I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6226 
To address an issue with respect to Amtrak, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 12, 2020 
Mr. LIPINSKI introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To address an issue with respect to Amtrak, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act shall be known as the ‘‘Improving the Metra 
Commuter Experience Act of 2020’’. 
SEC. 2. TRANSFER OF OPERATIONAL CONTROL OF CHI-
CAGO UNION STATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—No later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, Amtrak shall transfer oper-
ational control, as defined in this section, of Chicago 
Union Station to Metra. 
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(b) OPERATIONAL CONTROL.— 
(1) Shall mean certain control over track, sig-
nal, and railroad operations outside the Chicago 
Union Station building, colloquially known as ‘‘out-
side the glass doors’’, including the following: 
(A) Dispatching of local trains from Canal 
Street to Alton Junction out of Metra’s Consoli-
dated Control Facility. 
(B) Joint policing of Chicago Union Sta-
tion, with each respective police force having 
separate 
areas 
of 
primary 
responsibility. 
Metra’s primary patrol responsibilities shall be 
the passenger concourse, the platforms, and 
areas immediately outside the glass doors. 
(C) Maintenance and capital improvement 
of passenger platforms, tracks, and signals 
from Canal Street to Roosevelt Road. 
(2) Shall not mean the following: 
(A) Any dispatching of intercity trains out-
side the Chicago Union Station terminal. 
(B) Any dispatching of Amtrak yard move-
ments. 
(C) Any maintenance or other obligations 
related to the overbuilds above the tracks at 
Chicago Union Station. 
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(D) Any baggage handling related to Am-
trak’s operations. 
(c) CONGRESSIONAL INTENT.—It is the intent of 
Congress that under the agreement required by this sec-
tion— 
(1) Amtrak should pay operating and capital 
costs incurred at Chicago Union Station for Am-
trak’s sole benefit; 
(2) Amtrak should pay an allocated portion of 
those operating and capital costs incurred at Chi-
cago Union Station for Amtrak’s and Metra’s joint 
benefit; and 
(3) Metra shall not make payment to operate 
outside of the glass doors. 
SEC. 3. SECRETARY VERIFICATION. 
One hundred eighty (180) days after the date of en-
actment of this Act, the Secretary shall notify the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives with respect to 
whether Amtrak has complied with section 2 of this Act. 
SEC. 4. PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY. 
If the Secretary notifies the relevant committees, as 
required by section 3 of this Act, that Amtrak has failed 
to comply with section 2 of this Act, the Secretary shall 
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withhold 5 percent of the unobligated balance of funds for 
Amtrak made available by Public Law 116–94 or by any 
law providing appropriations that is enacted subsequent 
to the date of enactment of such Act until the Secretary 
has notified the relevant committees that Amtrak is in 
compliance with this Act. 
SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS. 
The following definitions shall apply in this Act: 
(a) SECRETARY.—In this Act, ‘‘Secretary’’ shall 
mean the Secretary of Transportation. 
(b) NATIONAL PASSENGER RAIL CORPORATION (AM-
TRAK).—‘‘Amtrak’’ means the entity established in section 
301 of Public Law 91–518. 
(c) CHICAGO UNION STATION.—‘‘Chicago Union Sta-
tion’’ means the passenger train station located at 225 
South Canal Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606, and its asso-
ciated facilities. 
(d) METRA.—‘‘Metra’’ means the Northeast Illinois 
Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation. 
(e) OPERATIONAL CONTROL.—‘‘Operational Control’’ 
shall mean the definition established in section 2(b). 
Æ 
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