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HR 4507 106th Congress House

Transit Rail Access Improvement and Needs Act for the 21st Century

Official title: To designate the Surface Transportation Board as a forum for resolution of disagreements between mass transportation authorities and freight railroads regardin… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To designate the Surface Transportation Board as a forum for resolution of disagreements between mass transportation authorities and freight railroads regarding access to freight track and rights-of-way for fixed guideway transportation in consideration for just and reasonable compensation to freight railroads.

Introduced: June 14, 2000 See on congress.gov
Transportation and Public Works Administrative procedureCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCompensation (Law)Eminent domain
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Government Operations and PoliticsIndependent regulatory commissionsLawMass rapid transitPublic Lands and Natural ResourcesRailroad engineeringRailroad equipmentRailroad freight operationsRailroad maintenance and repairRight-of-waySpeed limitsSubwaysSurface Transportation Board
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This bill died when the 106th Congress ended
It never became law before the 106th Congress (1999–2000) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 22, 2000
Referred to the Subcommittee on Ground Transportation.
May 19, 2000
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
May 19, 2000
Introduced in House
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 Latest action May 22, 2000

Referred to the Subcommittee on Ground Transportation.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Transit Rail Access Improvement and Needs Act for the 21st Century - Amends Federal transportation law to provide that if, after negotiation, a mass transportation authority cannot reach agreement with a rail carrier to use the carrier's trackage, and have related services provided, for fixed guideway transportation purposes, the Surface Transportation Board shall, upon the authority's or the carrier's application, and if necessary or useful: (1) order that the trackage be made available and the related services provided to the authority; and (2) prescribe reasonable terms and compensation, based upon the carrier's incremental cost of providing such trackage and services.

Authorizes the mass transportation authority or the rail carrier to apply to the Board for an order establishing reasonable terms for the operation of additional trains by or for the authority over a rail line of the carrier, when the carrier and the authority cannot agree to terms.

Authorizes a mass transportation authority, after notice to the rail carrier and a sufficient period for maintenance improvements, to apply to the Board for an order requiring the carrier to provide increased or improved maintenance on the trackage if the authority believes that maintenance on trackage operated by or for the authority has fallen below a safe or necessary level.

Authorizes a mass transportation authority to apply to the Board for an order requiring the rail carrier to allow accelerated speeds and related improvements if the rail carrier refuses to allow them.

Declares that, except in an emergency, fixed guideway transportation provided by or for a mass transportation authority pursuant to an order issued under this Act has preference over freight transportation in using a rail line, junction, or crossing, unless the Board orders otherwise.

Declares that if, after negotiation, a mass transportation authority cannot reach agreement with a rail carrier to acquire an interest in a railroad right-of-way for the construction and operation of a segregated fixed guideway facility, the authority may apply to the Board for an order requiring the carrier to convey an interest to the authority.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Democratic 1
D
Kaptur, Marcy
Ohio · Jun 14, 2000
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4507: Transit Rail Access Improvement and Needs Act for the 21st Century. 106th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-4507/
MLA
"H.R. 4507: Transit Rail Access Improvement and Needs Act for the 21st Century." 106th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-4507/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4507, 106th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-4507/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4507: Transit Rail Access Improvement and Needs Act for the 21st Century](https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-4507/)
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