The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved bipartisan legislation introduced in the House by Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) and others that promises reform for Amtrak and the nation’s passenger rail transportation system on Wednesday.
The Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2014, or PRRIA (H.R. 5449), improves the infrastructure, reduces costs, leverages private sector resources, creates greater accountability and transparency, and accelerates project delivery for rail transportation providers.
“This is a good reform bill that continues to move passenger rail and Amtrak toward more transparency, greater accountability, increased cost-effectiveness, and true businesslike operations,” Shuster said.
The committee approved the bill by voice vote. Along with Shuster, who is chairman of the committee, the bill was introduced by Transportation & Infrastructure Ranking Member Nick J. Rahall, II (D-W.Va); Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee Chairman Jeff Denham (R-Calif.); and Subcommittee Ranking Member Corrine Brown (D-Fla.).
“Our committee has come together to craft a bipartisan bill that will bring huge improvements to the way Amtrak operates,” Denham said. “Americans in communities across the country each day rely on reliable, efficient passenger rail systems. PRRIA will enable those systems to modernize, improve and grow to serve the needs of the American people.”