A bill to amend the Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970 to authorize additional appropriations, and for other purposes.

Summary

Title I: Railroad Safety - Amends the Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970 to authorize the district court of the United States having jurisdiction, upon petition by the Attorney General, to issue orders requiring compliance with the Secretary of Transportation's directives on railroad safety. Requires the Secretary to submit the Department's annual report directly to Congress (in lieu of submission to the President for transmittal to Congress) and changes the date for submission of such report from July l to April 15 of each year. Authorizes appropriations to the Department of Transportation for FY 1985 and 1986 for State safety programs and for specified provisions under such Act. Title II: Rail Passenger Service - Amends the Rail Passenger Service Act to provide that the two members of the board of directors of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) which are selected by the preferred stockholders shall serve until their successors have been appointed. Provides that the preferred stock issued by the Corporation shall be deemed to have been issued as of the date the Corporation receives the funds for such stock. Repeals provisions which established and set forth the duties of the Performance Evaluation Center within the Corporation. Eliminates requirements for monthly performance reports. Requires the Corporation to report to Congress not later than February 15 of each year on its intercity rail passenger service, including data on ridership, short-term avoidable profit or loss per passenger mile, revenue-to-cost ratio, revenues, the Federal and non-Federal subsidies, and on-time performance. Provides that beginning October 1, 1983, the Corporation may continue service on routes where the Secretary recommends discontinuance if the Corporation and the affected State enter into an agreement to ensure that specified criteria are met. Revises such criteria to remove requirements to calculate passenger mile per train mile on such routes. Removes the congressional veto provisions with respect to an amendment to the Route and Service Criteria and makes any such amendment effective 120 days (currently, 60 days) after continuous session of Congress. States that trade secrets and commercial or financial information prepared by the Corporation are not subject to public disclosure requirements. Authorizes appropriations for the Corporation for FY 1984 and 1985. Repeals the Secretary's interim authority to provide emergency financial assistance for railroads operating passenger service. Makes technical and miscellaneous amendments to the Rail Passenger Services Act and the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976. Grants the Comptroller General discretionary authority to make performance audits of the Corporation. (Currently the Comptroller General is required to make such audits annually). Title III: Railroad Accounting Principles Board - Amends the Interstate Commerce Act to limit the salaries of members of the Railroad Accounting Principles Board to level V of the Executive Schedule. Terminates the Board three years after its members are appointed. Requires the Board to establish cost accounting principles and make a specified report to Congress within two years of such appointments. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 through 1986.

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Documents

2 official files

• Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 17 May 1984

  Open at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 5 April 1984

  Open at official source

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