§24712 State-supported Routes Operated by Amtrak

Summary

Creates a State-Supported Route Committee to help Amtrak, the Department of Transportation (including the Federal Railroad Administration), and States work together on Amtrak routes that States fund. The Committee has members from Amtrak, DOT/FRA, and the States, and may invite non-voting participants. It uses three voting blocs (one for each group), with each bloc getting one vote; the States’ bloc must approve actions by at least two-thirds of its members, and the three blocs must agree for a decision to pass. If one entire bloc abstains, the other two blocs can agree and that counts as unanimous. The Committee must write and follow rules that explain these voting and other procedures, and its decisions are binding on members. The Committee can hire staff, sign contracts, and use funds the Secretary of Transportation provides. The Committee must update the cost-allocation policy by March 31, 2022 and put the new policy into effect in fiscal year 2023. Within 30 days after adopting the revised policy, the Committee must report changes and implementation plans to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The cost policy must treat similar services equally, charge each route only its fair share of costs, and encourage efficiency. An independent review must be finished by March 31 each year to check whether State payments follow the policy. Amtrak must send monthly invoices that list operating, fixed, and third-party costs, and must give the accounting data for monthly reports within 30 days after each month ends. If members disagree about rules, invoices, reports, or the cost policy, Amtrak or a State can ask the Surface Transportation Board to resolve the dispute; the Board’s decision is binding. The Secretary may help with contract talks and can pay for technical studies and needed administrative costs from available funds. Contracts for State-supported routes should consider performance penalties and incentives to boost revenue, cut costs, finish contracts by the fiscal year start, and make sure States pay on time. The Committee must create and update a goals-and-objectives statement and send updates to the same two Congressional committees. When planning new State-supported routes, Amtrak must consult States, local governments, commuter and regional transit authorities, host railroads, the FRA Administrator, and other stakeholders. For routes started on or after the Passenger Rail Expansion and Rail Safety Act of 2021, Amtrak must secure an agreement or memorandum of understanding with each funding State before building or operating the route to share operating and capital costs under the current cost policy or under the funding limits in section 22908(e). The Committee must report to the same two Congressional committees about how the updated cost policy was implemented no later than 18 months after it goes into effect. Amtrak must consult with the Committee and any affected States at least 120 days before submitting its general and legislative annual report and must include planned route changes, their timing, and whether funding agreements under the new-route rule exist. Within 3 years after the Passenger Rail Expansion and Rail Safety Act of 2021 took effect, the Committee must report on how State-supported routes affect economic development, jobs, station areas, State economies, and the national economy. Committee decisions apply only to Amtrak’s operations on State-supported routes, not to services run by other rail carriers. “State” means any of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, or a public entity that sponsors Amtrak service on a State-supported route.