PRINTER'S NO. 2041
No. 1762 Session of 1993
INTRODUCED BY PETRARCA, CESSAR, GEIST, LAUGHLIN, FARGO,
BATTISTO, PHILLIPS, OLASZ, FLICK, ROBINSON, PETRONE, KASUNIC,
McCALL, KUKOVICH, DALEY, PESCI, PISTELLA, CAPPABIANCA AND
VAN HORNE, JUNE 7, 1993
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, JUNE 7, 1993
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.
14 "Oversight committee." A committee composed of the majority
15 and minority transportation committees of the Senate and the
16 majority and minority transportation committees of the House of
17 Representatives or their designees.
1 "System." A high speed intercity rail passenger system for
2 the Commonwealth.
3 Section 3. Powers and duties.
4 The commission shall have the overall responsibility, power
5 and duty to propose and make recommendations for the
6 establishment and operation of a high speed intercity rail
7 passenger system within this Commonwealth connecting
8 Philadelphia, Paoli, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Lewistown, State
9 College, Altoona, Johnstown, Greensburg and Pittsburgh. The
10 commission shall also study the feasibility of adding connecting
11 service from this main service line to the following areas: New
12 Castle, Meadville, Erie, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Allentown.
13 Section 4. Designation of plan; selection of vendor.
14 The commission shall solicit proposals from vendors
15 interested in developing, in conjunction with the commission, a
16 high speed intercity rail system within this Commonwealth in
17 accordance with the specific areas and issues identified in this
18 section. The commission shall make its final report under this
19 act no later than 18 months after the effective date of this
20 act, including designation, if appropriate, of a vendor,
21 adoption of a plan, franchising agreement and, if needed, a
22 request for an appropriation from the General Assembly to fund
23 the program. This recommendation shall address the following
24 specific areas and issues:
25 (1) The level of demand for high speed intercity rail
26 service in this Commonwealth.
27 (2) The degree of high speed rail service required to
28 meet such demand.
29 (3) System, equipment, roadbed, right-of-way and other
30 technical and technological options.
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1 (4) Location and extent of the specific routes in the
2 system as established in section 3.
3 (5) Cost of implementing the system.
4 (6) Socio-economic impact of the system; and value-
5 captured station sites.
6 (7) Financing, ownership and operating requirements for
7 the system in separate station sites.
8 Section 5. Staff.
9 The commission may employ such professional, technical and
10 clerical staff and engage the services of consultants as it
11 deems necessary to carry out its responsibilities under this
12 act.
13 Section 6. Reports.
14 The commission shall make at least annual reports of its
15 activities and recommendations with respect to this act to the
16 General Assembly and the Governor and shall meet at least six
17 times per year with the oversight committee.
18 Section 7. Finances and contributions.
19 In addition to the moneys appropriated by section 8 and such
20 other moneys as may be appropriated from time to time by the
21 General Assembly for its work, the commission is authorized to
22 make application for and expend such Federal grants as may be
23 available, arrange bond financing and may also receive and
24 expend contributions from other public, quasi-public or private
25 sources as may become available.
26 Section 8. Appropriations.
27 The sum of $300,000 is hereby appropriated to the
28 Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. Such appropriations shall not
29 lapse.
30 Section 9. Effective date.
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1 This act shall take effect in 30 days.
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