Title 49 › Subtitle SUBTITLE V— RAIL PROGRAMS › Part C— PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION › Chapter 249— NORTHEAST CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM › § 24909
Allows up to $2,313,000,000 to be provided to the Secretary of Transportation to meet the goals in section 24902(a)(1). From that money, Amtrak must spend at least $27,000,000 for equipment changes caused by electrifying the Northeast Corridor. It must also use $30,000,000 to upgrade the track between the Northeast Corridor main line and Atlantic City so trains can run at least 79 miles per hour by September 30, 1985, and to encourage passenger use. The money also pays for many specific Northeast Corridor projects, including work on Union Station (DC); installing 189 track-miles and renewing 133 track-miles of concrete ties with continuously welded rail between DC and New York; undercutting 83 track-miles; bridge rehabilitation; signaling, drainage, and roadbed stabilization; maintenance and repair facilities and bases; catenary and power upgrades; station and tunnel safety work; track and equipment improvements; installing baggage and seat safety devices on 348 cars; adding 44 event recorders and 10 electronic warning devices on locomotives; and purchasing test boxes and 9 wayside loop transmitters. Additional amounts may be provided: up to $150,000,000 for the goal in section 24902(a)(3); up to $120,000,000 to buy interests in Northeast Corridor property; up to $650,000 for mobile radio frequencies for passenger mobile phone service; up to $20,000,000 to buy and improve certain rail property under the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973; and up to $37,000,000 for other specified goals. No more than $25,000,000 from a 1975 Act may be used by Amtrak for emergency maintenance on certain rail property. Money used to buy property (the $120,000,000 and $20,000,000 pools) must first repay, with interest, any guaranteed loans that were used for those purchases. Funds may not be used to cover operating losses of commuter or freight rail. The listed projects are part of the Northeast Corridor improvement program, may be deferred in limited ways tied to the Atlantic City work, remain unfinished until completed, and several of the funding amounts remain available until spent. If earlier years got less money than allowed, later appropriations can exceed the yearly amount up to the total authorized.
Full Legal Text
Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
49 U.S.C. § 24909
Title 49 — Transportation
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60