12 2 STA T .49 1 7PUBLIC LA W 11 0– 4 3 2 —O CT. 1 6, 200 8aqu a rte r ly re po rto n t h e per f or m an c ean ds er vi ce quality of inter - city passen g er train operations , including A mtra k’ s cost recovery, ridership, on-time performance and minutes of delay, causes of delay, on- b oard services, stations, facilities, equipment, and other services .( c )CONTRAC T SWI T HH OST R AI L CARRI E RS. —T othee x tent prac- ticable, Amtrak and its host rail carriers shall incorporate the metrics and standards developed under subsection (a) into their access and service agreements. (d) AR B ITRATION.— I f the development of the metrics and stand- ards is not completed w ithin the 180 -day period required by sub- section (a), any party involved in the development of those standards may petition the S urface Transportation B oard to appoint an arbi- trator to assist the parties in resolving their disputes through binding arbitration. SEC.208 . M E THOD O L O GI ES F O RA MTRA K RO U TEA N D SER V ICE P LAN - NING DECISIONS. (a) M ETHO D OLO GYD E V ELO PM ENT.—Within 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the F ederal Railroad Administration shall obtain the services of a qualified independent entity to develop and recommend ob j ective methodologies for Amtrak to use in deter- mining what intercity passenger routes and services it will provide, including the establishment of new routes, the elimination of existing routes, and the contraction or expansion of services or frequencies over such routes. In developing such methodologies, the entity shall consider— (1) the current or expected performance and service quality of intercity passenger train operations, including cost recovery, on-time performance and minutes of delay, ridership, on-board services, stations, facilities, equipment, and other services
( 2 ) connectivity of a route with other routes; ( 3 ) the transportation needs of communities and popu- lations that are not well served by intercity passenger rail service or by other forms of intercity transportation; ( 4 ) Amtrak’s and other major intercity passenger rail service providers in other countries’ methodologies for deter- mining intercity passenger rail routes and services; and ( 5 ) the views of the States and other interested parties. (b) S U BMITTAL TO CONGRESS.—Within 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the entity shall submit recommendations developed under subsection (a) to Amtrak, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. (c) CONSIDERATION O F RECOMMENDATIONS.—Within 9 0 days after receiving the recommendations developed under subsection (a) by the entity, the Amtrak Board of Directors shall consider the adoption of those recommendations. The Board shall transmit a report to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate explaining its reasons for adopting or not adopting the recommendations. SEC. 20 9 . STATE-SUPPORTED ROUTES. (a) IN G ENERAL.—Within 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Amtrak Board of Directors, in consultation with the Secretary, the governors of each relevant State, and the Mayor Deadlin e .49USC2 4 10 1 n ot e. R e p o r t s . Re c o m menda - tions. Deadlines. 49 USC 24101 note.
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