IIB 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 749 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
MARCH 9, 2015 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation 
AN ACT 
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, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:33 Mar 09, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H749.RFS
H749
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 749 RFS 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015’’. 
(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. 
Sec. 103. National infrastructure investments. 
Sec. 104. Northeast Corridor. 
TITLE II—AMTRAK REFORM 
Sec. 201. Amtrak planning and grant process. 
Sec. 202. Five-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. 
Sec. 308. Northeast Corridor express service. 
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. 
Sec. 503. State action plans. 
Sec. 504. Quiet zone report. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:33 Mar 09, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6211
E:\BILLS\H749.RFS
H749
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 749 RFS 
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-
tion 24319(a)(1) of title 49, United States Code (as added 
by section 201 of this Act), the following amounts: 
(1) For fiscal year 2016, $439,000,000. 
(2) For fiscal year 2017, $464,000,000. 
(3) For fiscal year 2018, $480,000,000. 
(4) For fiscal year 2019, $498,000,000. 
(b) NATIONAL NETWORK.—There are authorized to 
be appropriated to the Secretary for the use of Amtrak 
for deposit into the National Network account established 
under section 24319(a)(2) of title 49, United States Code 
(as added by section 201 of this Act), the following 
amounts: 
(1) For fiscal year 2016, $973,000,000. 
(2) For fiscal year 2017, $974,000,000. 
(3) For fiscal year 2018, $985,000,000. 
(4) For fiscal year 2019, $997,000,000. 
(c) PROJECT MANAGEMENT OVERSIGHT.—The Sec-
retary may withhold up to $2,000,000 of the amount ap-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:33 Mar 09, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H749.RFS
H749
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 749 RFS 
propriated pursuant to subsection (a), and up to 
$2,000,000 of the amount appropriated pursuant to sub-
section (b), for the costs of management oversight of Am-
trak. 
SEC. 102. AUTHORIZATION FOR AMTRAK OFFICE OF THE 
INSPECTOR GENERAL. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary for the Office of the Inspector General of Amtrak 
the following amounts: 
(1) For fiscal year 2016, $23,000,000. 
(2) For fiscal year 2017, $24,000,000. 
(3) For fiscal year 2018, $24,000,000. 
(4) For fiscal year 2019, $25,000,000. 
SEC. 103. NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary for capital grants under chapter 
244 of title 49, United States Code, and section 20154 
of title 49, United States Code, the following amounts: 
(1) For fiscal year 2016, $300,000,000. 
(2) For fiscal year 2017, $300,000,000. 
(3) For fiscal year 2018, $300,000,000. 
(4) For fiscal year 2019, $300,000,000. 
(b) FEDERAL-STATE PARTNERSHIP FOR NORTHEAST 
CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT.—Of the 
amounts authorized to be appropriated under subsection 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:33 Mar 09, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H749.RFS
H749
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 749 RFS 
(a), 50 percent for each fiscal year shall be available for 
carrying out section 24407 of title 49, United States Code, 
as added by section 301 of this Act. 
(c) PROJECT MANAGEMENT OVERSIGHT.—The Sec-
retary may withhold up to 1⁄2 of 1 percent of amounts 
appropriated pursuant to chapter 244 of title 49, United 
States Code, for the costs of project management over-
sight of capital projects carried out pursuant to such chap-
ter. 
SEC. 104. NORTHEAST CORRIDOR. 
For purposes of this title, the term ‘‘Northeast Cor-
ridor’’ means the Northeast Corridor main line between 
Boston, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia, and 
facilities and services used to operate and maintain that 
line. 
TITLE II—AMTRAK REFORM 
SEC. 201. AMTRAK PLANNING AND GRANT PROCESS. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES.— 
(1) AMENDMENT.—Chapter 243 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new sections: 
‘‘§ 24317. Costs and revenues 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date of enactment of the Passenger Rail Reform and In-
vestment Act of 2015, Amtrak shall establish and main-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:33 Mar 09, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H749.RFS
H749
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 749 RFS 
tain internal controls to ensure Amtrak’s costs and reve-
nues are allocated to either the Northeast Corridor or the 
National Network, including proportional shares of com-
mon and fixed costs. 
‘‘(b) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this chapter, the 
term ‘Northeast Corridor’ means the Northeast Corridor 
main line between Boston, Massachusetts, and the District 
of Columbia, and facilities and services used to operate 
and maintain that line. 
‘‘§ 24318. Grant process 
‘‘(a) PROCEDURES
FOR GRANT REQUESTS.—Not 
later than 30 days after the date of enactment of the Pas-
senger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015, the Sec-
retary of Transportation shall establish and transmit to 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and 
the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation and the Committee on Appropriations 
of the Senate substantive and procedural requirements, in-
cluding schedules, for grant requests under this section. 
‘‘(b) GRANT REQUESTS.—Amtrak shall transmit 
grant requests for Federal funds to be appropriated to the 
Secretary for the use of Amtrak to— 
‘‘(1) the Secretary; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:33 Mar 09, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H749.RFS
H749
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 749 RFS 
‘‘(2) the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure and the Committee on Appropriations 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the 
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. 
‘‘(c) CONTENTS.—A grant request under subsection 
(b) shall— 
‘‘(1) provide a detailed financial analysis for the 
upcoming fiscal year for the Northeast Corridor, 
State-supported routes, and long-distance routes, in-
cluding 
projections 
for 
the 
items 
listed 
in 
24320(c)(1), as applicable, in comparison to prior 
fiscal year projections; 
‘‘(2) include a description of the work to be 
funded, along with cost estimates and an estimated 
timetable for completion of the projects covered by 
the request; 
‘‘(3) include an assessment of the continuing fi-
nancial stability of Amtrak; 
‘‘(4) be displayed on Amtrak’s website within a 
reasonable timeframe following its submission to the 
entities described in subsection (b); and 
‘‘(5) be in similar format and substance to 
those submitted by executive agencies of the Federal 
Government. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:33 Mar 09, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H749.RFS
H749
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 749 RFS 
‘‘(d) REVIEW AND APPROVAL.— 
‘‘(1) THIRTY-DAY
APPROVAL
PROCESS.—The 
Secretary shall complete the review of a grant re-
quest and approve or disapprove the request not 
later than 30 days after the date on which Amtrak 
submits the grant request. If the Secretary dis-
approves the request or determines that the request 
is incomplete or deficient, the Secretary shall include 
the reason for disapproval or the incomplete items or 
deficiencies in a notice to Amtrak. 
‘‘(2) FIFTEEN-DAY
MODIFICATION
PERIOD.— 
Not later than 15 days after receiving notification 
from the Secretary under paragraph (1), Amtrak 
shall submit a modified request for the Secretary’s 
review. 
‘‘(3) REVISED REQUESTS.—Not later than 15 
days after receiving a modified request from Am-
trak, the Secretary shall either approve the modified 
request, or, if the Secretary finds that the request 
is still incomplete or deficient, the Secretary shall 
identify in writing to the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Ap-
propriations of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:33 Mar 09, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H749.RFS
H749
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 749 RFS 
Senate the remaining deficiencies and recommend a 
process for resolving the outstanding portions of the 
request. 
‘‘(e) PAYMENT TO AMTRAK.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), in each fiscal year for which amounts are 
authorized to be appropriated, amounts appropriated 
shall be paid to Amtrak as follows: 
‘‘(A) 50 percent on October 1. 
‘‘(B) 25 percent on January 1. 
‘‘(C) 25 percent on April 1. 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary may make a 
payment to Amtrak of appropriated funds more fre-
quently than once every 90 days if Amtrak, for good 
cause, requests more frequent payment before a 90- 
day period ends. 
‘‘(f) AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS AND EARLY APPRO-
PRIATIONS.—Amounts appropriated to the Secretary for 
the use of Amtrak shall remain available until expended. 
Amounts for capital acquisitions and improvements may 
be appropriated for a fiscal year before the fiscal year in 
which the amounts will be obligated. 
‘‘(g) LIMITATIONS ON USE.—Amounts appropriated 
to the Secretary for the use of Amtrak may not be used 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:33 Mar 09, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H749.RFS
H749
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 749 RFS 
to subsidize operating losses of commuter rail passenger 
or rail freight transportation. 
‘‘§ 24319. Accounts 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF ACCOUNTS.—Amtrak shall 
establish— 
‘‘(1) a Northeast Corridor Improvement Fund 
account; and 
‘‘(2) a National Network account. 
‘‘(b) NORTHEAST CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT FUND 
ACCOUNT.— 
‘‘(1) DEPOSITS.—Amtrak shall deposit in the 
Northeast Corridor Improvement Fund account es-
tablished under subsection (a)(1)— 
‘‘(A) grant funds appropriated for the 
Northeast Corridor Improvement Fund pursu-
ant to section 101(a) of the Passenger Rail Re-
form and Investment Act of 2015 or any subse-
quent Act; 
‘‘(B) compensation received from com-
muter rail passenger transportation on the 
Northeast Corridor provided to Amtrak pursu-
ant to section 24905(c); and 
‘‘(C) any operating surplus of the North-
east Corridor, as allocated pursuant to section 
24317. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:33 Mar 09, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H749.RFS
H749
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 749 RFS 
‘‘(2) USE OF NORTHEAST CORRIDOR IMPROVE-
MENT FUND ACCOUNT.—Except as provided in sub-
section (d), amounts deposited in the Northeast Cor-
ridor Improvement Fund account shall be made 
available for the use of Amtrak for— 
‘‘(A) capital projects described in section 
24401(2) (A) or (B) to bring the Northeast 
Corridor to a state-of-good-repair, including 
projects 
described 
in 
section 
24911(a)(2)(E)(i)(I); 
‘‘(B) capital projects intended to increase 
corridor capacity, improve service reliability, 
and reduce travel time for rail users on the 
Northeast Corridor, including projects described 
in 
subclauses 
(II) 
and 
(III) 
of 
section 
24911(a)(2)(E)(i), consistent with the planning 
process established under section 24911; and 
‘‘(C) retirement of principal and payment 
of interest on loans for capital equipment, or 
capital leases, attributable to the Northeast 
Corridor. 
‘‘(c) NATIONAL NETWORK ACCOUNT.— 
‘‘(1) DEPOSITS.—Amtrak shall deposit in the 
account established under subsection (a)(2)— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:33 Mar 09, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H749.RFS
H749
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 749 RFS 
‘‘(A) grant funds appropriated for the Na-
tional Network pursuant to section 101(b) of 
the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act 
of 2015, or any subsequent Act; 
‘‘(B) compensation received from States 
provided to Amtrak pursuant to section 209 of 
the Passenger Rail Investment and Improve-
ment Act of 2008 (42 U.S.C. 24101 note); and 
‘‘(C) any operating surplus from the Na-
tional Network, as allocated pursuant to section 
24317. 
‘‘(2) USE OF NATIONAL NETWORK ACCOUNT.— 
Except as provided in subsection (d), amounts de-
posited in the National Network account shall be 
made available for the use of Amtrak for capital ex-
penses and operating costs of the National Network 
and retirement of principal and payment of interest 
on loans for capital equipment, or capital leases, at-
tributable to the National Network. 
‘‘(d) TRANSFER AUTHORITY.— 
‘‘(1) AUTHORITY.—Amtrak may transfer any 
funds appropriated pursuant to the Passenger Rail 
Reform and Investment Act of 2015 or any other 
Act, or any surplus generated by operations, between 
the Northeast Corridor Improvement Fund and Na-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:33 Mar 09, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H749.RFS
H749
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 749 RFS 
tional Network accounts upon the expiration of 60 
days after Amtrak has notified the Amtrak Board of 
Directors of such transfer. 
‘‘(2) REPORT.—Not later than 30 days after 
the Amtrak Board of Directors receives notification 
from Amtrak under paragraph (1), the Board shall 
transmit a report to the Secretary, the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the House of Represent-
atives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation and the Committee on Appro-
priations of the Senate, that includes— 
‘‘(A) the amount of the transfer; and 
‘‘(B) a detailed explanation of the reason 
for the transfer, including effects on Amtrak 
services if no transfer were made. 
‘‘(e) LETTERS OF INTENT.— 
‘‘(1) REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary shall issue 
a letter of intent to Amtrak announcing an intention 
to obligate, for a major capital project described in 
subclauses 
(II) 
and 
(III) 
of 
section 
24911(a)(2)(E)(i), an amount from future available 
budget authority specified in law that is not more 
than the amount stipulated as the financial partici-
pation of the Secretary in the project. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:33 Mar 09, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H749.RFS
H749
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 749 RFS 
‘‘(2) NOTICE TO CONGRESS.—At least 30 days 
before issuing a letter under paragraph (1), the Sec-
retary shall notify in writing the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the House of Represent-
atives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation and the Committee on Appro-
priations of the Senate, of the proposed letter. The 
Secretary shall include with the notification a copy 
of the proposed letter, the criteria used for selecting 
the project for a grant award, and a description of 
how the project meets criteria of this section. 
‘‘(3) CONTINGENT NATURE OF OBLIGATION OR 
COMMITMENT.—An 
obligation 
or 
administrative 
commitment may be made only when amounts are 
appropriated. The letter of intent shall state that the 
contingent commitment is not an obligation of the 
Federal Government, and is subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations under Federal law and to 
Federal laws in force or enacted after the date of 
the contingent commitment. 
‘‘(f) ROLLING STOCK PURCHASES.—Prior to entering 
into contracts in excess of $100,000,000 for rolling stock 
procurements, Amtrak shall submit a business case anal-
ysis to the Secretary, the Committee on Transportation 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:33 Mar 09, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H749.RFS
H749
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 749 RFS 
and Infrastructure and the Committee on Appropriations 
of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the Senate, on the utility of 
such purchase. This analysis shall— 
‘‘(1) include a cost and benefit comparison that 
describes the total lifecycle costs and the anticipated 
benefits related to revenue, operational efficiency, re-
liability, and other factors; 
‘‘(2) set forth the total payments by fiscal year; 
‘‘(3) identify the specific source and amounts of 
funding for each payment, including Federal funds, 
State funds, Amtrak profits, Federal, State, or pri-
vate loans or loan guarantees, and other funding; 
‘‘(4) include whether any payment under the 
contract will increase Amtrak’s grant request, as re-
quired under section 24318, in that particular fiscal 
year; and 
‘‘(5) describe how Amtrak will adjust the pro-
curement if future funding is not available.’’. 
(2) TABLE
OF
SECTIONS
AMENDMENT.—The 
table of sections for chapter 243 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new items: 
‘‘24317. Costs and revenues. 
‘‘24318. Grant process. 
‘‘24319. Accounts.’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:33 Mar 09, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6211
E:\BILLS\H749.RFS
H749
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 749 RFS 
(b) NORTHEAST CORRIDOR PLANNING.— 
(1) AMENDMENT.—Chapter 249 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 24911. Northeast Corridor planning 
‘‘(a) NORTHEAST CORRIDOR CAPITAL INVESTMENT 
PLAN.— 
‘‘(1) 
REQUIREMENT.—Not 
later 
than 
months after the date of enactment of the Passenger 
Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015, and annu-
ally thereafter, the Northeast Corridor Infrastruc-
ture and Operations Advisory Commission estab-
lished under section 24905 (referred to in this sec-
tion as the ‘Commission’) shall develop a capital in-
vestment plan for the Northeast Corridor main line 
between Boston, Massachusetts, and the District of 
Columbia, and the Northeast Corridor branch lines 
connecting to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Springfield, 
Massachusetts, and Spuyten Duyvil, New York, and 
facilities and services used to operate and maintain 
those lines. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—Each such plan shall— 
‘‘(A) be developed to establish a coordi-
nated approach to capital spending on the 
Northeast Corridor; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:33 Mar 09, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H749.RFS
H749
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS