(a)
(1)
(A) a State (including the District of Columbia);
(B) a group of States;
(C) an Interstate Compact;
(D) a public agency or publicly chartered authority established by 1 or more States;
(E) a political subdivision of a State;
(F) Amtrak, acting on its own behalf or under a cooperative agreement with 1 or more States; or
(G) any combination of the entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (F).
(2)
(A) a project primarily intended to replace, rehabilitate, or repair major infrastructure assets utilized for providing intercity rail passenger service, including tunnels, bridges, stations, and other assets, as determined by the Secretary; or
(B) a project primarily intended to improve intercity passenger rail performance, including reduced trip times, increased train frequencies, higher operating speeds, and other improvements, as determined by the Secretary.
(3)
(4)
(A) the main rail line between Boston, Massachusetts and the District of Columbia;
(B) the branch rail lines connecting to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Springfield, Massachusetts, and Spuyten Duyvil, New York; and
(C) facilities and services used to operate and maintain lines described in subparagraphs (A) and (B).
(5)
(A) is owned or controlled by an eligible applicant;
(B) is contained in the planning document developed under section 24904 and for which a cost-allocation policy has been developed under section 24905(c), or is contained in an equivalent planning document and for which a similar cost-allocation policy has been developed; and
(C) was not in a state of good repair on the date of enactment of the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015.
(b)
(c)
(1) capital projects to replace existing assets in-kind;
(2) capital projects to replace existing assets with assets that increase capacity or provide a higher level of service;
(3) capital projects to ensure that service can be maintained while existing assets are brought to a state of good repair; and
(4) capital projects to bring existing assets into a state of good repair.
(d)
(1) give preference to eligible projects for which-
(A) Amtrak is not the sole applicant;
(B) applications were submitted jointly by multiple applicants; and
(C) the proposed Federal share of total project costs does not exceed 50 percent; and
(2) take into account-
(A) the cost-benefit analysis of the proposed project, including anticipated private and public benefits relative to the costs of the proposed project, including-
(i) effects on system and service performance;
(ii) effects on safety, competitiveness, reliability, trip or transit time, and resilience;
(iii) efficiencies from improved integration with other modes; and
(iv) ability to meet existing or anticipated demand;
(B) the degree to which the proposed project's business plan considers potential private sector participation in the financing, construction, or operation of the proposed project;
(C) the applicant's past performance in developing and delivering similar projects, and previous financial contributions;
(D) whether the applicant has, or will have-
(i) the legal, financial, and technical capacity to carry out the project;
(ii) satisfactory continuing control over the use of the equipment or facilities; and
(iii) the capability and willingness to maintain the equipment or facilities;
(E) if applicable, the consistency of the project with planning guidance and documents set forth by the Secretary or required by law; and
(F) any other relevant factors, as determined by the Secretary.
(e)
(1)
(2)
(f)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(g)
(1)
(A) announces an intention to obligate, for a major capital project under this section, an amount from future available budget authority specified in law that is not more than the amount stipulated as the financial participation of the Secretary in the project; and
(B) states that the contingent commitment-
(i) is not an obligation of the Federal Government; and
(ii) 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.
(2)
(A)
(i) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;
(ii) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(iii) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives; and
(iv) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
(B) Contents.-The notification submitted pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall include-
(i) a copy of the proposed letter;
(ii) the criteria used under subsection (d) for selecting the project for a grant award; and
(iii) a description of how the project meets such criteria.
(3)
(h)
(i)
(Added
The date of enactment of the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015, referred to in subsec. (a)(5)(C), is the date of enactment of title XI of div. A of
2019-Subsec. (i).
2018-Subsec. (e)(1).
Section effective Oct. 1, 2015, see section 1003 of