484 
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: 
‘‘§ 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 (1)(A), by inserting ‘‘an 
Assistant 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 2021, 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.’’. 
SEC. 8113. NATIONAL ITS PROGRAM PLAN. 
Section 512(a)(2)(A) of title 23, United States Code, 
is amended by striking the matter that precedes clause 
(i) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) specify the goals, objectives and mile-
stones for the research and deployment of intel-
ligent transportation systems, including auto-
mated vehicle systems, in the contexts of—’’. 
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SEC. 8114. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. 
Section 516(a) of title 23, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry out a 
comprehensive program of intelligent transportation sys-
tems research and development, and operational tests of 
intelligent vehicles (including automated vehicles), intel-
ligent infrastructure systems, and other similar activities 
that are necessary to carry out this chapter.’’. 
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 
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- 
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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 transpor-
tation 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-
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. 
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(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 
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: 
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‘‘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-
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-
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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 
development activities as defined in subsection 
5302(3)(G)), and the maintenance of operations 
during construction; 
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‘‘(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 
of people and goods, in terms of capacity, travel 
times, reliability, and efficiency. 
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‘‘(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. 
‘‘(9) STATE.—The term ‘State’ means a State 
of the United States or the District of Columbia. 
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‘‘(10) STATE CORRIDOR.—The term ‘State cor-
ridor’ has the same meaning as under section 
24102(5)(D) of this title. 
‘‘(11) STATE
OF
GOOD
REPAIR.—The term 
‘state of good repair’ means a condition in which the 
existing physical assets, both individually and as a 
system, are functioning as designed within their use-
ful lives and are sustained through regular mainte-
nance and replacement programs. 
‘‘§ 24602. Authorization of appropriations 
‘‘(a) CURRENT PASSENGER RAIL SERVICES PRO-
GRAM.—There are authorized to be appropriated from the 
Rail Account of the Transportation Trust Fund to carry 
out section 24604 of this title— 
‘‘(1) $2,450,000,000 for fiscal year 2016; 
‘‘(2) $2,400,000,000 for fiscal year 2017; 
‘‘(3) $2,350,000,000 for fiscal year 2018; 
‘‘(4) $2,300,000,000 for fiscal year 2019; 
‘‘(5) $2,300,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; and 
‘‘(6) $2,300,000,000 for fiscal year 2021. 
‘‘(b) RAIL
SERVICE
IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAM.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated from the Rail Ac-
count of the Transportation Trust Fund to carry out sec-
tion 24605 of this title— 
‘‘(1) $2,325,000,000 for fiscal year 2016; 
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‘‘(2) $2,405,000,000 for fiscal year 2017; 
‘‘(3) $2,370,000,000 for fiscal year 2018; 
‘‘(4) $2,450,000,000 for fiscal year 2019; 
‘‘(5) $2,450,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; and 
‘‘(6) $2,450,000,000 for fiscal year 2021. 
‘‘(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. 
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‘‘(c) RULEMAKING AUTHORITY.—The Secretary shall 
prescribe the regulations necessary to implement this 
chapter. 
‘‘§ 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 
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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 
replace legacy passenger rail equipment used for 
Northeast Corridor service; and to fund the portion 
of ongoing capital replacement and renewal needs on 
the Northeast Corridor not covered by Northeast 
Corridor operating surpluses. 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE
RECIPIENTS.—The Secretary 
may provide grants to the following entities for eligi-
ble projects under this subsection: 
‘‘(A) Amtrak. 
‘‘(B) States and other public-sector entities 
as identified in the Northeast Corridor Capital 
Asset Plan required by section 24317 of this 
title. 
‘‘(4) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—The Secretary may 
provide grants under this subsection for the fol-
lowing activities, as identified in the Five-Year Cap-
ital Asset Plans described in section 24317 of this 
title: 
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‘‘(A) STATE OF GOOD REPAIR BACKLOG.— 
To replace or rehabilitate railroad assets that 
are not currently in a state of good repair. 
‘‘(B) 
LEGACY
EQUIPMENT
REPLACE-
MENT.—To replace legacy passenger rolling 
stock and locomotives used for Northeast Cor-
ridor service. 
‘‘(C) ONGOING
REPLACEMENT
AND
RE-
NEWAL.—To fund the balance needed to main-
tain the existing Northeast Corridor infrastruc-
ture and equipment in an ongoing state of good 
repair, after the following revenues are first 
dedicated to these activities: 
‘‘(i) All operating surpluses generated 
from Northeast Corridor intercity pas-
senger rail services. 
‘‘(ii) All access fees from other users 
of the Northeast Corridor. 
‘‘(iii) All revenues generated from an-
cillary businesses directly associated with 
Northeast Corridor services or infrastruc-
ture. 
‘‘(5) FEDERAL
SHARE
OF
TOTAL
PROJECT 
COSTS.—The Federal share of total project costs 
under this subsection may be up to 100 percent. 
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‘‘(c) STATE CORRIDORS.— 
‘‘(1) OBJECTIVE.—To enable the successful im-
plementation of section 209 of division B of Public 
Law 110–432 for existing State-supported passenger 
rail operations through transitional financial assist-
ance to States. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary is authorized 
to provide grants, consistent with the maximum time 
period under which temporary financial assistance 
may be received as developed in subsection (c)(3) of 
this section, to eligible recipients under this sub-
section to support the implementation of section 209 
of division B of Public Law 110–432; and replace-
ment of legacy passenger rolling stock and loco-
motives used on State corridors. 
‘‘(3) TRANSITION ASSISTANCE FRAMEWORK.— 
The Secretary shall develop a transition assistance 
framework within six months of the enactment of 
this Act. As part of this framework, the Secretary 
shall: 
‘‘(A) Develop criteria for phasing out ac-
tivities under subsection (c)(5)(A) of this sec-
tion by not later than October 1, 2018; and 
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‘‘(B) Develop policies governing financial 
terms, repayment conditions, and other terms 
of financial assistance. 
‘‘(4) ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS.— 
‘‘(A) States are eligible to receive grants 
for activities described in subsections (c)(5)(A) 
and (c)(5)(B) of this section. 
‘‘(B) States may enter into contractual 
agreements to allow for Amtrak to receive 
grants for activities described in subsection 
(c)(5)(B) of this section. 
‘‘(5) ELIGIBLE
ACTIVITIES.—Grants provided 
under this paragraph may be used to: 
‘‘(A) Provide temporary financial support 
to eligible recipients in conformance with the 
operating and capital cost methodologies devel-
oped pursuant to section 209 of division B of 
Public Law 110–432, until not later than Sep-
tember 30, 2018. 
‘‘(B) Replace legacy passenger rolling 
stock and locomotives used for State corridor 
service as identified in the Five-Year Capital 
Asset Plans described in section 24317 of this 
title. 
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‘‘(6) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of 
expenditures for activities described in subsections 
(c)(5)(B) may be up to 80 percent of the total cost. 
‘‘(d) LONG-DISTANCE ROUTES.— 
‘‘(1) OBJECTIVE.—The objective of the long- 
distance routes program is to provide grants to Am-
trak for the continuation of services on long-distance 
routes. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may provide 
grants to Amtrak under this subsection, in accord-
ance with the relevant provisions contained in part 
C, subtitle V of this title. 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS.—Amtrak is eligible 
to receive grants for long-distance route activities. 
‘‘(4) ELIGIBLE
ACTIVITIES.—Grants provided 
for long-distance routes may be expended for the op-
erating and capital costs associated with providing 
reliable national long-distance passenger rail services 
to the extent that such expenses cannot be fully sup-
ported by the passenger and non-passenger revenues 
generated by long-distance passenger services, as 
identified in the Five-Year Business Line Plan de-
scribed in section 24317 of this title. 
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‘‘(5) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of 
expenditures for eligible activities under this sub-
section may be up to 100 percent of the total cost. 
‘‘(e) NATIONAL ASSETS, LEGACY DEBT, AND AM-
TRAK POSITIVE TRAIN CONTROL.— 
‘‘(1) OBJECTIVE.—The objective of the national 
assets program is to provide grants to Amtrak for 
the operating and capital needs associated with the 
Nation’s core rail assets; for servicing Amtrak’s leg-
acy debt; and for implementing positive train control 
on Amtrak routes where Amtrak is fully or partially 
responsible for compliance with section 20157 of this 
title. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may provide 
grants to Amtrak under this subsection. 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS.—Amtrak is eligible 
to receive grants for national asset activities. 
‘‘(4) ELIGIBLE
ACTIVITIES.—Grants provided 
for national assets may be expended for: 
‘‘(A) Operating and capital costs associ-
ated with operating and maintaining national 
reservations, security, mechanical facilities, 
training centers and other assets associated 
with Amtrak’s national passenger rail transpor-
tation system. 
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‘‘(B) Implementing positive train control 
on Amtrak routes where Amtrak is fully or par-
tially responsible for compliance with section 
20157 of this title. 
‘‘(C) Making payments for principal and 
interest payments related to debt incurred prior 
to fiscal year 2005. 
‘‘(5) EVALUATION OF NATIONAL ASSETS OPER-
ATING COSTS.— 
‘‘(A) The Secretary shall evaluate the cost 
and scope of all operating activities defined in 
paragraph (4)(A) of this subsection, and shall 
identify which activities are— 
‘‘(i) required in order to ensure the ef-
ficient operations of a national passenger 
rail system; 
‘‘(ii) appropriate for allocation to one 
of the other Amtrak business lines; and 
‘‘(iii) extraneous to providing an effi-
cient national passenger rail system or are 
too costly relative to the benefits or per-
formance outcomes they provide. 
‘‘(B) Within 1 year after the completion of 
the review in subparagraph (A), the Federal 
Railroad Administration, in consultation with 
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the Amtrak Board of Directors, the governors 
of each relevant State, and the Mayor of the 
District of Columbia, or entities representing 
those officials, shall restructure and/or reallo-
cate national assets operating costs according to 
the findings of the review in that subparagraph. 
‘‘(6) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of 
expenditures for eligible activities under this sub-
section may be up to 100 percent of the total cost 
as identified in the Five-Year Business Line Plan 
described in section 24317 of this title. 
‘‘(f) STATIONS—AMERICANS
WITH
DISABILITIES 
ACT COMPLIANCE.— 
‘‘(1) OBJECTIVE.—The objective of the pro-
gram is to bring all stations served by Amtrak into 
compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may provide 
grants to Amtrak under this subsection. 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS.—Amtrak is eligible 
to receive grants for eligible activities under this 
subsection. 
‘‘(4) ELIGIBLE
ACTIVITIES.—Grants provided 
under this subsection may be expended for upgrad-
ing existing intercity passenger rail stations to com-
ply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. 
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‘‘(5) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of 
expenditures for eligible activities under this sub-
section may be up to 100 percent of the total cost. 
‘‘§ 24605. Rail service improvement program 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 
shall establish a Rail Service Improvement Program under 
this section. The program shall promote and facilitate de-
velopment of new passenger rail corridors and improve-
ments to existing passenger and freight rail corridors. The 
Rail Service Improvement Program consists of programs 
covering the following: 
‘‘(1) Passenger Corridors. 
‘‘(2) Commuter Railroads—Positive Train Con-
trol Compliance. 
‘‘(3) Local Rail Facilities and Safety. 
‘‘(4) Planning. 
‘‘(b) PASSENGER CORRIDORS.— 
‘‘(1) OBJECTIVE.—The objective of the pas-
senger corridors program under this subsection is to 
build regional networks of passenger rail corridors 
through construction of new corridors or substantial 
improvements to existing corridors, including Core 
Express Corridors, Regional Corridors, and Feeder 
Corridors, as defined in section 24601 of this title, 
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and to mitigate passenger train congestion at critical 
rail chokepoints. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary is authorized 
to provide grants under this subsection to eligible re-
cipients (as specified in paragraph (3)) for eligible 
corridor development and positive train control 
projects (as specified in paragraph (4)). A grant 
may be used to pay all or a portion of the subsidy 
and administrative costs of intercity passenger rail 
capital projects eligible for Federal credit assistance 
under the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory 
Reform Act of 1976 (Public Law 94–210) (45 
U.S.C. 801 et seq.). 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE
RECIPIENTS.—Entities eligible 
for funding for eligible projects identified in para-
graph (4) are the following: 
‘‘(A) A State. 
‘‘(B) A group of States. 
‘‘(C) An Interstate Compact. 
‘‘(D) A Regional Rail Development Au-
thority as defined in chapter 289 of this title. 
‘‘(E) A public agency or publicly chartered 
authority established by one or more States and 
having responsibility for providing high-speed or 
intercity passenger rail service. 
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‘‘(F) Amtrak. 
‘‘(G) Any institution for procuring, man-
aging, or maintaining passenger rail rolling 
stock and locomotives that may be established 
pursuant to the outcomes of the review de-
scribed in section 305 of division B of Public 
Law 110–432, as amended. 
‘‘(4) 
ELIGIBLE
PROJECTS.—The 
following 
projects are eligible to receive funding under this 
subsection: 
‘‘(A) A capital project that is for the pri-
mary benefit of or use in high-performance rail 
service is eligible to receive passenger corridors 
grants under this subsection, provided that: 
‘‘(i) The project proposal is consistent 
with an adopted service development plan 
or rail hub plan at the time of application. 
‘‘(ii) The project sponsor has com-
pleted, prior to the time of application, the 
appropriate level of environmental reviews, 
in compliance with the applicable environ-
mental protection requirements, including 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), its imple-
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menting regulations, and applicable proce-
dures. 
‘‘(B) A capital project identified by the 
Surface Transportation Board as to improve 
the on-time performance and reliability of inter-
city rail passenger transportation under section 
24308(f) of this title. 
‘‘(C) A capital project designated by the 
Secretary as being necessary to address conges-
tion challenges affecting passenger rail. 
‘‘(5) PROJECT
SELECTION
CRITERIA.—In se-
lecting the recipients of grants for eligible projects 
under paragraph (4), the Secretary shall: 
‘‘(A) Give preference to proposed projects 
that are consistent with the investment goals, 
objectives, policies, and methodologies defined 
in the following: 
‘‘(i) Any national rail planning guid-
ance or parameters set forth by the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(ii) Any Regional Rail Development 
Plans described in section 22602 of this 
title that are applicable to a project pro-
posal, once available. 
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‘‘(iii) Any State Rail Plans, as de-
scribed in chapter 227 of this title that are 
applicable to a project proposal. 
‘‘(B) Also consider the following: 
‘‘(i) The project’s system and service 
performance as experienced by the pas-
senger, including measures such as im-
proved reliability, reduced trip time, addi-
tional service frequency to meet anticipated 
or existing demand, or other significant 
system and service enhancements. 
‘‘(ii) Cost-benefit analysis of the 
project, which shall include such factors as 
the project’s estimated ridership and an-
ticipated user and public benefits, relative 
to the proposed Federal investment, and 
consideration of enhanced mobility, envi-
ronmental, and economic benefits (both for 
the specific project proposal and in terms 
of the costs and benefits generated by the 
specific project within a network context). 
‘‘(iii) Cross-modal benefits generated 
by the project, including anticipated im-
pacts on air, transit, or highway traffic 
congestion, capacity, or safety; and cost 
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avoidance or deferral of planned invest-
ments in aviation, transit, and highway 
systems. 
‘‘(iv) Opportunities for operational in-
tegration with commuter rail or other rail 
operations, as well as with regional public 
transportation providers, including the de-
gree to which the project could allow for 
coordinated schedules, seamless connec-
tions between trains, integrated sales and 
ticketing systems, and other mechanisms 
that will benefit passengers and encourage 
cost containment among rail operators. 
‘‘(v) Equitable financial participation 
by other beneficiaries of the project, in-
cluding the degree to which the project’s 
business plan considers potential private 
sector participation in the financing, con-
struction, and/or operation of the project. 
‘‘(vi) The recipient’s past performance 
in developing and delivering similar pas-
senger rail projects. 
‘‘(vii) The recipient’s previous finan-
cial contributions to developing high-per-
formance rail services, including any non- 
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Federal contributions in excess of min-
imum requirements that the sponsor may 
have provided as a match for previous Fed-
eral grants. 
‘‘(viii) The likelihood that new service 
or expanded service projects, once brought 
into service, will be able to cover on-going 
operating costs without the support of 
grants, within a reasonable time frame. 
‘‘(ix) Whether the recipient has or will 
have the legal, financial, and technical ca-
pacity to carry out the project, satisfactory 
continuing control over the use of the 
equipment or facilities, and the capability 
and willingness to maintain the equipment 
or facilities. 
‘‘(x) The likelihood that the proposed 
project is feasible and will result in the an-
ticipated benefits, including the recipient’s 
means for ensuring the realization of the 
anticipated benefits. 
‘‘(xi) Any other relevant factors as de-
termined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(6) PLANNING REQUIREMENTS.—To be eligi-
ble for a Federal grant under this subsection, a 
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project must be specifically identified on a State Rail 
Plan, as described in section 22702. 
‘‘(7) FEDERAL
SHARE
OF
TOTAL
PROJECT 
COSTS.— 
‘‘(A) TOTAL
PROJECT
COST.—The Sec-
retary shall estimate the total cost of a project 
under this subsection based on engineering 
studies, studies of economic feasibility, environ-
mental analyses, and information on the ex-
pected use of equipment or facilities. 
‘‘(B) 
FEDERAL
SHARE.—The 
Federal 
share of total project costs under this sub-
section shall not exceed 80 percent, except 
where the proposed project was identified 
through and is consistent with a Regional Rail 
Development Plan described in chapter 289 of 
this title, in which case the Federal share of 
total project costs under this subsection shall 
not exceed 85 percent. 
‘‘(c) COMMUTER RAILROADS; POSITIVE TRAIN CON-
TROL COMPLIANCE.— 
‘‘(1) OBJECTIVE.—The objective of this pro-
gram is to promote rail safety by assisting in fund-
ing the implementation of positive train control on 
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commuter railroad-owned infrastructure, equipment, 
and back office systems. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary is authorized 
to provide grants under this subsection to eligible re-
cipients (as described in paragraph (3)) for eligible 
positive train control projects (as described in para-
graph (4)). 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE
RECIPIENTS.—Entities eligible 
for funding under this subsection include the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) A State. 
‘‘(B) A group of States. 
‘‘(C) A provider of commuter rail pas-
senger transportation, as defined in section 
24102 of this title. 
‘‘(4) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—Projects eligible to 
receive grants under this subsection include the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) A project for analyzing, designing, 
developing, procuring, installing, modifying, 
validating, configuring, and testing of positive 
train control systems hardware or software sys-
tem elements on commuter railroad-owned in-
frastructure, equipment, or back office systems, 
including the following activities: 
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‘‘(i) Dedicated passenger service mo-
tive power equipment. 
‘‘(ii) Wayside interface of track-side 
devices on track owned by eligible recipi-
ents. 
‘‘(iii) Back office and dispatch system 
infrastructure owned and operated by pas-
senger railroads. 
‘‘(iv) Roadway worker terminal de-
vices. 
‘‘(v) Communications system design 
and components, such as quality of service 
determinations, physical communications 
infrastructure, and message integrity, au-
thentication, and non-repudiation mecha-
nisms to protect positive train control sys-
tem communications. 
‘‘(vi) Track databases for track seg-
ments owned by eligible recipients, includ-
ing the population of such databases with 
mapping data. 
‘‘(vii) Project management services for 
oversight and systems engineering of pas-
senger railroad positive train control sys-
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tem design, procurement, implementation, 
and testing efforts. 
‘‘(viii) Positive train control system 
training programs for eligible recipients 
compliant with title 49 of the Code of Fed-
eral Regulations, part 236 subpart I. 
‘‘(ix) Engineering support to prepare 
all necessary documentation required for 
regulatory compliance and system certifi-
cation of positive train control systems for 
eligible recipients. 
‘‘(B) An eligible entity specified in para-
graph (4)(A) may not receive funding under 
this subsection for the following activities: 
‘‘(i) The procurement of radio fre-
quency spectrum. 
‘‘(ii) Positive train control-related 
costs of any entity not listed in paragraph 
(3), such as wayside positive train control 
system components on track segments 
owned by a Class I freight railroad and 
over which commuter rail passenger trans-
portation is regularly provided. 
‘‘(5) PROJECT SELECTION CRITERIA.—The Sec-
retary, in selecting the recipients of grants for eligi-
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ble projects under paragraph (4), shall consider the 
following: 
‘‘(A) The scope of positive train control 
system components necessary to comply with 
section 20157 of this title, including the num-
ber of locomotives owned by the eligible recipi-
ent, the number of wayside miles owned by the 
eligible recipient, the number of positive train 
control systems with which the eligible recipi-
ent’s positive train control system must be 
interoperable; the scale of the communications 
infrastructure the eligible recipient requires to 
support positive train control system operations; 
and the number of modifications to dispatching 
and back office systems required to support 
positive train control system operations. 
‘‘(B) The extent to which the applicant has 
demonstrated a clear need for Federal financial 
assistance. 
‘‘(C) The overall completeness and quality 
of the application, including the comprehensive-
ness of its supporting documentation. 
‘‘(D) The extent of prior positive train con-
trol implementation activities. 
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‘‘(E) Any other relevant factors as deter-
mined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(6) FEDERAL SHARE OF PROJECT COSTS.— 
‘‘(A) TOTAL
PROJECT
COST.—The Sec-
retary shall estimate the total cost of a project 
under this subsection based on engineering 
studies, studies of economic feasibility, environ-
mental analyses, and information on the ex-
pected use of equipment or facilities. 
‘‘(B) 
FEDERAL
SHARE.—The 
Federal 
share of total project costs for grants provided 
under this subsection shall not exceed 80 per-
cent of the total project cost. 
‘‘(C) MATCH
CREDIT.—The non-Federal 
share requirement may be met in whole or in 
part by eligible expenditures by the railroad 
carrier made subsequent to October 16, 2008, 
excluding costs related to the lease or acquisi-
tion of radio frequency spectrum. 
‘‘(d) LOCAL RAIL FACILITIES AND SAFETY.— 
‘‘(1) OBJECTIVE.—The objective of the local 
rail facilities and safety program under this sub-
section is to mitigate the impacts of railroad oper-
ations in local communities, through improvements 
to highway-rail grade crossings, upgrades to short- 
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line railroad infrastructure, rail line relocation and 
improvement projects, and training and technical as-
sistance to local governments. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary is authorized 
to provide grants under this subsection to eligible re-
cipients (as described in paragraph (3)) for eligible 
freight capacity projects (as described in paragraph 
(4)). A grant may be used to pay all or a portion 
of the subsidy and administrative costs of projects 
eligible for Federal credit assistance under the Rail-
road Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 
1976 (Public Law 94–210) (45 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) 
for a capital project to improve short-line railroad 
infrastructure. 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE
RECIPIENTS.—Entities eligible 
for funding under this subsection include the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) A State. 
‘‘(B) A group of States. 
‘‘(C) An Interstate Compact. 
‘‘(D) A Regional Rail Development Au-
thority, as defined in chapter 289 of this title. 
‘‘(E) A local government. 
‘‘(F) A metropolitan planning organization. 
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‘‘(G) A group of metropolitan planning or-
ganizations. 
‘‘(4) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—Projects eligible to 
receive grants under this subsection include the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) A capital project to mitigate the im-
pacts of rail infrastructure and operations on a 
local community, including rail line relocation 
and improvement and improving the safety of, 
or eliminating hazards at, a highway-rail grade 
crossing. 
‘‘(B) A capital project to improve short- 
line railroad infrastructure. 
‘‘(C) Training and technical assistance to 
help local governments better understand how 
to coordinate with railroads on operations and 
safety issues, and how to integrate railroad 
issues into land use and transportation plan-
ning processes. 
‘‘(5) PROJECT
SELECTION
CRITERIA.—In se-
lecting the recipients of grants for freight capacity 
projects under this subsection, the Secretary shall 
consider— 
‘‘(A) the extent to which a proposed 
project— 
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‘‘(i) alleviates the impacts of rail oper-
ations on local neighborhoods or urbanized 
areas; 
‘‘(ii) will result in clearly defined pub-
lic benefits; 
‘‘(iii) contributes to increasing the 
competitiveness and state of good repair of 
short line railroads; 
‘‘(iv) enhances safety at critical high-
way-rail grade crossings; 
‘‘(v) is compatible with local land use, 
economic development, and transportation 
plans and objectives; 
‘‘(vi) includes equitable participation 
from other beneficiaries in the project’s fi-
nancing, including the extent to which the 
project will leverage private or local gov-
ernment investments; and 
‘‘(vii) will increase the reliability and 
resilience of the Nation’s rail system; 
‘‘(B) the past performance of the recipient 
and other beneficiaries of the project in devel-
oping and delivering rail projects; and 
‘‘(C) any other relevant factors as deter-
mined by the Secretary. 
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‘‘(6) PLANNING REQUIREMENTS.—To be eligi-
ble for a Federal grant under this subsection, a 
project must be specifically identified on a State Rail 
Plan, as described in section 227 of this title. 
‘‘(7) FEDERAL SHARE OF PROJECT COSTS.— 
‘‘(A) TOTAL
PROJECT
COST.—The Sec-
retary shall estimate the total cost of a project 
under this subsection based on engineering 
studies, studies of economic feasibility, environ-
mental analyses, and information on the ex-
pected use of equipment or facilities. 
‘‘(B) 
FEDERAL
SHARE.—The 
Federal 
share of total project costs for grants provided 
under this subsection shall not exceed 80 per-
cent of the total project cost. 
‘‘(e) PLANNING.— 
‘‘(1) OBJECTIVE.—The objective of the plan-
ning program under this subsection is to facilitate 
the development of comprehensive plans to guide fu-
ture investments in the Nation’s rail systems and to 
develop the workforce necessary to advance Amer-
ica’s rail industry. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary is authorized 
to provide grants under this subsection to eligible re-
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cipients (as described in paragraph (3)) for eligible 
planning projects (as described in paragraph (4)). 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE
RECIPIENTS.—Entities eligible 
for funding under this subsection include the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) A State. 
‘‘(B) A group of States. 
‘‘(C) An Interstate Compact. 
‘‘(D) A Regional Rail Development Au-
thority as defined in chapter 289 of this title. 
‘‘(E) A public agency or publicly chartered 
authority established by one or more States and 
having responsibility for providing high-speed or 
intercity passenger rail service. 
‘‘(F) A local government. 
‘‘(G) A metropolitan planning organiza-
tion. 
‘‘(H) A group of metropolitan planning or-
ganizations. 
‘‘(I) National Academy of Sciences Trans-
portation Research Board, for eligible projects 
described in paragraph (4)(C). 
‘‘(J) Federal Railroad Administration. 
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‘‘(4) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—Projects eligible to 
receive grants under this subsection include the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) The preparation of new rail planning 
documents or any updates to existing rail plan-
ning documents including the following: 
‘‘(i) A corridor or rail hub investment 
plan that consists of both— 
‘‘(I) a corridor service develop-
ment plan or rail hub plan; and 
‘‘(II) 
corresponding 
environ-
mental analyses. 
‘‘(ii) A regional rail development plan, 
as defined in section 22602 of this title. 
‘‘(iii) A State rail plan, as defined in 
section 22702 of this title. 
‘‘(iv) Any other national, multi-State, 
mega-regional, or State planning activity 
determined by the Secretary to be nec-
essary to advance the development of pas-
senger and freight rail systems. 
‘‘(B) Capital upgrades to the Transpor-
tation Technology Center for the purposes of 
conducting research, development, testing, eval-
uation, and training for the purpose of enhanc-
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ing technologies related to the design and de-
ployment of high-performance rail systems. 
‘‘(C) Research conducted by the National 
Cooperative Rail Research Program, as estab-
lished by section 24910 of this title. 
‘‘(D) Workforce development activities, co-
ordinated to the extent practical with the exist-
ing local training programs supported by the 
U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. 
Department of Labor, and the U.S. Depart-
ment of Education, including— 
‘‘(i) interagency agreements with the 
Manufacturing Extension Partnership at 
the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology; 
‘‘(ii) developing and deploying train-
ing and technical assistance opportunities 
for rail stakeholders; and 
‘‘(iii) rail-based University Transpor-
tation Centers established by section 5505 
of this title. 
‘‘(5) PROJECT
SELECTION
CRITERIA.—In se-
lecting the recipients of grants for planning projects 
under paragraph (4)(A), the Secretary shall con-
sider— 
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‘‘(A) the extent to which a proposed plan-
ning project— 
‘‘(i) comprehensively addresses both 
freight and passenger rail issues and 
needs; 
‘‘(ii) considers high-performance rail’s 
role within a multimodal context; 
‘‘(iii) follows a planning process that 
allows for meaningful incorporation of 
input from affected communities, local gov-
ernments, regional councils and planning 
organizations, 
railroads, 
transportation 
modal partners, environmental interests, 
workforce investment boards, economic de-
velopment agencies, the public, and other 
stakeholders, early and throughout the 
process; 
‘‘(iv) is integrated with other trans-
portation planning efforts; 
‘‘(v) will result in the appropriate doc-
umentation and institutional support to 
proceed with project implementation; and 
‘‘(vi) examines and evaluates non- 
transportation issues that could be affected 
by future capital projects, including but 
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not limited to land use, economic develop-
ment, and social equity; and 
‘‘(B) any other relevant factors as deter-
mined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(6) FEDERAL SHARE OF PROJECT COSTS.— 
‘‘(A) The Federal share of total project 
costs for a grant provided under paragraph 
(4)(A) shall not exceed 80 percent of the total 
project cost. 
‘‘(B) The Federal share of total project 
costs for a grant or contract provided under 
this paragraph (4) (B)–(D) may be up to 100 
percent of the total project cost. 
‘‘(7) FEDERALLY
LED
RAIL
PLANNING.—The 
Secretary may retain up to two percent of the funds 
made available under section 24602(b) of this title 
to facilitate the preparation of national planning 
tools and analyses, multi-State regional rail plans, 
and service development plans and related environ-
mental reviews for corridors located in multiple 
States. 
‘‘§ 24606. Oversight 
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.— 
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‘‘(A) CURRENT PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE 
PROGRAM.—The Secretary of Transportation 
may expend up to one-half percent of the funds 
made available each fiscal year under section 
24602(a) of this title to conduct oversight of 
and to provide training and technical assistance 
for the current passenger rail service program. 
‘‘(B) RAIL
SERVICE
IMPROVEMENT
PRO-
GRAM.—The Secretary of Transportation may 
expend up to 1 percent of the funds made avail-
able each fiscal year under section 24602(b) of 
this title to conduct oversight, training and 
technical assistance, and project evaluations 
and assessments for the rail service improve-
ment program. 
‘‘(2) PAYMENT.—The Federal share of a con-
tract under this subsection shall be 100 percent. 
‘‘(b) PROJECT MANAGEMENT OVERSIGHT.— 
‘‘(1) PROCEDURES.—The Secretary shall de-
velop and implement oversight procedures to monitor 
the effective and efficient use of funds appropriated 
under this chapter. These procedures shall include 
such measures as the Secretary deems necessary to 
identify, mitigate, and monitor risks to successful 
delivery of projects. These procedures may include— 
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‘‘(A) entering into contracts for safety, 
procurement, management, and financial com-
pliance reviews, audits, and reports of a recipi-
ent of funds appropriated under this chapter; 
‘‘(B) conducting site visits to review the 
progress and implementation of projects under 
this chapter; and 
‘‘(C) establishing field offices to oversee 
projects and to provide project delivery assist-
ance to the recipients of financial assistance 
under this chapter. 
‘‘(2) ACCESS.—Each recipient of financial as-
sistance under this chapter shall provide the Sec-
retary or the Secretary’s designee, including a con-
tractor the Secretary chooses under paragraph 
(1)(A) of this subsection, with access to the con-
struction sites and records of the recipient when rea-
sonably necessary. 
‘‘(c) PROJECT EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT.—The 
Secretary shall develop and implement procedures for eval-
uating the implementation of projects receiving funds 
made available under section 24602(b) of this title and 
assessing the extent to which these projects achieved in-
tended outcomes and public benefits. These procedures 
may include— 
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‘‘(1) establishing criteria to guide the selection 
of grants under section 24602(b) for individual as-
sessments; 
‘‘(2) identifying, collecting, and analyzing 
standardized data and metrics related to grant ap-
plications under section 24602 (b) and (c), and to 
the implementation, outcomes, and public benefits of 
projects receiving grants under section 24602(b); 
‘‘(3) performing a national evaluation of overall 
program 
results 
and 
outcomes 
under 
section 
24602(b); 
‘‘(4) undertaking statistical and cost-benefit 
analyses to identify strategies for maximizing return 
on investment of Federal funding in rail research, 
planning, and construction; and 
‘‘(5) entering into grants or contracts for the 
purpose of carrying out the procedures established 
under this paragraph. 
‘‘(d) TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The 
Secretary shall develop and implement procedures to pro-
vide training and technical assistance to grantees and 
other stakeholders in order to ensure the effective and effi-
cient use of funds appropriated under this chapter. 
‘‘(e) PROJECT DELIVERY DOCUMENTATION.—To re-
ceive Federal financial assistance for a project under this 
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chapter, an applicant shall prepare project delivery docu-
mentation, which may include the following: 
‘‘(1) A project management plan. 
‘‘(2) A financial plan. 
‘‘(3) A system safety plan. 
‘‘(4) Agreements between the project sponsor(s) 
and all relevant entities. 
‘‘(5) A project risk management plan. 
‘‘(6) Other documents identified by the Sec-
retary as relevant to carrying out project manage-
ment oversight activities under this section. 
‘‘§ 24607. Financial assistance conditions 
‘‘(a) FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE
CONDITIONS.—The 
Secretary shall require, as a condition of making any fi-
nancial assistance under section 24605, that such finan-
cial assistance shall comply with section 24405 (b), (c), 
(d), and (e) of this title, as amended, in the same manner 
that funding under chapter 244 of part C of subtitle V 
of this title is required to comply with section 24405 (b), 
(c), (d), and (e) of this title. 
‘‘(b) LOCAL HIRING.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A recipient of assistance 
may advertise, post job opportunities on State job 
banks and with One Stop centers established under 
the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and 
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award a contract for construction containing re-
quirements for the employment of individuals resid-
ing in or adjacent to any of the areas in which the 
work is to be performed is for construction work re-
quired under the contract, provided that— 
‘‘(A) all or part of the construction work 
performed under the contract occurs in an area 
that has— 
‘‘(i) a per capita income of 80 percent 
or less of the national average; or 
‘‘(ii) an unemployment rate that is for 
the most recent 24-month period for which 
data are available at least 1 percent great-
er than the national average unemploy-
ment rate; 
‘‘(B) the estimated cost of the project of 
which the contract is a part is greater than $10 
million; 
‘‘(C) the recipient may not require the hir-
ing of individuals who do not have the nec-
essary skills to perform work in any craft or 
trade, except for individuals who are subject to 
an apprenticeship program or other training 
program meeting the requirements of sub-
section 24605(e) of this title; and 
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‘‘(D) the award of such a contract com-
plies with agreements subject to the Railway 
Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 151–188), if applicable. 
‘‘(2) 
ADVERTISEMENT.—In 
advertising 
an 
awarding a contract under this subsection, the Sec-
retary or a recipient of assistance shall ensure that 
the requirements contained in the advertisement 
would not— 
‘‘(A) compromise the quality of the project; 
‘‘(B) unreasonably delay the completion of 
the project; or 
‘‘(C) unreasonably increase the cost of the 
project. 
‘‘(3) AVAILABLE
PROGRAMS.—The Secretary 
shall make available to recipients the workforce de-
velopment and training programs set forth in section 
24605(e)(4)(D)(ii) of this title to assist recipients 
who wish to establish training programs that satisfy 
the provisions of subsection (b)(1)(C). The Secretary 
of Labor shall make available its qualifying work-
force and training development programs to recipi-
ents who wish to establish training programs that 
satisfy the provisions of section (b)(1)(C).’’. 
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(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The chapter anal-
ysis for subtitle V is amended by inserting the following 
after the item relating to chapter 244: 
‘‘246. National High-Performance Rail System .....................24601’’. 
SEC. 9103. AMTRAK 5-YEAR BUSINESS PLANNING. 
(a) AMTRAK 5-YEAR BUSINESS LINE AND CAPITAL 
ASSET PLANS.—Part C of subtitle V is amended by in-
serting the following new section after section 24316: 
‘‘§ 24317. Amtrak 5-year business line and capital 
asset plans 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(1) DRAFT PLANS.—Not later than July 1 of 
each year, Amtrak shall submit to the Secretary of 
Transportation draft 5-year business line plans and 
draft 5-year capital asset plans prepared in accord-
ance with this section. Each draft plan shall include 
information on historical performance, the subse-
quent base fiscal year, and the 5-year period that 
begins with the second full fiscal year after the sub-
mission. Amtrak shall, in consultation with the Sec-
retary of Transportation, revise the draft plans, as 
appropriate. 
‘‘(2) FINAL PLANS.—Not later than February 
15 of each year, Amtrak shall submit to Congress 
and the Secretary of Transportation 5-year business 
line plans prepared in accordance with this section. 
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These plans shall form the basis for Amtrak’s gen-
eral and legislative annual report to the President 
and Congress required by subsection 24315(b) of 
this title. 
‘‘(3) UPDATED PLANS.—Amtrak shall submit 
updated 5-year business line plans to Congress and 
the Secretary of Transportation no later than 60 
days after the date of enactment of an appropria-
tions Act for the fiscal year. The updated plan shall 
reflect the actual appropriations levels or obligation 
limits for that fiscal year, and any corresponding ad-
justments to the subsequent fiscal years. Amtrak 
shall submit updated 5-year capital asset plans to 
the Secretary of Transportation no later than 60 
days after the date of enactment of an appropria-
tions Act for the fiscal year. 
‘‘(b) AMTRAK 5-YEAR BUSINESS LINE PLANS.— 
‘‘(1) AMTRAK BUSINESS LINES.—Amtrak shall 
prepare a 5-year business line plan for each of the 
following business lines: 
‘‘(A) Northeast Corridor, as defined by 
section 24102(5)(A). 
‘‘(B) State corridors, as defined by section 
24102(5)(D). 
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‘‘(C) Long-distance routes, as defined by 
section 24102(5)(C). 
‘‘(D) National assets. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS
OF
5-YEAR
BUSINESS
LINE 
PLANS.—The 5-year business line plan for each busi-
ness line shall include, at a minimum: 
‘‘(A) A statement of Amtrak’s vision, 
goals, and objectives for the business line, co-
ordinated with any entities that are contrib-
uting capital or operating funding to support 
passenger rail services within those business 
lines, and aligned with Amtrak’s Strategic Plan. 
‘‘(B) All projected revenues and expendi-
tures for the business line, including identifica-
tion of revenues and expenditures incurred by— 
‘‘(i) passenger operations; 
‘‘(ii) non-passenger operations that 
are directly related to the business line, in-
cluding all ancillary business activities; and 
‘‘(iii) governmental funding sources, 
including revenues and other funding re-
ceived from States. 
‘‘(C) Projected ridership levels for all pas-
senger operations. 
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‘‘(D) A prioritized list of capital projects, 
including identified funding sources, that is 
aligned with the Five-Year Capital Asset Plans 
described in subsection (c). 
‘‘(E) Estimates of long-term and short- 
term debt and associated principal and interest 
payments (both current and forecasts). 
‘‘(F) Annual profit and loss statements 
and forecasts and balance sheets. 
‘‘(G) Annual cash flow forecasts. 
‘‘(H) A statement describing the meth-
odologies and significant assumptions under-
lying estimates and forecasts. 
‘‘(I) Specific performance measures that 
demonstrate measurable improvement year over 
year in the financial results of Amtrak’s oper-
ations. 
‘‘(J) Financial performance for each route 
within each business line, including descriptions 
of the cash operating loss and labor produc-
tivity for each route. 
‘‘(K) Specific costs and savings estimates 
resulting from reform initiatives. 
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‘‘(L) Prior fiscal year and projected equip-
ment reliability statistics, in coordination with 
the equipment capital asset plan. 
‘‘(M) Identification and explanation of any 
adjustments made from previously approved 
plans. 
‘‘(3) FIVE-YEAR BUSINESS LINE PLANS PROC-
ESS.—In meeting the requirements of this section, 
Amtrak shall— 
‘‘(A) coordinate with the development of 
the capital asset plans described in subsection 
(c) and ensure integration of each 5-year busi-
ness line plan with the 5-year capital asset 
plans; 
‘‘(B) for the Northeast Corridor business 
line plan, coordinate with the Northeast Cor-
ridor Infrastructure and Operations Advisory 
Commission, States, freight railroads, and com-
muter operators that access Northeast Corridor 
infrastructure; and 
‘‘(C) ensure that Amtrak’s annual budget 
request to Congress is consistent with the infor-
mation in the 5-year business line plans. 
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‘‘(4) STANDARDS TO PROMOTE FINANCIAL STA-
BILITY.—In meeting the requirements of subsection 
(b) of this section, Amtrak shall— 
‘‘(A) apply sound budgetary practices; and 
‘‘(B) use the categories specified in the fi-
nancial accounting and reporting system devel-
oped under section 203 of Division B of Public 
Law 110–432 when preparing its 5-year busi-
ness plans. 
‘‘(c) AMTRAK 5-YEAR CAPITAL ASSET PLANS.— 
‘‘(1) CAPITAL
ASSET
CATEGORIES.—Amtrak 
shall prepare a 5-year capital asset plan for each of 
the following capital asset categories: 
‘‘(A) Infrastructure, including all North-
east Corridor assets and other Amtrak-owned 
infrastructure, and the associated engineering 
facilities that support the maintenance and im-
provement of those assets. 
‘‘(B) Passenger rail equipment, including 
all rolling stock, locomotives, and mechanical 
shop facilities that are used to overhaul equip-
ment. 
‘‘(C) Stations, including all Amtrak-served 
passenger rail stations. 
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‘‘(D) Corporate, including assets such as 
information technology, training centers, and 
other capital items that support the national 
passenger rail system. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS
OF
5-YEAR
CAPITAL
ASSET 
PLANS.—Each capital asset plan shall include, at a 
minimum: 
‘‘(A) A summary of Amtrak’s 5-year stra-
tegic plan for each asset category, including 
goals, objectives, any relevant performance 
metrics, and statutory or regulatory actions af-
fecting the assets; 
‘‘(B) An inventory of existing Amtrak cap-
ital assets, including information regarding 
shared use or ownership, where applicable; and 
‘‘(C) A prioritized list of proposed capital 
investments that— 
‘‘(i) categorizes each capital project as 
being primarily associated with— 
‘‘(I) normalized capital replace-
ment; 
‘‘(II) backlog capital replace-
ment; 
‘‘(III) improvements to support 
service enhancements or growth; or 
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‘‘(IV) strategic initiatives that 
will improve overall operational per-
formance, lower costs, or otherwise 
improve Amtrak’s corporate efficiency; 
‘‘(ii) identifies the anticipated funding 
source for each capital project; 
‘‘(iii) describes the anticipated busi-
ness outcomes of each project, including: 
an assessment of the potential effect on 
passenger operations, safety, reliability and 
resilience, and on Amtrak’s ability to meet 
regulatory requirements should the project 
not be funded; and an assessment of the 
benefits and costs; 
‘‘(iv) identifies where the capital as-
sets are or will be jointly used by intercity 
passenger rail service and other users, and 
that identifies the proportionate share of 
this joint usage; and 
‘‘(v) for projects that are expected to 
be fully or partially funded through Fed-
eral grants, identifies the most appropriate 
public agency or entity to receive those 
funds and implement each capital project, 
in cases where that entity is not Amtrak. 
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‘‘(3) 5-YEAR CAPITAL ASSET PLAN PROCESS.— 
In meeting the requirements of subsection (c) of this 
section, Amtrak shall— 
‘‘(A) coordinate with the development of 
the business lines described in subsection (b)(1) 
of this section and ensure integration of each 5- 
year capital asset plan with the 5-year business 
line plans; and 
‘‘(B) for the infrastructure capital asset 
plan described in subsection (c)(1)(A) of this 
section, coordinate with the Northeast Corridor 
Infrastructure and Operations Advisory Com-
mission, States, freight railroads, and com-
muter operators that access Northeast Corridor 
infrastructure.’’. 
(b) IDENTIFICATION OF DUPLICATIVE REPORTING 
REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) The Secretary shall review existing Amtrak 
reporting requirements and identify where these re-
quirements are duplicative with the business line and 
capital asset plans required by this section. 
(2) Where duplicative reporting requirements 
are administrative, the Secretary shall eliminate 
such duplicative requirements. 
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(3) The Secretary shall submit a report to Con-
gress with any recommendations for repealing dupli-
cative Amtrak reporting requirements. 
SEC. 9104. CLARIFICATION OF GRANT CONDITIONS. 
(a) RAIL CARRIERS.—Section 24405(b) is amend-
ed— 
(1) by striking the title and inserting: 
‘‘(b) OPERATORS AND CERTAIN RAILROAD TRANS-
PORTATION SERVICE PROVIDERS DEEMED RAIL CAR-
RIERS AND EMPLOYERS FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES.—(1)’’; 
(2) after ‘‘operations over’’ by inserting ‘‘, or 
that performs dispatching, maintenance of way, or 
signal system work for, or in support of, rail oper-
ations that is work performed by employees in crafts 
and classes recognized by the National Mediation 
Board on,’’; 
(3) by replacing ‘‘(1)’’, ‘‘(2)’’, and ‘‘(3)’’ with 
‘‘(A)’’, ‘‘(B)’’, and ‘‘(C)’’; and 
(4) by inserting at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this sec-
tion— 
‘‘(A) an employer engaged primarily in the 
building and construction industry, as that 
term is used in section 8(f) of the National 
Labor Relations Act, which is performing work 
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as a contractor for a rail carrier shall not itself 
be considered a rail carrier solely as a result of 
performance of that work; 
‘‘(B) an employer performing work as a 
contractor or subcontractor consistent with a 
collective bargaining agreement covering the 
railroad that owns rail infrastructure con-
structed or improved with funding provided in 
whole or in part in a grant made under this 
chapter shall not itself be considered a rail car-
rier solely as a result of performance of that 
work; and 
‘‘(C) an employer performing work as a 
contractor for an operator in accordance with a 
collective bargaining agreement reached by the 
operator and a union representing employees in 
a craft or class recognized by the National Me-
diation Board covering work performed by that 
craft or class shall not itself be considered a rail 
carrier solely as a result of performance of that 
work.’’. 
(b) GRANT
CONDITIONS.—Section 24405(c) is 
amended— 
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(1) by striking ‘‘railroad’’ and inserting ‘‘rail-
road or used by a railroad for common carrier serv-
ice’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)(2), by striking ‘‘comply’’ 
and inserting ‘‘assure compliance’’. 
SEC. 9105. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TESTING, 
AND 
TRAINING.—Section 20108(a) is amended by inserting ‘‘, 
operations, and technology’’ after the word ‘‘safety’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL CORRECTION.—Section 24910 is 
amended by striking subsection (e). 
SEC. 9106. MISCELLANEOUS REVISIONS. 
(a) AMTRAK INDEBTEDNESS.—Division B of Public 
Law 110–432, the Passenger Rail Investment and Im-
provement Act of 2008, is amended— 
(1) by repealing section 204; and 
(2) by revising section 205(a) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Treasury, 
in consultation with the Secretary and Amtrak, may make 
agreements to restructure Amtrak’s indebtedness as of the 
date of enactment of this Act. This authorization expires 
on September 30, 2021.’’. 
(b) CRIMINAL PENALTIES.—Section 21311 is amend-
ed as follows: 
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(1) Subsection (a) is amended by deleting ‘‘and 
willfully’’. 
(2) The following is inserted at the end: 
‘‘(c) CRIMINAL PENALTY.—A person who knowingly 
violates a provision of this chapter shall, if the violator’s 
activities have led or could have led to death or serious 
injury, be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more 
than 5 years, or both.’’. 
Subtitle B—Policy 
SEC. 9201. REGIONAL RAIL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Part E of subtitle V is amended 
by inserting the following after chapter 287: 
‘‘CHAPTER 289—REGIONAL RAIL 
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘28901. Authority and objectives. 
‘‘28902. Structure. 
‘‘28903. Activities. 
‘‘§ 28901. Authority and objectives 
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary, in consultation 
with State governors, is authorized to establish Regional 
Rail Development Authorities (hereafter referred to as 
‘RRDAs’) to facilitate the development of multi-State 
high-performance rail services and to coordinate these in-
vestments with other rail, transit, highway, and aviation 
system services. 
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‘‘(b) OBJECTIVES.—The objectives of RRDAs are as 
follows: 
‘‘(1) To establish multi-State public entities 
that have the authority to plan and develop high- 
speed and intercity passenger rail infrastructure and 
services within regions, in coordination with other 
planning and investment efforts in the region’s 
freight rail, transit, highway, and aviation infra-
structure. 
‘‘(2) To develop and implement Regional Rail 
Development Plans that are consistent with the 
framework established in the National Passenger 
Rail Development Plan, including establishing a 
structure for State- and corridor-level planning ef-
forts. 
‘‘(3) To support the prioritization of intercity 
passenger rail investments, taking into consideration 
the most logical, efficient, and cost-effective ap-
proach for developing the regional passenger rail 
network. 
‘‘(4) To facilitate interoperability and integra-
tion across corridors and States within regions. 
‘‘§ 28902. Structure 
‘‘(a) GOVERNANCE.— 
‘‘(1) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.— 
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‘‘(A) APPOINTMENT.—An RRDA shall be 
administered by an Executive Director who is 
appointed by the Secretary. 
‘‘(B) SUPERVISION.—The Executive Direc-
tor shall be subject to the supervision and direc-
tion of the Secretary consistent with the Execu-
tive Director’s responsibilities and other re-
quirements established in this chapter. 
‘‘(C) EXPERTISE.—The Executive Director 
shall have demonstrated expertise in the fol-
lowing three areas: 
‘‘(i) Passenger or freight rail oper-
ations. 
‘‘(ii) Transportation or infrastructure 
planning. 
‘‘(iii) Project, public, or corporate fi-
nance. 
‘‘(D) AUTHORITY.—The Executive Direc-
tor shall be the chief executive officer of the 
RRDA, with such executive functions, powers, 
and duties as may be prescribed by this chapter 
or otherwise by the Secretary. 
‘‘(E) RESPONSIBILITY.—The Executive Di-
rector shall have responsibility for the day-to- 
day operations of the RRDA. In addition to the 
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other activities required to carry out the au-
thorities and purposes of the RRDA as set 
forth in this chapter, the Executive Director 
shall— 
‘‘(i) establish and maintain a pas-
senger rail corridor development and deliv-
ery capability that consists of qualified 
transportation infrastructure planning, fi-
nancing, and construction professionals di-
rected to develop and deliver projects that 
are consistent with the strategy and objec-
tives set forth in the Regional Rail Devel-
opment Plan; and 
‘‘(ii) establish and maintain a tech-
nical assistance capability at the RRDA 
that consists of a staff of qualified project 
management professionals directed to as-
sist other entities within the region that 
are implementing high-speed and intercity 
passenger rail projects. 
‘‘(2) REGIONAL COMMITTEE.— 
‘‘(A) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is estab-
lished within the RRDA a deliberative body to 
be known as the ‘Regional Committee’. 
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‘‘(B) MEMBERSHIP.—The membership of 
the Regional Committee may be established and 
maintained as follows: 
‘‘(i) Governors or their designees from 
all States in the region. 
‘‘(ii) Other individuals and organiza-
tions the Secretary determines have a sig-
nificant interest in rail issues in the region. 
‘‘(C) CONSULTATION.—The Regional Com-
mittee shall consult with— 
‘‘(i) elected officials and other commu-
nity leaders in cities or counties affected 
by high-speed or intercity passenger rail 
projects; 
‘‘(ii) economic development bodies; 
‘‘(iii) business leaders in the region; 
‘‘(iv) freight carriers with operations 
in the region; 
‘‘(v) commuter rail agencies with op-
erations in the region; 
‘‘(vi) rail labor; 
‘‘(vii) regional transportation and air 
quality planning agencies; and 
‘‘(viii) other individuals or organiza-
tions that the Regional Committee deter-
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mines would provide valuable input into 
the Committee’s deliberations. 
‘‘(D) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Regional 
Committee shall be responsible for carrying out 
the following: 
‘‘(i) Proposing to the Secretary the 
Regional Rail Development Plan within 
one year of the RRDA’s establishment and 
making recommendations to the Secretary 
for biennial updates. 
‘‘(ii) Evaluating Service Development 
Plans and investment plans and related 
materials or other analyses prepared by 
the Executive Director for use in sup-
porting applications to the Secretary for 
Federal financial assistance and providing 
the Secretary with recommendations or 
written objections to the Plan and related 
materials as appropriate. 
‘‘(iii) Making recommendations to the 
Secretary for the selection of private sector 
partners for designing, constructing, oper-
ating, or maintaining a corridor. 
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‘‘(iv) Evaluating and making rec-
ommendations to the Secretary for the 
RRDA’s Annual Report. 
‘‘(v) Making recommendations to the 
Secretary concerning the powers outlined 
in section 28903 of this title. 
‘‘(E) MAJORITY VOTE.—An action or deci-
sion by the Regional Committee shall be by ma-
jority vote of all members, whether in person or 
in absentia. Each member shall be provided a 
reasonable opportunity to vote on all matters 
before the Regional Committee. 
‘‘(F) PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE MEETINGS.— 
All meetings of the Regional Committee shall be 
publicly accessible, and the Regional Committee 
shall also provide regular updates and informa-
tion on a publicly accessible Web site. 
‘‘(b) EXEMPTION FROM FEDERAL ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE ACT.—The Federal Advisory Committee Act shall 
not apply to Regional Rail Development Authorities. 
‘‘§ 28903. Activities 
‘‘(a) CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT POWERS.—Regional 
Rail Development Authorities established pursuant to this 
chapter shall have the power to undertake the following 
corridor development activities: 
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‘‘(1) Planning for Core Express Corridors, Re-
gional Corridors, and Feeder Corridors within their 
jurisdiction, including leading the development of the 
Regional Rail Development Plan described in section 
22602 of this title and identifying proposed corridor 
alignments and station locations. 
‘‘(2) Planning that addresses transportation 
issues and infrastructure investments for more effi-
cient movement of people and goods through and 
among corridors, including consideration of the most 
cost-effective transportation investments to address 
a specific region’s or corridor’s transportation needs 
for both people and goods. 
‘‘(3) Preparing engineering studies, environ-
mental and health analyses, project management 
plans, financial plans, service development plans and 
other documentation necessary for developing and 
delivering new or improved high-speed or intercity 
passenger rail services. 
‘‘(4) Receiving, managing, and expending Fed-
eral financial assistance, including taking responsi-
bility for all relevant reporting or other requirements 
associated with that financial assistance. 
‘‘(5) Coordinating the financing package for 
project development and delivery, including struc-
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turing and overseeing Federal, State, and local fi-
nancial assistance funds, and private-sector con-
tributions. 
‘‘(6) Leading construction-related activities for 
developing the corridor, including issuing requests 
for proposals/qualifications, managing contractors, 
entering into contracts with public and private enti-
ties for construction of the corridor, and other re-
lated activities. 
‘‘(7) Acquiring and preserving right-of-way for 
dedicated corridors. 
‘‘(8) Providing for or supporting negotiations 
with infrastructure owners for new or improved 
shared-use passenger rail corridors. 
‘‘(9) Issuing requests for proposals for projects 
for the financing, design, construction, operation, 
and/or maintenance of a high-speed intercity pas-
senger rail system operating within the RRDA’s ju-
risdictions that shall include those items described in 
paragraph (a)(4) of section 502 of division B of 
Public Law 110–432. 
‘‘(b) FUNDING ELIGIBILITY.—Regional Rail Develop-
ment Authorities are eligible to receive Federal funding 
under the Rail Service Improvement Program, as de-
scribed in section 24605 of this title.’’. 
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(b) RELATED AMENDMENT.—The analysis for sub-
title V is amended by inserting below the item for chapter 
287 the following: 
‘‘289. Authority and objectives ....................................................28901
‘‘ Structure ..........................................................................................28902
‘‘ Activities ...........................................................................................28903’’. 
SEC. 9202. NORTHEAST CORRIDOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND 
OPERATIONS ADVISORY COMMISSION. 
Section 24905 is amended as follows: 
(1) By revising subsection (c)(1)(B) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(B) develop a proposed timetable for imple-
menting the formula that allows for a phased-in 
schedule that incorporates a reasonable amount of 
time for agreements to be negotiated among affected 
parties, provided that the formula is fully imple-
mented no later than September 30, 2021.’’. 
(2) In subsection (e), by striking ‘‘2013’’ and 
replacing with ‘‘2021’’. 
(3) By inserting subsection (g) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(g) NORTHEAST CORRIDOR GOVERNANCE.—Not 
later than September 30, 2015, the Commission shall 
issue a report with recommendations regarding the appro-
priate mechanisms for managing, improving, financing, 
operating, and maintaining the Northeast Corridor, in-
cluding a clear delineation of responsibilities among the 
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Federal Government, States, and Amtrak. This report 
shall be submitted to the Secretary, the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, 
and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives.’’. 
SEC. 9203. STANDARDIZATION OF PASSENGER EQUIPMENT 
AND PLATFORMS. 
(a) PASSENGER
PLATFORMS.—Where level-entry 
boarding platforms are required by law— 
(1) new or rebuilt passenger platforms in Con-
necticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New 
Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, 
and Vermont shall be constructed and maintained at 
48 inches above top of rail; 
(2) new or rebuilt passenger platforms in Mary-
land and Pennsylvania shall be constructed and 
maintained at 15 or 48 inches above top of rail, in 
coordination with the lowest floor height of equip-
ment serving the platform; 
(3) new or rebuilt platforms at Union Station 
in Washington, DC, shall be built and maintained to 
facilitate level boarding for the equipment serving 
the platform; 
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