Railroad Reform, Enhancement, and Efficiency Act

Summary

Railroad Reform, Enhancement, and Efficiency Act This bill reauthorizes FY2016-FY2019 grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) for: a Northeast Corridor investment account, a state-supported account, a long-distance account, an other national network activities account, and national infrastructure and safety investments. Appropriations are also authorized for the same period for: National Transportation Safety Board rail investigations, and Amtrak's Office of the Inspector General. The bill revises requirements for the rail cooperative research program. Allocation of a specified amount is made for each fiscal year to the Department of Transportation (DOT) for railroad research and development programs. Amtrak shall establish internal controls to ensure its costs, revenues, and other compensation are allocated to its Northeast Corridor train services or infrastructure, Amtrak-operated state-supported routes and long-distance routes, and other Amtrak national network activities. DOT shall establish substantive and procedural requirements for Northeast Corridor, Amtrak routes, and national network investment capital grant requests. DOT shall establish: a Northeast Corridor investment account, a state-supported account, a long-distance account, and an other national network activities account. Amtrak shall prepare: final five-year business line plans for Northeast Corridor train services, Amtrak-operated state-supported routes and long-distance routes, and Amtrak ancillary services; and five-year asset plans for Amtrack infrastructure and equipment. DOT shall establish the State-Supported Route Committee. The bill revises alternate passenger rail service pilot program requirements. DOT shall develop a program for issuing three-year competitive operating assistance grants to eligible public and private entities to initiate, restore, or enhance intercity rail passenger service. DOT shall develop a federal-state partnership program for issuing competitive grants to the aforementioned entities for capital projects to replace, rehabilitate, or repair major infrastructure assets for providing intercity passenger rail service. The bill requires the Northeast Corridor Commission to: develop a capital investment plan for the Northeast Corridor main line between Boston, Massachusetts, and the Virginia Avenue interlocking in the District of Columbia, and the Northeast Corridor branch lines connecting to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Springfield, Massachusetts, and Spuyten Duyvil, New York; and update, once every 10 years, a Northeast Corridor service development plan. DOT shall develop and distribute to each state a state-specific highway-rail grade crossing action plan to improve safety. DOT may make grants to eligible public and private entities to assist in financing the cost of rail projects to improve the safety, efficiency, or reliability of passenger and freight rail transportation systems. Track, Railroad, and Infrastructure Network Act The bill exempts improvements to, maintenance, rehabilitation, or operation of railroad or rail transit lines (but not stations) that are in use or were historically used for the transportation of goods or passengers from federal policies and requirements for the preservation of public park and recreation lands, wildlife and waterfowl refuges, and historic sites. Railroad Infrastructure Financing Improvement Act The bill amends the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 to revise Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing program requirements.

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Timeline

1. 18 June 2015

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 18 June 2015

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 25 June 2015

   Reported

   Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

   Source: Committee

4. 16 May 2016

   Calendars

   Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 466.

   Source: Calendars

5. 16 May 2016

   Reported

   Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

   Source: Committee

6. 16 May 2016

   Reported

   Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Reported to Senate · 16 May 2016 · Official file
• Introduced in Senate · 18 June 2015 · Official file

Documents

6 official files

• Reported to Senate (text)

  Reported to Senate · EN · 16 May 2016

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Reported to Senate (PDF)

  Reported to Senate · EN · 16 May 2016

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 16 May 2016

  Open at official source

• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 18 June 2015

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate (PDF)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 18 June 2015

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 18 June 2015

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Roger Wicker · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] · D · Sponsor
• · sscm00 · Standing

Related records

• related to ← Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer Protection Act of 2015