§ 208. METHODOLOGIES FOR AMTRAK ROUTE AND SERVICE PLANNING DECISIONS.
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/usc/title-49/section-208A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Methodology Development .— Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015 [ Dec. 4, 2015 ], Amtrak shall obtain the services of an independent entity to develop and recommend objective methodologies for Amtrak to use in determining what intercity rail passenger transportation routes and services it should provide, including the establishment of new routes, the elimination of existing routes, and the contraction or expansion of services or frequencies over such routes.
Considerations .— Amtrak shall require the independent entity, in developing the methodologies described in subsection (a), to consider— the current and expected performance and service quality of intercity rail passenger transportation operations, including cost recovery, on-time performance, ridership, on-board services, stations, facilities, equipment, and other services; the connectivity of a route with other routes; the transportation needs of communities and populations that are not well served by intercity rail passenger transportation service or by other forms of intercity transportation; the methodologies of Amtrak and major intercity rail passenger transportation service providers in other countries for determining intercity passenger rail routes and services; the financial and operational effects on the overall network, including the effects on direct and indirect costs; the views of States, rail carriers that own infrastructure over which Amtrak operates, Interstate Compacts established by Congress and States, Amtrak employee representatives, stakeholder organizations, and other interested parties; and the funding levels that will be available under authorization levels that have been enacted into law.
Recommendations .— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015 [ Dec. 4, 2015 ], Amtrak shall transmit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives the recommendations developed by the independent entity under subsection (a). Consideration of Recommendations .— Not later than 90 days after the date on which the recommendations are transmitted under subsection (c), the Amtrak Board of Directors shall consider the adoption of each recommendation and transmit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report explaining the reasons for adopting or not adopting each recommendation.