By Mary Kerr (202) 225-6260
Today, legislation to improve the nation’s intercity passenger rail system and the safety of our railroads was signed into law by President Bush. The Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 and the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 will increase funding for Amtrak over the next five years, require new safety controls on trains that help reduce crashes, allow states to regulate solid waste processing facilities along rail lines and allocate funding for improvements to Washington, D.C.’s Metro transit system.
Rep. James L. Oberstar (Minn.) led the effort to pass the rail package in the House, and Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (N.J.) led the effort in the Senate.
“Today is a transformative and historic moment in our Nation’s transportation system, because we passed legislation improving intercity passenger rail service and enhancing a transportation solution that is affordable, accessible, and environmentally sustainable. After a decade of starvation diets by the Bush administration and inaction of the Republican-controlled Congress, we stand together to rebuild Amtrak and provide the necessary resources to construct a network of high-speed rail corridors across America,” said Rep. Oberstar, Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. “Additionally, this legislation greatly increases safety standards for the rail industry. This is good news for rail workers, and for the general public.”
“This is a victory for anyone who’s tired of sitting in traffic, paying high prices at the pump and waiting in long lines at airports,” said Sen. Lautenberg, Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Surface Transportation. “As Amtrak ridership continues to hit record levels, this new law gives passenger rail the resources it needs to meet the nation’s increased demands. Our law also modernizes safety procedures and decreases risk with smarter regulation and new technology. Now that the President has signed this package into law, we can start to give Americans the rail service they deserve.”
“My Subcommittee has held numerous hearings on railroad safety, as well as intercity passenger rail service. Amtrak and intercity passenger rail are more popular and necessary than ever because of increasing highway and airport congestion and rising gas prices,” said Rep. Corrine Brown (Fla.), the Chairwoman of the Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee. “This legislation will help reduce accidents, improve rail safety, and enhance the work environment for employees, which will allow the rail industry to safely handle passenger and freight rail growth.”
During Fiscal Year 2008, it is estimated that more than 28 million passengers traveled aboard Amtrak, making it the sixth straight year of record ridership. With the increased congestion in the nation’s airports and on its highways, passenger rail is a vital alternative for intercity travel throughout the country.
The rail legislation includes:
1.Amtrak reauthorization legislation which was developed from similar bills passed by the Senate last year (70-22) and passed the House earlier this year (311-94).
The legislation:
Authorizes $13.06 billion over five years for passenger rail— more than $2.6 billion annually for Amtrak, intercity passenger rail, and high speed rail programs, which is almost double what the U.S. is currently spending;
Requires reforms at Amtrak, including a new Board of Directors, improved accounting and financial planning, and new standards for service reliability and on-time performance;
Requires a collaborative plan for bringing the Northeast Corridor to a state-of-good-repair by 2018;
Authorizes the Surface Transportation Board to fine freight railroads for delaying Amtrak trains; and Requires Amtrak stations to comply with disability accessibility standards and authorize funding for such improvements.
2. Railroad safety improvement legislation which was developed from similar bills passed unanimously by the Senate and the House (377-38).
The legislation:
Mandates positive train control (PTC) technology on passenger and certain hazmat rail main lines by 2015 and authorize $250 million in Federal grants for PTC installation;
Guarantees a 12-hour work period and minimum 10-hour disruption-free rest period for train crews and signal employees;
Limit the amount of time a rail worker may be in “limbo time”;
Requires a Federal study and regulation on use of cell phones and other device distractions in locomotive cabs;
Requires risk-based safety programs for all major railroads to prevent deaths and injuries; and
Creates a National Transportation Safety Board office to assist families of passengers following rail disasters.
3. The Clean Railroads Act of 2008 which:
Allows states to clean up solid waste processing facilities on rail sites, which have avoided regulation through a loophole in Federal law; and
Applies state standards for air pollution, water pollution and fire safety to transfer facilities handling and storing solid waste in open dumps.
4. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) reauthorization legislation, which:
Authorizes $1.5 billion over 10 years for rehabilitation and improvements to Washington D.C.’s rail transit system.
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