national railroad passenger corporation

national railroad passenger corporation Sec. 701. (a) General.—To carry out the purposes of this title, the Rail Passenger Service Act, and the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation is authorized to— (1) acquire by purchase, lease, exchange, gift, or otherwise, and to hold, maintain, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of, any real or personal property or interest therein which is necessary or useful in establishing and maintaining improved high-speed rail services, as specified in section 703 of this title; (2) enter into and implement such contracts and agreements as are necessary or appropriate in the conduct of its functions; (3) provide, for the continuous operation and maintenance of rail freight, intercity rail passenger, and commuter rail passenger service over the properties acquired pursuant to this section: Provided, That any provision of rail freight or rail commuter service shall be effectuated by a compensatory contract with the responsible carrier; (4) improve railroad rights-of-way between Boston, Massachusetts, and Washington. District of Columbia (including at its option, the route through Springfield, Massachusetts, and routes to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Albany, New York, from the Northeast Corridor main line) to enable improved highspeed rail passenger service to be provided between Boston, Massachusetts, and Washington, District of Columbia, and intermediate intercity markets, in accordance with the goals set forth in section 703 of this title; (5) acquire, construct, improve, and install passenger stations; communications, electric power, and other facilities and equipment; public and private highway and pedestrian crossings; other safety facilities or equipment; and any other facilities or equipment which it determines are necessary to enable improved high-speed rail passenger service to be provided over the railroad rights-of-way to be improved under paragraph (4) of this subsection; (6) enter into agreements with other railroads, other carriers, and commuter agencies, for the purpose of granting, acquiring, or entering into trackage rights, contract services, and other appropriate arrangements for freight and commuter services over the rights-of-way acquired under this title, with such agreement to be on such terms and conditions as are necessary to reimbursement for costs on an equitable and fair basis, except that cross subsidization among intercity, commuter, or rail freight services is prohibited; (7) appoint a qualified individual to serve as the General Manager of the Northeast Corridor improvement project; and (8) enter into agreements with telecommunications common carriers on a basis which is consistent with, and subject to, the 90 STAT. 120Communications Act of 1934, for the purpose of continuing existing, and creating new and improved, rail passenger radio mobile telephone service in the high-speed rail passenger service area specified in section 703(1) of this title. (b) Transfer of Rail Properties.—The Corporation, on the date of conveyance pursuant to section 303(b) (1) of the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 (45 U.S.C. 743), shall, by purchase or lease, transfer to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation all rail properties designated pursuant to sections 206(c) (1) (C) and 601(d) of the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 (45 U.S.C. 716(c) (1)(C) and 791(d)), and it shall, within 180 days after the date of enactment of this title, execute agreements providing for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation to assume (1) all operational responsibility for intercity rail passenger services with respect to such properties, and (2) control and maintenance of the properties transferred. Such parties may agree to retaining or transferring, in whole or in part, operational responsibility for rail freight or commuter rail services in the area specified. (c) Definition.—As used in this title, the term “Northeast Corridor” means the States of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland, and the District of Columbia.