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Code · BILL · 114th Congress · S. 1626 (Reported in Senate) — To reauthorize Federal support for passenger rail programs, improve safety, streamline rail project delivery, and for... · Sec. 421

Sec. 421. Consolidated rail infrastructure and safety improvements

1,192 words·~5 min read·/bill/114/s/1626/rs/section-421

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Chapter 244, as amended by section 302 of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following: The Secretary may make grants under this section to an eligible recipient to assist in financing the cost of improving passenger and freight rail transportation systems in terms of safety, efficiency, or reliability. The following entities are eligible to receive a grant under this section: A State. A group of States. An Interstate Compact. A public agency or publicly chartered authority established by 1 or more States and having responsibility for providing intercity rail passenger, commuter rail passenger, or freight rail transportation service.
A political subdivision of a State. Amtrak or another rail passenger carrier that provides intercity rail passenger transportation (as defined in section 24102) or commuter rail passenger transportation (as defined in section 24102). A Class II railroad or Class III railroad (as those terms are defined in section 20102). Any rail carrier or rail equipment manufacturer in partnership with at least 1 of the entities described in paragraphs
(1)through (5). Any entity established to procure, manage, or maintain passenger rail equipment under section 305 of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 ( 49 U.S.C. 24101 note). An organization that is actively involved in the development of operational and safety-related standards for rail equipment and operations or the implementation of safety-related programs. The Transportation Research Board and any entity with which it contracts in the development of rail-related research, including cooperative research programs. A University transportation center actively engaged in rail-related research. A non-profit labor organization representing a class or craft of employees of railroad carriers or railroad carrier contractors. The following projects are eligible to receive grants under this section: Deployment of railroad safety technology, including positive train control and rail integrity inspection systems. A capital project as defined in section 24401, except that a project shall not be required to be in a State rail plan developed under chapter 227. A capital project identified by the Secretary as being necessary to address congestion challenges affecting rail service. A highway-rail grade crossing improvement, including grade separations, private highway-rail grade crossing improvements, and safety engineering improvements to reduce risk in quiet zones or potential quiet zones. A rail line relocation project. A capital project to improve short-line or regional railroad infrastructure. Paying all or a portion of the credit risk premium, as determined under section 502(f) of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 ( 45 U.S.C. 822(f) ), and loan charges described in section 503(l) of that Act ( 45 U.S.C. 823(l) ) for a project eligible for Federal credit assistance under that Act ( 45 U.S.C. 801 et seq. ). Development of public education, awareness, and targeted law enforcement activities to reduce violations of traffic laws at highway-rail grade crossings and to help prevent and reduce injuries and fatalities along railroad rights-of-way. The preparation of regional rail and corridor service development plans and corresponding environmental analyses. Any project that the Secretary considers necessary to enhance multimodal connections or facilitate service integration between rail service and other modes, including between intercity rail passenger transportation and intercity bus service. The development of rail-related capital, operations, and safety standards. The implementation and operation of a safety program or institute designed to improve rail safety culture and rail safety performance. Any research that the Secretary considers necessary to advance any particular aspect of rail-related capital, operations, or safety improvements. Workforce development activities, coordinated to the extent practicable with the existing local training programs supported by the Department of Transportation, Department of Labor, and Department of Education. The Secretary shall prescribe the form and manner of filing an application under this section. In selecting a recipient of a grant for an eligible project, the Secretary shall— give preference to a proposed project for which the proposed Federal share of total project costs does not exceed 50 percent; and after factoring in preference to projects under subparagraph (A), select projects that will maximize the net benefits of the funds appropriated for use under this section, considering the cost-benefit analysis of the proposed project, including anticipated private and public benefits relative to the costs of the proposed project and factoring in the other considerations described in paragraph (2). The Secretary shall also consider the following: The degree to which the proposed project’s business plan considers potential private sector participation in the financing, construction, or operation of the project; The recipient’s past performance in developing and delivering similar projects, and previous financial contributions; Whether the recipient has or will have the legal, financial, and technical capacity to carry out the proposed project, satisfactory continuing control over the use of the equipment or facilities, and the capability and willingness to maintain the equipment or facilities; If applicable, the consistency of the proposed project with planning guidance and documents set forth by the Secretary or required by law or State rail plans developed under chapter 227; If applicable, any technical evaluation ratings that proposed project received under previous competitive grant programs administered by the Secretary; and Such other factors as the Secretary considers relevant to the successful delivery of the project. The benefits described in paragraph (1)(B) may include the effects on system and service performance, including measures such as improved safety, competitiveness, reliability, trip or transit time, resilience, efficiencies from improved integration with other modes, and ability to meet existing or anticipated demand. The Secretary shall establish performance measures for each grant recipient to assess progress in achieving strategic goals and objectives. The Secretary may require a grant recipient to periodically report information related to such performance measures. Of the amounts appropriated under this section, at least 25 percent shall be available for projects in rural areas. The Secretary shall consider a project to be in a rural area if all or the majority of the project (determined by the geographic location or locations where the majority of the project funds will be spent) is located in a rural area. In this subsection, the term rural area means any area not in an urbanized area, as defined by the Census Bureau. The Secretary shall estimate the total costs of a project under this subsection based on the best available information, including engineering studies, studies of economic feasibility, environmental analyses, and information on the expected use of equipment or facilities. The Federal share of total project costs under this subsection shall not exceed 80 percent. If Amtrak or another rail passenger carrier is an applicant under this section, Amtrak or the other rail passenger carrier, as applicable, may use ticket and other revenues generated from its operations and other sources to satisfy the non-Federal share requirements. Except as specifically provided in this section, the use of any amounts appropriated for grants under this section shall be subject to the requirements of this chapter. Amounts appropriated for carrying out this section shall remain available until expended. . The table of contents of chapter 244, as amended by section 302 of this Act, is amended by adding after the item relating to section 24407 the following: 24408. Consolidated rail infrastructure and safety improvements. .
Connectionstraces to 2
2 references not yet in our index
  • 45 USC 822(f)
  • 45 USC 823(l)
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cites case law
Sec. 421
Consolidated rail infrastructure and safety improvements
U.S.C.§ 24101
U.S.C.§ 801
Cite45 USC 822(f)
Cite45 USC 823(l)
Cites 4Cited by 0 across 0 sources
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