by Jim Repass
National Corridors Initiative, Inc.
Vol. 3 No. 11, March 18, 2002
©2002 NCI, Inc., used by permission

Senate Commerce Chairman Ernest Hollings (D-S.C.) introduced a comprehensive passenger rail reauthorization bill, S.1991, the National Defense Rail Act on March 6. It had 22 sponsors two days later, including Sens. Ted Stevens (R) of Alaska, who is Appropriations chairman; Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Tex).

If the bill is enacted without changes, according to the National Association of Rail Passengers, it would authorize, for 2003 only, $1.26 billion for various rail security needs (similar to S.1550), including $360 million for Amtrak security needs (half available for Northeast Corridor), $5 million for DOT to perform a security assessment of all passenger and freight rail systems, $895 million for life and safety upgrades to Amtrak tunnels in New York, Baltimore, and Washington, $3 million for preliminary design work for Baltimore tunnels.

The measure would also authorize, from 2003 through 2008, $1.55 billion for high-speed rail, of which $25 million is for DOT research and development; $25 million is for DOT planning; and $1.5 billion for corridor implementation (other than the Northeast Corridor, unless the NEC receives no other federal funding).

It would also expand the current network of federally designated high-speed corridors by adding Atlanta-Charleston; Raleigh-Florence-Charleston-Savannah; Florence-Myrtle Beach; and Los Angeles-Las Vegas. Highest priorities would go to hubs identified as Chicago, Atlanta, and Dallas-Fort Worth. DOT may add to corridor designations, or reduce them.

The comprehensive bill would annually authorize $1.31 billion for the Northeast Corridor, of which $720 million is for infrastructure, $100 million is for rolling stock, $70 million is for stations and facilities, $20 million for technology upgrades, $400 million is for growth. That would begin in 2003. Any operating profit resulting from Northeast Corridor train operations would be required to be reinvested in Northeast Corridor infrastructure, and, starting in 2003, authorizes $5 million annually for a passenger rail research and development program at the National Academy of Sciences, similar to those already in place for highways and transit.

Between 2003-2007, $500 million would go to Amtrak, of which (on average-amounts vary from year to year) $160 million would be dedicated to mandatory excess railroad retirement payments, $267 million is for debt payments, $30 million for environmental compliance, and $43 million for Americans with Disabilities Act compliance. Any profit resulting from Amtrak's non-passenger activities must be invested in non-Northeast Corridor growth. It would also authorize $2.5 million for one-time external assessment of Amtrak cost accounting, as well as other Amtrak programs.