12 2 STA T .493 4 PUBLIC LA W 11 0– 432 —O CT. 1 6, 200 8(2)contai n sre co m men d ations f or im p ro v in g t h eon - time performance of s u ch routes .SEC.2 2 6 . PLANFOR RES T ORAT I ON OF SER V ICE. W ithin 9 months after the date of enactment of this A ct , Amtra k sha l l transmit to the C ommittee on T ransportation and I nfrastruc- ture of the H ouse of R epresentatives and the Committee on Com- merce, S cience, and Transportation of the Senate a plan for restoring passenger rail service b et w een N ew O rleans, L ouisiana, and Sanford, F lorida. The plan shall include a pro j ected timeline for restoring such service, the costs associated with restoring such service, and an y proposals for legislation necessary to support such restoration of service. In developing the plan, Amtrak shall consult with representatives from the States of Louisiana, Alabama, M is- sissippi, and Florida, railroad carriers whose tracks may be used for such service, rail passengers, rail labor, and other entities as appropriate. SEC. 22 7 . M AINTENANCE AN D REPAIR FACILIT YU TILI Z ATION STUDY. Within 9 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Inspector G eneral of the D epartment of Transportation shall transmit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on Amtrak ’ s utili z ation of its e q uipment maintenance and repair facilities, including the B eech Grove Mechanical Facility in Indiana. The report shall include an e x amination of Amtrak’s utilization of its existing equipment maintenance and repair facilities, the produc- tivity of such facilities, and the extent to which Amtrak is maxi- mizing opportunities for utilizing each facility, including the provi- sion of maintenance and repair to other rail carriers. In developing this report, the Inspector General shall consult with the Inspector General of Amtrak, Amtrak management, rail labor, and other railroad carriers, as it deems appropriate. SEC. 22 8 . SENSEOFT H E CON G RESS REGARDING THE NEED TO MAIN - TAIN AMTRA K AS A NATIONAL PASSENGER RAIL SYSTEM. (a) F IND IN GS . — The Congress makes the following findings
( 1 ) In fiscal year 2 0 0 7 , 3 , 8 00,000 passengers traveled on Amtrak’s long-distance trains, an increase of 2. 4 percent over fiscal year 200 6 . (2) Amtrak long-distance routes generated $ 376,000,000 in revenue in fiscal year 2007, an increase of 5 percent over fiscal year 2006. (3) Amtrak operates 15 long-distance trains over 18,500 route miles that serve 39 States and the District of Columbia. These trains provide the only rail passenger service to 23 States. (4) Amtrak’s long-distance trains provide an essential transportation service for many communities and to a signifi- cant percentage of the general public. (5) Many long-distance trains serve small communities with limited or no significant air or bus service, especially in remote or isolated areas in the U nited States. (6) As a result of airline deregulation and decisions by national bus carriers to leave many communities, rail transpor- tation may provide the only feasible common carrier transpor- tation option for a growing number of areas. Consulta t i on .De a d line. R e p o r ts. Deadline.
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