Title: Improving the Metra Commuter Experience Act of 2020
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
Improving the Metra Commuter Experience Act of 2020
This bill requires the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) to transfer operational control of Chicago Union Station to the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation (Metra).
If Amtrak fails to comply with the requirement, the Department of Transportation must withhold 5% of specified funds for Amtrak.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6226 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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 Representatives 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 CHICAGO UNION STATION.

    (a) In General.--No later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, Amtrak shall transfer operational control, as defined in 
this section, of Chicago Union Station to Metra.
    (b) Operational Control.--
            (1) Shall mean certain control over track, signal, and 
        railroad operations outside the Chicago Union Station building, 
        colloquially known as ``outside the glass doors'', including 
        the following:
                    (A) Dispatching of local trains from Canal Street 
                to Alton Junction out of Metra's Consolidated Control 
                Facility.
                    (B) Joint policing of Chicago Union Station, 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 outside the 
                Chicago Union Station terminal.
                    (B) Any dispatching of Amtrak yard movements.
                    (C) Any maintenance or other obligations related to 
                the overbuilds above the tracks at Chicago Union 
                Station.
                    (D) Any baggage handling related to Amtrak's 
                operations.
    (c) Congressional Intent.--It is the intent of Congress that under 
the agreement required by this section--
            (1) Amtrak should pay operating and capital costs incurred 
        at Chicago Union Station for Amtrak's sole benefit;
            (2) Amtrak should pay an allocated portion of those 
        operating and capital costs incurred at Chicago 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 enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary shall notify the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure 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 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 (Amtrak).--``Amtrak'' means 
the entity established in section 301 of Public Law 91-518.
    (c) Chicago Union Station.--``Chicago Union Station'' means the 
passenger train station located at 225 South Canal Street, Chicago, 
Illinois 60606, and its associated 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).
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