House transportation committee members introduce passenger-rail reauthorization bill

Yesterday, members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee unveiled the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2014 (PRRIA), which would reauthorize Amtrak for the next four years, although not at its current federal funding level.

The legislation was introduced by Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), Ranking Member Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.), Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee Chairman Jeff Denham (R-Calif.), and Subcommittee Ranking Member Corrine Brown (D-Fla.).

The bill would provide "much needed investments" in the long-distance passenger-rail network and ensure continuation of long-distance trains, Rahall said in a press release.

PRRIA also would require Amtrak to be reformed and improved so that it enhances transparency, reduces costs and operates more like a business. Specifically, the bill would:
• eliminate Amtrak losses in food and beverage service;
• mandate Amtrak to carry out a "business case analysis" for all major procurements;
• require transparent bookkeeping aligned with core service functions;
• create private-sector station development opportunities;
• open new revenue streams through right-of-way development;
• "unlock" an underutilized federal railroad loan program;
• assist with advancing large infrastructure projects through state partnerships;
• improve management of the Northeast corridor and incentivize increased investment in the NEC;
• empower states to have a greater role in managing routes; and
• streamline environmental reviews to speed up project delivery.

"The reality is intercity passenger rail plays an important role in our national transportation network," Shuster said. "Congress can either sit back while Amtrak and our passenger rail system continue to muddle along without reforms and without improvements, or we can take significant steps forward in improving Amtrak’s transparency and cost-effectiveness, and compelling it to operate like a true business should."

In a prepared statement, Amtrak officials said they appreciated that the bipartisan reauthorization bill maintains federal support for the railroad and continues development of a national intercity passenger-rail network.

"We are reviewing the proposed legislation and look forward to working with Congress to enact a bill that addresses critical infrastructure investment needs, improves safety and security, enhances customer service and provides for greater financial efficiencies," they said. "These improvements are needed to grow and sustain passenger rail and meet the expectations of our passengers and the 46 states and more than 500 communities served by Amtrak."

The bill is a sign that both political parties can work together to draft legislation that funds and sustains Amtrak, said Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department AFL-CIO.

"We do caution that this bill does not provide Amtrak the level of funding it requires to deliver the service Americans need and deserve," he added. "We should be using the rewrite of our passenger-rail laws to set in a motion a long-term vision for expanded investment in Amtrak."