PRINTER'S NO. 705
No. 640 Session of 1991
INTRODUCED BY PETRARCA, CESSAR, GEIST, OLASZ, FAIRCHILD,
PRESTON, PISTELLA, ROBINSON, GRUPPO, STUBAN, MARSICO,
VAN HORNE, R. C. WRIGHT, ADOLPH, TANGRETTI, COLE,
CAPPABIANCA, STRITTMATTER, SALOOM, PETRONE, CARLSON,
PHILLIPS, TIGUE, G. SNYDER, HERSHEY, TRELLO, WAMBACH, RUDY,
RIEGER, FARMER, MAYERNIK, VEON, FARGO, SCHULER, JOHNSON,
SAURMAN, PESCI, STISH, BATTISTO, KASUNIC, MELIO, KAISER,
McCALL, DeLUCA, D. R. WRIGHT, DALEY, CLARK, STAIRS,
D. W. SNYDER, STEIGHNER, CIVERA, COLAFELLA, TELEK, COLAIZZO,
HESS, BROUJOS, GEORGE, DONATUCCI, FEE, NOYE, FLEAGLE,
GIGLIOTTI, LAUGHLIN, WOZNIAK, HALUSKA, B. SMITH, GRUITZA,
LaGROTTA, STABACK, LESCOVITZ, KUKOVICH, KOSINSKI, CORRIGAN,
McNALLY, MRKONIC, BILLOW, FLICK AND FOX, MARCH 12, 1991
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, MARCH 12, 1991
AN ACT
1 Assigning development of high speed intercity rail passenger
2 service to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and providing
3 for its powers and duties; and making appropriations.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Short title.
7 This act shall be known and may be cited as the High Speed
8 Intercity Rail Passenger Act.
9 Section 2. Definitions.
10 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
11 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
12 context clearly indicates otherwise:
13 "Commission." The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.
1 "Oversight committee." A committee composed of the majority
2 and minority transportation committees of the Senate and the
3 majority and minority transportation committees of the House of
4 Representatives or their designees.
5 "System." A high speed intercity rail passenger system for
6 the Commonwealth.
7 Section 3. Powers and duties.
8 The commission shall have the overall responsibility, power
9 and duty to propose and make recommendations for the
10 establishment and operation of a high speed intercity rail
11 passenger system within this Commonwealth connecting
12 Philadelphia, Paoli, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Lewistown, State
13 College, Altoona, Johnstown, Greensburg and Pittsburgh. The
14 commission shall also study the feasibility of adding connecting
15 service from this main service line to the following areas: New
16 Castle, Meadville, Erie, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Allentown.
17 Section 4. Designation of plan; selection of vendor.
18 The commission shall solicit proposals from vendors
19 interested in developing, in conjunction with the commission, a
20 high speed intercity rail system within this Commonwealth in
21 accordance with the specific areas and issues identified in this
22 section. The commission shall make its final report under this
23 act no later than 18 months after the effective date of this act
24 including preliminary designation, if appropriate, of a vendor,
25 adoption of a plan, franchising agreement and a request for an
26 appropriation from the General Assembly to fund the program.
27 This recommendation shall address the following specific areas
28 and issues:
29 (1) The level of demand for high speed intercity rail
30 service in this Commonwealth as updated by the council.
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1 (2) The degree of high speed rail service required to
2 meet such demand.
3 (3) System, equipment, roadbed, right-of-way and other
4 technical and technological options.
5 (4) Location and extent of the specific routes in the
6 system as established in section 3.
7 (5) Cost of implementing the system.
8 (6) Socio-economic impact of the system; and value-
9 captured station sites.
10 (7) Financing, ownership and operating requirements for
11 the system in separate station sites.
12 Section 5. Staff.
13 The commission may employ such professional, technical and
14 clerical staff and engage the services of consultants as it
15 deems necessary to carry out its responsibilities under this
16 act.
17 Section 6. Reports.
18 The commission shall make at least annual reports of its
19 activities and recommendations with respect to this act to the
20 General Assembly and the Governor and shall meet at least six
21 times per year with the oversight committee.
22 Section 7. Finances and contributions.
23 In addition to the moneys appropriated by section 8 and such
24 other moneys as may be appropriated from time to time by the
25 General Assembly for its work, the commission is authorized to
26 make application for and expend such Federal grants as may be
27 available and may also receive and expend contributions from
28 other public, quasi-public or private sources as may become
29 available.
30 Section 8. Appropriations.
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1 The sum of $300,000 is hereby appropriated to the
2 Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. Such appropriations shall not
3 lapse.
4 Section 9. Effective date.
5 This act shall take effect in 30 days.
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