LIGHT DENSITY RAIL LINE PILOT PROJECTS.

SEC. 7202. LIGHT DENSITY RAIL LINE PILOT PROJECTS. (a) Amendment.— Part B of subtitle V of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new chapter: “CHAPTER 223— LIGHT DENSITY RAIL LINE PILOT PROJECTS “Sec. “22301. Light density rail line pilot projects. “§ 22301. Light density rail line pilot projects “(a) Grants.— The Secretary of Transportation may make grants to States that have State rail plans described in section 22102 (1) and (2), to fund pilot projects that demonstrate the relationship of light density railroad services to the statutory responsibilities of the Secretary, including those under title 23. “(b) Limitations.— Grants under this section may be made only for pilot projects for making capital improvements to, and rehabilitating, publicly and privately owned rail line structures, and may not be used for providing operating assistance. 112 STAT. 471 “(c) Private Owner Contribution.— Grants made under this section for projects on privately owned rail line structures shall include contributions by the owner of the rail line structures, based on the benefit to those structures, as determined by the Secretary. “(d) Study.— The Secretary shall conduct a study of the pilot projects carried out with grant assistance under this section to determine the public interest benefits associated with the light density railroad networks in the States and their contribution to a multimodal transportation system. Not later than March 31, 2003, the Secretary shall report to Congress any recommendations the Secretary considers appropriate regarding the eligibility of light density rail networks for Federal infrastructure financing. “(e) Authorization of Appropriations.— There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $17,500,000 for each of the fiscal years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003. Such funds shall remain available until expended.”. (b) Table of Chapters.— The table of chapters of subtitle V of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter 221 the following new item: “223. LIGHT DENSITY RAIL LINE PILOT PROJECTS 22301”.