
operational tests— 
‘‘(1) shall be used primarily for the development 
of intelligent transportation system infrastructure, 
equipment, and systems; and 
‘‘(2) to the maximum extent practicable, shall 
not be used for the construction of physical surface 
transportation infrastructure unless the construction 
is incidental and critically necessary to the imple-
mentation of an intelligent transportation system 
project.’’. 
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(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 
chapter 5 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by 
adding after section 518 the following: 
‘‘519. Infrastructure development.’’. 
SEC. 8110. DEPARTMENTAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS; CON-
FORMING AMENDMENTS. 
(a) TITLE 49 AMENDMENTS.—Title 49, United 
States Code, is amended as follows: 
(1) Section 102(e) is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘5’’ and 
inserting ‘‘6’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘an As-
sistant Secretary for Research and Tech-
nology,’’ before ‘‘and an Assistant Secretary’’. 
(2) Chapter 1 is amended by striking section 
112, and the analysis of chapter 1 is amended by 
striking the item relating to the ‘‘Research and In-
novative Technology Administration’’. 
(3) Section 330 is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘CONTRACTS’’ in the sec-
tion heading and inserting ‘‘ACTIVITIES’’; and 
(B) by inserting at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) DUTIES.—The Secretary shall provide for the 
following: 
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‘‘(1) Coordination, facilitation, and review of 
the Department’s research and development pro-
grams and activities. 
‘‘(2) Advancement, and research and develop-
ment, of innovative technologies, including intelligent 
transportation systems. 
‘‘(3) Comprehensive transportation statistics re-
search, analysis, and reporting. 
‘‘(4) Education and training in transportation 
and transportation-related fields. 
‘‘(5) Activities of the Volpe National Transpor-
tation Systems Center. 
‘‘(e) ADDITIONAL
AUTHORITIES.—The Secretary 
may— 
‘‘(1) enter into grants and cooperative agree-
ments with Federal agencies, State and local govern-
ment agencies, other public entities, private organi-
zations, and other persons to conduct research into 
transportation service and infrastructure assurance; 
and to carry out other research activities of the De-
partment; 
‘‘(2) carry out, on a cost-shared basis, collabo-
rative research and development to encourage inno-
vative solutions to multimodal transportation prob-
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lems and stimulate the deployment of new tech-
nology with— 
‘‘(A) non-Federal entities, including State 
and local governments, foreign governments, in-
stitutions of higher education, corporations, in-
stitutions, partnerships, sole proprietorships, 
and trade associations that are incorporated or 
established under the laws of any State; 
‘‘(B) Federal laboratories; and 
‘‘(C) other Federal agencies; and 
‘‘(3) directly initiate contracts, grants, coopera-
tive research and development agreements (as de-
fined in section 12 of the Stevenson-Wydler Tech-
nology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3710a)), 
and other agreements to fund, and accept funds 
from, the Transportation Research Board of the Na-
tional Research Council of the National Academy of 
Sciences, State departments of transportation, cities, 
counties, institutions of higher education, associa-
tions, and the agents of those entities to carry out 
joint transportation research and technology efforts. 
‘‘(f) FEDERAL SHARE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
the Federal share of the cost of an activity carried 
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out under subsection (e)(3) shall not exceed 50 per-
cent. 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—If the Secretary determines 
that the activity is of substantial public interest or 
benefit, the Secretary may approve a greater Federal 
share. 
‘‘(3) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—All costs directly 
incurred by the non-Federal partners, including per-
sonnel, travel, facility, and hardware development 
costs, shall be credited toward the non-Federal share 
of the cost of an activity described in paragraph (1). 
‘‘(g) PROGRAM EVALUATION AND OVERSIGHT.—For 
fiscal years 2013 through 2018, the Secretary is author-
ized to expend not more than 1 and a half percent of the 
amounts authorized to be appropriated for necessary ex-
penses for administration and operations of the Office of 
the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology for 
the coordination, evaluation, and oversight of the pro-
grams administered by the Office. 
‘‘(h) USE OF TECHNOLOGY.—The research, develop-
ment, or use of a technology under a contract, grant, coop-
erative research and development agreement, or other 
agreement entered into under this subsection, including 
the terms under which the technology may be licensed and 
the resulting royalties may be distributed, shall be subject 
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to the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.). 
‘‘(i) WAIVER
OF ADVERTISING REQUIREMENTS.— 
Section 6101 of title 41 shall not apply to a contract, 
grant, or other agreement entered into under this sec-
tion.’’. 
(4) The item relating to section 330 in the 
analysis of chapter 3 is amended by striking ‘‘Con-
tracts’’ and inserting ‘‘Activities’’. 
(5) Section 6302(a) is amended to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There shall be within the De-
partment the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.’’. 
(b) TITLE 5 AMENDMENTS.—Title 5, United States 
Code, is amended as follows: 
(1) Section 5313 is amended by deleting ‘‘The 
Under Secretary of Transportation for Security.’’. 
(2) Section 5314 is amended by deleting ‘‘Ad-
ministrator, Research and Innovative Technology 
Administration.’’. 
(3) Section 5315 is amended by striking ‘‘(4)’’ 
in the undesignated item relating to Assistant Secre-
taries of Transportation and inserting ‘‘(5)’’. 
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(4) Section 5316 is amended by deleting ‘‘Asso-
ciate Deputy Secretary, Department of Transpor-
tation.’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 
chapter 3 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
revising the entry relating to section 330 to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘330. Research activities.’’. 
SEC. 8111. OFFICE OF INTERMODALISM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 5503 of title 49, United 
States Code, is repealed. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 
chapter 55 of title 49, United States Code, is amended 
by striking the item relating to section 5503. 
SEC. 8112. COOPERATION WITH FEDERAL AND STATE 
AGENCIES AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 
(a) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.— 
(1) SECTION 308 AMENDMENT.—Section 308(a) 
of title 23, United States Code, is amended by in-
serting ‘‘cooperating international entities,’’ after 
‘‘countries’’. 
(2) 
SECTION
502
AMENDMENT.—Section 
502(b)(3)(C) of title 23, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting ‘‘international entities,’’ after 
‘‘country,’’. 
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(b) USE
OF
FUNDS.—Section 502(b)(5)(B) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(B) USE OF FUNDS.—The Secretary shall 
use funds made available to carry out this chap-
ter to— 
‘‘(i) develop, administer, communicate, 
and promote the use of products of re-
search, development, and technology trans-
fer programs under this chapter; 
‘‘(ii) promote United States highway 
transportation expertise, goods, and serv-
ices in foreign countries; or 
‘‘(iii) conduct studies to assess the 
need for or feasibility of highway transpor-
tation improvements in foreign countries.’’. 
TITLE IX—RAIL SAFETY, 
RELIABILITY, AND EFFICIENCY 
SEC. 9001. SHORT TITLE; AMENDMENT OF TITLE 49, UNITED 
STATES CODE. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This title may be cited as the 
‘‘Rail for America Act’’. 
(b) AMENDMENT OF TITLE 49.—Except as otherwise 
expressly provided, whenever in this title an amendment 
or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or 
a repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall 
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be considered to be made to a section or other provision 
of title 49, United States Code. 
Subtitle A—National High- 
Performance Rail System 
SEC. 9101. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES. 
(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this subtitle is to pro-
mote and facilitate the development of the National High- 
Performance Rail System, a comprehensive national net-
work of integrated passenger and freight rail services, and 
to authorize funds for the planning, development, con-
struction, and implementation of rail corridors and related 
infrastructure improvements. 
(b) OBJECTIVES.— 
(1) SAFETY.—The National High-Performance 
Rail System shall contribute to reducing fatalities, 
injuries, and incidents on the nation’s transportation 
system. 
(2) MOBILITY.—The National High-Perform-
ance Rail System shall increase the efficient and re-
liable movement of both goods and people through 
targeted market-based investments and policies. 
(3) ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY.—The 
National High-Performance Rail System shall strive 
to advance environmentally sustainable policies and 
projects that reduce emissions of criteria air pollut-
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ants, air toxins, and greenhouse gases from trans-
portation sources while protecting communities and 
natural resources. 
(4) ENERGY EFFICIENCY.—The National High- 
Performance Rail System shall enhance energy effi-
cient transportation options and expand use of re-
newable and clean energy sources. 
(5) QUALITY
OF
LIFE.—The National High- 
Performance Rail System shall promote quality of 
life and communities, including enhanced safety in 
areas adjacent to transportation facilities and safety 
at highway-rail grade crossing and efficient land-use 
development, and protecting public health. 
(6) INFRASTRUCTURE
CONDITION.—The Na-
tional High-Performance Rail System shall ensure 
that the current passenger rail network achieves and 
maintains a state of good repair and is resilient and 
reliable in the face of extreme events and changing 
climatic conditions. 
(7) OPTIMIZATION
OF
FREIGHT
RAIL
NET-
WORK.—The National High-Performance Rail Sys-
tem shall ensure that America’s world-class freight 
rail system is preserved and improved while bal-
ancing and protecting both private and public inter-
ests, strengthening the ability of rural communities 
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to access national and international trade markets, 
and supporting regional economic development. 
SEC. 9102. GRANT PROGRAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Part C of subtitle V is amended 
by inserting the following after chapter 244: 
‘‘CHAPTER 246—NATIONAL HIGH- 
PERFORMANCE RAIL SYSTEM 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘24601. Definitions. 
‘‘24602. Authorization of appropriations. 
‘‘24603. National high-performance passenger rail system. 
‘‘24604. Current passenger rail service program. 
‘‘24605. Rail service improvement program. 
‘‘24606. Oversight. 
‘‘24607. Financial assistance conditions. 
‘‘§ 24601. Definitions 
‘‘In this chapter: 
‘‘(1) Three types of passenger rail corridors are 
defined as follows: 
‘‘(A) CORE
EXPRESS
CORRIDOR.—The 
term ‘Core Express Corridor’ means a pas-
senger rail corridor with trains operating pri-
marily on dedicated passenger track at peak 
speeds of 125 to 250 miles per hour or greater, 
and that primarily connects major metropolitan 
centers in the United States that are generally 
up to 500 miles apart. 
‘‘(B) REGIONAL
CORRIDOR.—The term 
‘Regional Corridor’ means a passenger rail cor-
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ridor with trains operating on either dedicated 
and shared use track at peak speeds of 90 to 
124 miles per hour, and that primarily connects 
mid-size urban areas to larger and smaller com-
munities that are generally up to 500 miles 
apart. 
‘‘(C) 
FEEDER
CORRIDOR.—The 
term 
‘Feeder Corridor’ means a State- or regionally- 
designated passenger rail corridor with trains 
operating on shared use track at peak speeds of 
up to 90 miles per hour and that connects 
large, mid-sized, and small urban areas gen-
erally less than 750 miles apart. 
‘‘(2) CAPITAL
PROJECT.—The term ‘capital 
project’ means a project or program for use in or for 
the primary benefit of intercity passenger rail service 
or freight rail service, including— 
‘‘(A) acquiring, constructing, improving, or 
inspecting equipment, track and track struc-
tures, or a facility; 
‘‘(B) expenses incidental to the activities 
described in subsection 24601(2)(A) (including 
designing, engineering, location surveying, map-
ping, environmental studies, utility relocation or 
improvement, acquiring rights-of-way, and joint 
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development activities as defined in subsection 
5302(3)(G)), and the maintenance of operations 
during construction; 
‘‘(C) preserving and acquiring rights-of- 
way; 
‘‘(D) payments for the capital portions of 
rail trackage rights agreements; 
‘‘(E) highway-rail grade crossing improve-
ments; 
‘‘(F) mitigating environmental impacts; 
‘‘(G) communication and signalization im-
provements; 
‘‘(H) relocation assistance, including ac-
quiring replacement housing sites, and acquir-
ing, constructing, relocating, and rehabilitating 
replacement housing; 
‘‘(I) interest and other financing costs to 
efficiently carry out a part of the project within 
a reasonable time; and 
‘‘(J) evaluation and assessment of project 
implementation and outcomes. 
‘‘(3) HIGH-PERFORMANCE
RAIL.—The term 
‘high-performance rail’ means a passenger and 
freight rail network that is designed to meet the cur-
rent and future market demands for transportation 
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of people and goods, in terms of capacity, travel 
times, reliability, and efficiency. 
‘‘(4) INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE.— 
The term ‘intercity passenger rail service’ has the 
same meaning as ‘intercity rail passenger transpor-
tation’, as defined in section 24102 of this title. 
‘‘(5) INTERSTATE COMPACT.—The term ‘inter-
state compact’ means two or more States that have 
entered into compacts, agreements, or organizations, 
not in conflict with any law of the United States, for 
cooperative efforts and mutual assistance in support 
of activities authorized under this chapter. 
‘‘(6) LONG-DISTANCE ROUTE.—The term ‘long- 
distance route’ has the same meaning as under sec-
tion 24102(5)(C) of this title. 
‘‘(7) 
NORTHEAST
CORRIDOR.—The 
term 
‘Northeast Corridor’ has the same meaning as under 
section 24102(5)(A) of this title. 
‘‘(8) RAIL
HUB
PLAN.—The term ‘rail hub 
plan’ means a plan that addresses the needs and op-
portunities for the dense, complex networks of 
shared or interconnected freight, intercity passenger, 
and commuter rail lines that tend to be found in and 
around major urban areas. 
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‘‘(2) $2,405,000,000 for fiscal year 2016; 
‘‘(3) $2,370,000,000 for fiscal year 2017; and 
‘‘(4) $2,450,000,000 for fiscal year 2018. 
‘‘(c) AVAILABILITY OF CONTRACT AUTHORITY.— 
‘‘(1) PERIOD OF AVAILABILITY.—The amounts 
made available under this section shall remain avail-
able for obligation until expended. 
‘‘(2) CONTRACT
AUTHORITY.—Authorizations 
from the Transportation Trust Fund made by this 
section shall be available for obligation on October 1 
of the fiscal year for which they are authorized. 
‘‘§ 24603. National high-performance passenger rail 
system 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 
shall facilitate the establishment of a national high-per-
formance rail system in accordance with this chapter. 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—The national high-performance 
rail system includes the following: 
‘‘(1) Current passenger rail service program. 
‘‘(2) Rail service improvement program. 
‘‘(3) Railroad rehabilitation and improvement 
financing program. 
‘‘(c) RULEMAKING AUTHORITY.—The Secretary shall 
prescribe the regulations necessary to implement this 
chapter. 
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‘‘§ 24604. Current passenger rail service program 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 
shall establish a Current Passenger Rail Service Program 
under this section. The program shall ensure that existing 
passenger rail assets and services are maintained in reli-
able working condition. The Current Passenger Rail Serv-
ice Program consists of programs for the following: 
‘‘(1) Northeast Corridor. 
‘‘(2) State Corridors. 
‘‘(3) Long-Distance Routes. 
‘‘(4) National Assets, Legacy Debt, and Amtrak 
Positive Train Control. 
‘‘(5) Stations—Americans with Disabilities Act 
Compliance. 
‘‘(b) NORTHEAST CORRIDOR.— 
‘‘(1) OBJECTIVE.—The objective of the North-
east Corridor program is to bring Northeast Cor-
ridor infrastructure and equipment into a state-of- 
good repair, and to ensure that those assets are then 
maintained in a state-of-good repair, so that the 
Northeast Corridor can continue providing travelers 
with a safe, reliable, and efficient travel option in 
the congested Northeast region. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may provide 
grants under this subsection to reduce the state-of- 
good repair backlog on the Northeast Corridor; to 
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