A bill to amend the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 to revise the program of Federal operating assistance provided under section 17 of such act.
PL 95-187 (H.R.8346), enacted 11/16/1977

PUBLIC LAW 95-187—NOV. 16, 1977 
91 STAT. 1385 
Public Law 95-187 
95th Congress 
An Act 
To amend the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 to revise the program 
of Federal operating assis*:ance provided under section 17 of such Act. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ 
SECTION 1. Section 17 of the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 
1964 is amended— 
(1) by striking out "50 percent" in subsection (d) (4) and 
inserting in lieu thereof "80 percent"; 
(2) by striking out "and" at the end of subsection (d) (3): 
(3) by striking out the period at the end of subsection (d) (4) 
and inserting in lieu thereof "; and"; 
(4) by inserting the following new paragraph after subsection 
(d)(4): 
"(5) 50 percent for the 24-month period succeeding the period 
specified in subparagraph (4) of this subsection."; 
(5) by striking out the last sentence of subsection (d); and 
(6) by striking out "$125,000,000" in the first sentence of sub-
section (f) and inserting in lieu thereof "$185,000,000" and by 
amending the second sentence of such subsection to read as 
follows: "There are authorized to be appropriated for liquida-
tion of the obligations incurred under this section not to exceed 
$40,000,000 by September 30, 1976, $95,000,000 by September 30, 
1977, $125,000,000 by September 30,1978, $155,000,000 by Septem-
ber 30,1979, and $185,000,000 by September 30,1980.". 
SEC. 2. The Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 is amended 
by adding at the end thereof the following new section: 
"SEC. 18. (a) The Secretary shall provide financial assistance 
annually for the purpose of reimbursing States, local public bodies 
and agencies thereof for the cost of financially supporting or operat-
ing rail passenger service provided by railroads designated as class I. 
"(b) Financial assistance under subsection (a) of this section shall 
not be available to support (1) intercity rail passenger service pro-
vided pursuant to an agreement with the National Railroad Passenger 
Corporation under section 403 (b) (2) of the Rail Passenger Service 
Act of 1970, as amended (45 U.S.C. 562(b)); and (2) rail passenger 
service required by section 304(e) (4) of the Regional Rail Reorgani-
zation Act of 1973 (45 U.S.C. 744 (e)). 
"(c) The Secretary shall distribute financial assistance authorized 
by subsection (a) pro rata on the basis of the passenger-miles attribut-
able to each eligible rail passenger service, except that (1) for the pur-
poses of such apportionment in no case shall any State, local public 
body or agency thereof supporting or operating rail passenger service 
eligible for assistance under this section be credited with more than 30 
per centum of the total passenger miles eligible for such assistance for 
the calendar year ending immediately prior to the commencement of 
the Federal fiscal year for which the distribution is made, and (2) no 
Federal grant for the payment of subsidies for operating expenses 
shall exceed 50 per centum of the total operating losses of such service. 
Nov. 16, 1977 
[H.R. 83461 
Urban Mass 
Transportation 
Act of 1964, 
amendment. 
Federal operating 
assistance 
program, 
revision. 
49 u s e 1613. 
Rail passenger 
service, 
reimbursement to 
States. 
49 u s e 1614. 
Intercity rail 
passenger 
service, 
exclusion. 
Pro rata 
passenger-miles 
distribution. 
91 STAT. 1386 
PUBLIC LAW 95-187—NOV. 16, 1977 
Operating 
expenses, use of 
funds. 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
"(d) Financial assistance authorized by subsection (a) may be 
applied to the payment of operating expenses or programs to correct 
deferred maintenance within the meaning of section 304(e) (5) (C) of 
the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 (45 U.S.C. 744(e)), but 
in no case may it exceed the total of the amounts applied by the grantee 
from its own funds to the payment of operating expenses and pro-
grams to correct deferred maintenance for the same fiscal period. 
"(e) Financial assistance provided pursuant to subsection (a) of 
this section shall be subject to such terms, conditions, requirements, 
and provisions as the Secretary may deem necessary and appropriate. 
"(f) To finance assistance under this section, the Secretary may 
incur obligations on behalf of the United States in the form of grants, 
contract agreements, or otherwise, in such amounts as are provided 
in appropriations Acts, in an aggregate not to exceed $20,000,000. 
There are authorized to be appropriated for liquidation of the obliga-
tions incurred under this section not to exceed $20,000,000 by Septem-
ber 30, 1979, such sum to remain available until expended.". 
Approved November 16, 1977. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 95-732 (Comm. on Public Works and Transportation). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 123 (1977): 
Oct. 25, considered and passed House. 
Nov. 2, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Nov. 3, House agreed to Senate amendment. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 13, No. 47: 
Nov. 16, Presidential statement.