By Ron Thaniel
November 11, 2008

On October 16, President Bush signed into law H.R. 2095, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 and the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008.

The measure 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 (DC) Metro transit system. In particular, the Amtrak portion of the law includes:

• $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.

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.

At the U.S. Conference of Mayors August Action Forum on Infrastructure in New York City and again at the Fall Leadership Meeting, the mayors voiced strong support for an Eisenhower plan for rail – as President Dwight D. Eisenhower transformed the nation through the Interstate Highway System, America needs a comprehensive National Rail Investment Plan.