Sec. 9102. Passenger rail improvement, modernization, and expansion grants
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Section 22906 of title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: The Secretary of Transportation shall establish a program to make grants for capital projects that improve the state of good repair, operational performance, or growth of intercity rail passenger transportation. Capital projects eligible for a grant under this section include— a project to replace, rehabilitate, or repair a major infrastructure asset used for providing passenger rail service to bring such infrastructure asset into a state of good repair; a project to improve passenger rail performance, including congestion mitigation, reliability improvements, achievement of on-time performance standards established under section 207 of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 ( 49 U.S.C. 24101 note), reduced trip times, increased train frequencies, higher operating speeds, electrification, and other improvements, as determined by the Secretary; and a project to repair, rehabilitate, replace, or build infrastructure to expand or establish intercity rail passenger transportation and facilities, including high-speed rail.
To be eligible for a grant under this section, an applicant shall have, or provide documentation of a credible plan to achieve— the legal, financial, and technical capacity to carry out the project; satisfactory continuing control over the use of the equipment or facilities that are the subject of the project; and an agreement in place for maintenance of such equipment or facilities. In selecting an applicant for a grant under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to capital projects that— are supported by multiple States or are included in a regional planning process; or achieve environmental benefits such as a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions or an improvement in local air quality.
In selecting an applicant for a grant under this section, the Secretary shall consider— the cost-benefit analysis of the proposed project, including anticipated public benefits relative to the costs of the proposed project, including— effects on system and service performance; effects on safety, competitiveness, reliability, trip or transit time, and resilience; impacts on the overall transportation system, including efficiencies from improved integration with other modes of transportation or benefits associated with achieving modal shifts; the ability to meet existing, anticipated, or induced passenger or service demand; and projected effects on regional and local economies along the corridor, including increased competitiveness, productivity, efficiency, and economic development; the applicant’s past performance in developing and delivering similar projects; if applicable, the consistency of the project with planning guidance and documents set forth by the Secretary or required by law; and if applicable, agreements between all stakeholders necessary for the successful delivery of the project.
Of the funds made available to carry out this section, not less than 40 percent shall be made available for projects included in the Northeast Corridor investment plan required under section 24904. Of the funds made available to carry out this section, not less than 40 percent shall be made available for— projects on the National Network; high-speed rail projects; and the establishment of new passenger rail corridors not located on the Northeast Corridor. The Secretary shall estimate the total cost of a project under this section 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 costs for a project under this section shall not exceed 90 percent. Applicants may use ticket and other revenues generated from operations and other sources to satisfy the non-Federal share requirements. The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, issue a letter of intent to a recipient of a grant under this section that— announces an intention to obligate, for a major capital project under this section, an amount that is not more than the amount stipulated as the financial participation of the Secretary in the project; and states that the contingent commitment— is not an obligation of the Federal Government; and is subject to the availability of appropriations for grants under this section and subject to Federal laws in force or enacted after the date of the contingent commitment.
Not later than 3 days before issuing a letter of intent under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit written notification to— the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives; the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. The notification submitted under subparagraph
(A)shall include— a copy of the letter of intent; the criteria used under subsection
(b)for selecting the project for a grant; and a description of how the project meets such criteria. An obligation or administrative commitment may be made under this section only when amounts are appropriated for such purpose. The Secretary may withhold up to 1 percent of the total amount made available to carry out this section for program oversight and management, including providing technical assistance and project planning guidance. The Secretary may withhold up to half a percent of the total amount made available to carry out this section to facilitate and provide guidance for regional planning processes. Amounts made available to carry out this section shall remain available until expended. Except as specifically provided in this section, the use of any amounts appropriated for grants under this section shall be subject to the grant conditions under section 22905, except that the domestic buying preferences of section 24305(f) shall apply to grants provided to Amtrak in lieu of the requirements of section 22905(a). In this section: The term applicant means— a State; a group of States; an Interstate Compact; a public agency or publicly chartered authority established by one or more States; a political subdivision of a State; or Amtrak, acting on its own behalf or under a cooperative agreement with one or more States. The term capital project means— acquisition, construction, replacement, rehabilitation, or repair of major infrastructure assets or equipment that benefit intercity rail passenger transportation, including tunnels, bridges, stations, track, electrification, grade crossings, passenger rolling stock, and other assets, as determined by the Secretary; projects that ensure service can be maintained while existing assets are rehabilitated or replaced; and project planning, development, design, and environmental analysis related to projects under subsections
(A)and (B). The term intercity rail passenger transportation has the meaning given such term in section 24102. The term high-speed rail has the meaning given such term in section 26106(b). The term Northeast Corridor has the meaning given such term in section 24102. The term National Network has the meaning given such term in section 24102. The term State means each of the 50 States and the District of Columbia. . The item relating to section 22906 in the analysis for chapter 229 of title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 22906. Passenger rail improvement, modernization, and expansion grants. .
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Sec. 9102
Passenger rail improvement, modernization, and expansion grants
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