§ 24101. Findings, mission, and goals

§ 24101. Findings, mission, and goals

(a) Findings.—

(1) Public convenience and necessity require that Amtrak, to the extent its budget allows, provide modern, cost-efficient, and energy-efficient intercity rail passenger transportation throughout the United States.

(2) Rail passenger transportation can help alleviate overcrowding of airways and airports and on highways.

(3) A traveler in the United States should have the greatest possible choice of transportation most convenient to the needs of the traveler.

(4) A greater degree of cooperation is necessary among Amtrak, other rail carriers, State, regional, and local governments, the private sector, labor organizations, and suppliers of services and equipment in order to meet the intercity passenger rail needs of the United States.

(5) Modern and efficient intercity passenger and commuter rail passenger transportation is important to the viability and well-being of major urban and rural areas and to the energy conservation and self-sufficiency goals of the United States.

(6) As a rail passenger transportation entity, Amtrak should be available to operate commuter rail passenger transportation through its subsidiary, Amtrak Commuter, under contract with commuter authorities that do not provide the transportation themselves as part of the governmental function of the State.

(7) The Northeast Corridor is a valuable resource of the United States used by intercity and commuter rail passenger transportation and freight transportation.

(8) Greater coordination between intercity and commuter rail passenger transportation is required.

(9) Long-distance routes are valuable resources of the United States that are used by rural and urban communities.

(b) Mission.— The mission of Amtrak is to provide efficient and effective intercity passenger rail mobility consisting of high quality service that is trip-time competitive with other intercity travel options and that is consistent with the goals set forth in subsection (c).

(c) Goals.— Amtrak shall—

(1) use its best business judgment in acting to maximize the benefits of Federal investments, including—

(A) offering competitive fares;

(B) increasing revenue from the transportation of mail and express;

(C) offering food service that meets the needs of its customers;

(D) improving its contracts with rail carriers over whose tracks Amtrak operates;

(E) controlling or reducing management and operating costs; and

(F) providing economic benefits to the communities it serves;

(2) minimize Government subsidies by encouraging State, regional, and local governments and the private sector, separately or in combination, to share the cost of providing rail passenger transportation, including the cost of operating facilities;

(3) carry out strategies to achieve immediately maximum productivity and efficiency consistent with safe and efficient transportation;

(4) operate Amtrak trains, to the maximum extent feasible, to all station stops within 15 minutes of the time established in public timetables;

(5) develop transportation on rail corridors subsidized by States and private parties;

(6) implement schedules based on a systemwide average speed of at least 60 miles an hour that can be achieved with a degree of reliability and passenger comfort;

(7) encourage rail carriers to assist in improving intercity rail passenger transportation;

(8) improve generally the performance of Amtrak through comprehensive and systematic operational programs and employee incentives;

(9) provide additional or complementary intercity transportation service to ensure mobility in times of national disaster or other instances where other travel options are not adequately available;

(10) carry out policies that ensure equitable access to the Northeast Corridor by intercity and commuter rail passenger transportation;

(11) coordinate the uses of the Northeast Corridor, particularly intercity and commuter rail passenger transportation;

(12) maximize the use of its resources, including the most cost-effective use of employees, facilities, and real property; and

(13) support and maintain established long-distance routes to provide value to the Nation by serving customers throughout the United States and connecting urban and rural communities.

(d) Increasing Revenues.— Amtrak is encouraged to make agreements with private sector entities and to undertake initiatives that are consistent with good business judgment and designed to generate additional revenues to advance the goals described in subsection (c).

(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 899; Pub. L. 105–134, title I, § 105(b), title II, § 201, Dec. 2, 1997, 111 Stat. 2573, 2578; Pub. L. 110–432, div. B, title II, §§ 201(e)(1), 218(a)(1), Oct. 16, 2008, 122 Stat. 4910, 4930; Pub. L. 114–94, div. A, title XI, § 11316(l), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1678; Pub. L. 117–58, div. B, title II, § 22201, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 696.)

In this part, the word “Amtrak” is substituted for “National Railroad Passenger Corporation”, and the words “Amtrak Commuter” are substituted for “Amtrak Commuter Services Corporation”, to reflect the more current and commonly used names of the entities. The words “rail transportation” are substituted for “rail service” and “rail services”, the word “transportation” is substituted for “service” where appropriate, and the word “authority” is substituted for “agency”, as being more appropriate and for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code. The words “rail carrier” are substituted for “railroad” because of the definitions of “rail carrier” and “railroad” in 49:10102.

In subsection (a), the words “The Congress finds that the” and “The Congress further finds that” are omitted as surplus.

In subsection (a)(3), the words “greatest possible choice of” are substituted for “to the maximum extent feasible . . . the freedom to choose the mode of” to eliminate unnecessary words.

In subsection (c), before clause (1), the words “Amtrak shall” are substituted for “The Congress hereby establishes the following goals for Amtrak” to eliminate unnecessary words. The text of 45:501a(3) and (4) is omitted as executed. The text of 45:501a(9) is omitted as obsolete because there no longer are any technical assistance panels. In clause (2), the words “stations and other” are omitted as surplus. In clause (4), the words “for such operation” are omitted as surplus. In clause (10), the word “various” is omitted as surplus. In clause (11), the words “real property” are substituted for “real estate” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the Code.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2021—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 117–58, § 22201(a)(1), substituted “throughout” for “between crowded urban areas and in other areas of”.

Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 117–58, § 22201(a)(2), substituted “in order to meet the intercity passenger rail needs of the United States” for “to Amtrak to achieve a performance level sufficient to justify expending public money”.

Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 117–58, § 22201(a)(3), inserted “intercity passenger and” before “commuter” and “and rural” after “major urban”.

Subsec. (a)(9). Pub. L. 117–58, § 22201(a)(4), added par. (9).

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 117–58, § 22201(b)(1), amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: “use its best business judgment in acting to minimize United States Government subsidies, including—

“(A) increasing fares;

“(B) increasing revenue from the transportation of mail and express;

“(C) reducing losses on food service;

“(D) improving its contracts with operating rail carriers;

“(E) reducing management costs; and

“(F) increasing employee productivity;”.

Subsec. (c)(13). Pub. L. 117–58, § 22201(b)(2)–(4), added par. (13).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 117–58, § 22201(c), amended subsec. (d) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “To carry out subsection (c)(12) of this section, Amtrak is encouraged to make agreements with the private sector and undertake initiatives that are consistent with good business judgment and designed to maximize its revenues and minimize Government subsidies. Amtrak shall prepare a financial plan, consistent with section 204 of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008, including the budgetary goals for fiscal years 2009 through 2013. Amtrak and its Board of Directors shall adopt a long-term plan that minimizes the need for Federal operating subsidies.”

2015—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 114–94 substituted “set forth in subsection (c)” for “of subsection (d)”.

2008—Pub. L. 110–432, § 201(e)(1)(A), substituted “mission” for “purpose” in section catchline.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 110–432, § 201(e)(1)(B), added subsec. (b) and struck out former subsec. (b). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “By using innovative operating and marketing concepts, Amtrak shall provide intercity and commuter rail passenger transportation that completely develops the potential of modern rail transportation to meet the intercity and commuter passenger transportation needs of the United States.”

Subsec. (c)(9) to (12). Pub. L. 110–432, § 201(e)(1)(C), added par. (9) and redesignated former pars. (9) to (11) as (10) to (12), respectively.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 110–432, § 218(a)(1)(B), substituted “Amtrak and its Board of Directors shall adopt a long-term plan that minimizes the need for Federal operating subsidies.” for “Commencing no later than the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act of 1997, Amtrak shall operate without Federal operating grant funds appropriated for its benefit.”

Pub. L. 110–432, § 218(a)(1)(A), which directed substitution of “plan, consistent with section 204 of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008, including the budgetary goals for fiscal years 2009 through 2013.” for “plan to operate within the funding levels authorized by section 24104 of this chapter, including the budgetary goals for fiscal years 1998 through 2002.” was executed by making the substitution for “plan to operate within the funding levels authorized by section 24104 of this chapter, including budgetary goals for fiscal years 1998 through 2002.” to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Pub. L. 110–432, § 201(e)(1)(D), substituted “subsection (c)(12)” for “subsection (c)(11)”.

1997—Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 105–134, § 105(b), inserted “, separately or in combination,” after “and the private sector”.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 105–134, § 201, inserted at end “Amtrak shall prepare a financial plan to operate within the funding levels authorized by section 24104 of this chapter, including budgetary goals for fiscal years 1998 through 2002. Commencing no later than the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act of 1997, Amtrak shall operate without Federal operating grant funds appropriated for its benefit.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2015 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 114–94 effective Oct. 1, 2015, see section 1003 of Pub. L. 114–94, set out as a note under section 5313 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Amtrak To Continue To Provide Non-High-Speed Services

Pub. L. 110–432, div. B, title II, § 201(c), Oct. 16, 2008, 122 Stat. 4910, provided that: “Nothing in this division [see Short Title of 2008 Amendment note set out under section 20101 of this title] is intended to preclude Amtrak from restoring, improving, or developing non-high-speed intercity passenger rail service.”

Amtrak Reform and Operational Improvements