49 U.S.C. § 24305: General authority

Amtrak may acquire, operate, maintain, and make contracts for the operation and maintenance of equipment and facilities necessary for intercity and commuter rail passenger transportation, the transportation of mail and express, and auto-ferry transportation. Amtrak shall operate and control directly, to the extent practicable, all aspects of the rail passenger transportation it provides. if the motor carrier is not a public recipient of governmental assistance, as such term is defined in section 13902(b)(8)(A) of this title , other than a recipient of funds under section 5311 of this title ; for passengers who have had prior movement by rail or will have subsequent movement by rail; and if the buses, when used in the provision of such transportation, are used exclusively for the transportation of passengers described in clause (ii). Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to transportation funded predominantly by a State or local government, or to ticket selling agreements. a review panel at the principal office of Amtrak consisting of members the President of Amtrak designates; a systemwide inventory of spare equipment parts in each operational region; enough maintenance employees for cars and locomotives in each region; a systematic preventive maintenance program; periodic evaluations of maintenance costs, time lags, and parts shortages and corrective actions; and other elements or activities Amtrak considers appropriate. make and carry out appropriate agreements; transport mail and express and shall use all feasible methods to obtain the bulk mail business of the United States Postal Service; improve its reservation system and advertising; provide food and beverage services on its trains; conduct research, development, and demonstration programs related to the mission of Amtrak; and buy or lease rail rolling stock and develop and demonstrate improved rolling stock. Establishing through routes and joint fares between Amtrak and other intercity rail passenger carriers and motor carriers of passengers is consistent with the public interest and the transportation policy of the United States. Congress encourages establishing those routes and fares. Amtrak may establish through routes and joint fares with any domestic or international motor carrier, air carrier, or water carrier. Congress encourages Amtrak and motor common carriers of passengers to use the authority conferred in sections 11322 and 14302 of this title for the purpose of providing improved service to the public and economy of operation. Amtrak may directly employ or contract with rail police to provide security for rail passengers and property of Amtrak. Rail police directly employed by or contracted by Amtrak who have complied with a State law establishing requirements applicable to rail police or individuals employed in a similar position may be directly employed or contracted without regard to the law of another State containing those requirements. In this subsection, “United States” means the States, territories, and possessions of the United States and the District of Columbia. unmanufactured articles, material, and supplies mined or produced in the United States; or manufactured articles, material, and supplies manufactured in the United States substantially from articles, material, and supplies mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States. Paragraph (2) of this subsection applies only when the cost of those articles, material, or supplies bought is at least $1,000,000. the requirements of paragraph (2) of this subsection are inconsistent with the public interest; the cost of imposing those requirements is unreasonable; or the articles, material, or supplies, or the articles, material, or supplies from which they are manufactured, are not mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities and are not of a satisfactory quality; or rolling stock or power train equipment cannot be bought and delivered in the United States within a reasonable time. onboard purchase and sale of local food and beverage products; and partnerships with local entities to hold promotional events on trains or in stations. allow a State or States to nominate and select a local food and beverage products supplier or suppliers or local promotional event partner; allow a State or States to charge a reasonable price or fee for local food and beverage products or promotional events and related activities to help defray the costs of program administration and State-supported routes; and provide a mechanism to ensure that State products can effectively be handled and integrated into existing food and beverage services, including compliance with all applicable regulations and standards governing such services. for local food and beverage products, ensure the products are integrated into existing food and beverage services, including compliance with all applicable regulations and standards; for promotional events, ensure the events are held in compliance with all applicable regulations and standards, including terms to address insurance requirements; and require an annual report that documents revenues and costs and indicates whether the products or events resulted in a reduction in the financial contribution of a State or States to the applicable State-supported route. Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, Amtrak shall report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives on which States have participated in the pilot programs under this section. The report shall summarize the financial and operational outcomes of the pilot programs and include any plan for future action. Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting Amtrak’s ability to operate special trains in accordance with section 216 of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 [div. B of Pub. L. 110–432 ] ( 49 U.S.C. 24308 note).” Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [ Dec. 4, 2015 ], Amtrak shall develop a pilot program that allows passengers to transport domesticated cats or dogs on certain trains operated by Amtrak. the cat or dog is contained in a pet kennel; the pet kennel complies with Amtrak size requirements for carriage of carry-on baggage; the passenger is traveling on a train operating on a route described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (D) of section 24102(7) of title 49 , United States Code; and the passenger pays a fee described in paragraph (3); the cat or dog is contained in a pet kennel; the pet kennel complies with Amtrak size requirements for carriage of carry-on baggage; the passenger is traveling on a train operating on a route described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (D) of section 24102(7) of title 49 , United States Code; the cargo area is temperature controlled in a manner protective of cat and dog safety and health; and the passenger pays a fee described in paragraph (3); and collect fees for each cat or dog transported by a ticketed passenger in an amount that, in the aggregate and at a minimum, covers the full costs of the pilot program. Not later than 1 year after the pilot program required under subsection (a) is first implemented, Amtrak shall transmit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report containing an evaluation of the pilot program. The pilot program under subsection (a) shall be separate from and in addition to the policy governing Amtrak passengers traveling with service animals. Nothing in this section may be interpreted to limit or waive the rights of passengers to transport service animals. Nothing in this section may be interpreted to require Amtrak to add additional train cars or modify existing train cars. No Federal funds may be used to implement the pilot program required under this section.” Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [ Dec. 4, 2015 ], Amtrak shall issue a Request for Proposals seeking qualified persons or entities to utilize right-of-way and real estate owned, controlled, or managed by Amtrak for telecommunications systems, energy distribution systems, and other activities considered appropriate by Amtrak. The Request for Proposals shall provide sufficient information on the right-of-way and real estate assets to enable respondents to propose an arrangement that will monetize or generate additional revenue from such assets through revenue sharing or leasing agreements with Amtrak, to the extent possible. Amtrak shall set a deadline for the submission of proposals that is not later than 1 year after the issuance of the Request for Proposals under paragraph (1). Not later than 180 days after the deadline for the receipt of proposals under subsection (a), the Amtrak Board of Directors shall review and consider each qualified proposal. Amtrak may enter into such agreements as are necessary to implement any qualified proposal. Not later than 1 year after the deadline for the receipt of proposals under subsection (a), Amtrak shall transmit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on the Request for Proposals required by this section, including summary information of any proposals submitted to Amtrak and any proposals accepted by the Amtrak Board of Directors. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit Amtrak’s ability to utilize right-of-way or real estate assets that it currently owns, controls, or manages or constrain Amtrak’s ability to enter into agreements with other parties to utilize such assets.” improving station condition, functionality, capacity, and customer amenities; generating additional investment capital and development-related revenue streams; increasing ridership and revenue; and strengthening multimodal connections, including transit, intercity buses, roll-on and roll-off bicycles, and airports, as appropriate; and options for additional Amtrak stops that would have a positive incremental financial impact to Amtrak, based on Amtrak feasibility studies that demonstrate a financial benefit to Amtrak by generating additional revenue that exceeds any incremental costs. Not later than 90 days after the date the report is submitted under subsection (a), Amtrak shall issue a Request for Information for 1 or more owners of stations served by Amtrak to formally express an interest in completing the requirements of this section. Not later than 180 days after the date the Request for Information is issued under subsection (b), Amtrak shall issue a Request for Proposals from qualified persons, including small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and veteran-owned small businesses, to lead, participate, or partner with Amtrak, a station owner that responded under subsection (b), and other entities in enhancing development in and around such stations and terminals using applicable options identified under subsection (a) at facilities selected by Amtrak. Not later than 1 year after the date the Request for Proposals is issued under paragraph (1), the Amtrak Board of Directors shall review and consider qualified proposals submitted under paragraph (1). Amtrak or a station owner that responded under subsection (b) may enter into such agreements as are necessary to implement any qualified proposal. Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, Amtrak shall transmit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on the Request for Proposals process required under this section, including summary information of any qualified proposals submitted to Amtrak and any proposals acted upon by Amtrak or a station owner that responded under subsection (b). In this section, the terms ‘small business concern’, ‘socially and economically disadvantaged individual’, and ‘veteran-owned small business’ have the meanings given the terms in section 11310(c) of this Act [ 129 Stat. 1670 ]. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit Amtrak’s ability to develop its stations, terminals, or other assets, to constrain Amtrak’s ability to enter into and carry out agreements with other parties to enhance development at or around Amtrak stations or terminals, or to affect any station development initiatives ongoing as of the date of enactment of this Act.” a comprehensive, system-wide, security evaluation; and proposed guidance and procedures necessary to implement a new checked firearms program. Not later than one year after the enactment of this Act [ Dec. 16, 2009 ], Amtrak, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary, shall develop and implement guidance and procedures to carry out the duties and responsibilities of firearm storage and carriage in checked baggage cars and at Amtrak stations that accept checked baggage. the Amtrak station accepts checked baggage for such route; the passenger declares to Amtrak, either orally or in writing, at the time the reservation is made or not later than 24 hours before departure, that the firearm will be placed in his or her bag and will be unloaded; the firearm is in a hard-sided container; such container is locked; and only the passenger has the key or combination for such container; in fiber, wood, or metal boxes; or in other packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition; and requiring inspections of any container containing a firearm or ammunition; and the temporary suspension of firearm carriage service if credible intelligence information indicates a threat related to the national rail system or specific routes or trains. [sic] For purposes of this section, the term ‘checked baggage’ refers to baggage transported that is accessible only to select Amtrak employees.” to combine or package their respective services and facilities to the public as a means of increasing revenues; and to coordinate schedules, routes, rates, reservations, and ticketing to provide for enhanced intermodal surface transportation. The authority granted by subsection (a) is subject to review by the Surface Transportation Board and may be modified or revoked by the Board if modification or revocation is in the public interest.”