PUBLIC LAW 105-134—DEC. 2, 1997 111 STAT. 2573 SEC. 104. ADDITIONAL QUALIFYING ROUTES. Section 24705 and the item relating thereto in the table of sections for chapter 247 are repealed. SEC. 105. TRANSPORTATION REQUESTED BY STATES, AUTHORITIES, AND OTHER PERSONS. (a) REPEAL,—Section 24704 and the item relating thereto in the table of sections of chapter 247 are repealed. (b) STATE, REGIONAL, AND LOCAL COOPERATION.— Section 24101(c)(2) is amended by inserting ", separately or in combination," after "and the private sector". (c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.— Section 24312(a)(1) is amended by striking "or 24704(b)(2)". SEC. 106. AMTRAK COMMUTER. (a) REPEAL OF CHAPTER 245.— Chapter 245 and the item relating thereto in the table of chapters for subtitle V of such title, are repealed. (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.— Section 24301(f) is amended to read as follows: "(f) TAX EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN COMMUTER AUTHORITIES.— A commuter authority that was eligible to make a contract with Amtrak Commuter to provide commuter rail passenger transportation but which decided to provide its own rail passenger transportation beginning January 1, 1983, is exempt, effective October 1, 1981, from paying a tax or fee to the same extent Amtrsik is exempt.". (c) TRACKAGE RIGHTS NOT AFFECTED. —The repeal of chapter 245 of title 49, United States Code, by subsection (a) of this section is without prejudice to the retention of trackage rights over property owned or leased by commuter authorities. SEC. 107. THROUGH SERVICE IN CONJUNCTION WITH INTERCITY BUS OPERATIONS. (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 24305(a) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: "(3)(A) Except as provided in subsection (d)(2), Amtrak may enter into a contract with a motor carrier of passengers for the intercity transportation of passengers by motor carrier over regular routes only— "(i) if the motor carrier is not a public recipient of governmental assistance, as such term is defined in section 13902(b)(8)(A) of this title, other than a recipient of funds under section 5311 of this title; "(ii) for passengers who have had prior movement by rail or will have subsequent movement by rail; and "(iii) if the buses, when used in the provision of such transportation, are used exclusively for the transportation of passengers described in clause (ii). "(B) Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to transportation funded predominantly by a State or local government, or to ticket selling agreements.". (b) POLICY STATEMENT. —Section 24305(d) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: "(3) Congress encourages Amtrak and motor common carriers of passengers to use the authority conferred in sections 11322 and 14302 of this title for the purpose of providing improved service to the public and economy of operation.". 49 USC 24501 et seq. 49 USC 24501 note.
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