Bill Summary & Status for the 106th Congress

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H.R.4507
Sponsor: Rep Clement, Bob(introduced 5/19/2000)
Latest Major Action: 5/22/2000 Referred to House subcommittee. Latest Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Ground Transportation.
Title: To designate the Surface Transportation Board as a forum for resolution of disagreements between mass transportation authorities and freight railroads regarding access to freight track and rights-of-way for fixed guideway transportation in consideration for just and reasonable compensation to freight railroads.
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TITLE(S):  (italics indicate a title for a portion of a bill)
STATUS: (color indicates Senate actions)
5/19/2000:
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
5/22/2000:
Referred to the Subcommittee on Ground Transportation.
COMMITTEE(S):
RELATED BILL DETAILS:

***NONE***

AMENDMENT(S):

***NONE***

COSPONSORS(7), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]:     (Sort: by date)

Rep Blumenauer, Earl - 5/19/2000 Rep Jefferson, William J. - 7/27/2000
Rep Kaptur, Marcy - 6/14/2000 Rep Kucinich, Dennis J. - 7/20/2000
Rep Mica, John L. - 5/19/2000 Rep Regula, Ralph - 5/19/2000
Rep Tauscher, Ellen O. - 5/19/2000

SUMMARY AS OF:
5/19/2000--Introduced.

Transit Rail Access Improvement and Needs Act for the 21st Century - Amends Federal transportation law to provide that if, after negotiation, a mass transportation authority cannot reach agreement with a rail carrier to use the carrier's trackage, and have related services provided, for fixed guideway transportation purposes, the Surface Transportation Board shall, upon the authority's or the carrier's application, and if necessary or useful: (1) order that the trackage be made available and the related services provided to the authority; and (2) prescribe reasonable terms and compensation, based upon the carrier's incremental cost of providing such trackage and services.

Authorizes the mass transportation authority or the rail carrier to apply to the Board for an order establishing reasonable terms for the operation of additional trains by or for the authority over a rail line of the carrier, when the carrier and the authority cannot agree to terms.

Authorizes a mass transportation authority, after notice to the rail carrier and a sufficient period for maintenance improvements, to apply to the Board for an order requiring the carrier to provide increased or improved maintenance on the trackage if the authority believes that maintenance on trackage operated by or for the authority has fallen below a safe or necessary level.

Authorizes a mass transportation authority to apply to the Board for an order requiring the rail carrier to allow accelerated speeds and related improvements if the rail carrier refuses to allow them.

Declares that, except in an emergency, fixed guideway transportation provided by or for a mass transportation authority pursuant to an order issued under this Act has preference over freight transportation in using a rail line, junction, or crossing, unless the Board orders otherwise.

Declares that if, after negotiation, a mass transportation authority cannot reach agreement with a rail carrier to acquire an interest in a railroad right-of-way for the construction and operation of a segregated fixed guideway facility, the authority may apply to the Board for an order requiring the carrier to convey an interest to the authority.