RAILROAD REVITALIZATION AND REGULATORY REFORM ACT OF 1976 RAILROAD REVITALIZATION ACT OF 1976 Public Law 94-210, as amended RAILROAD REVITALIZATION AND REGULATORY REFORM ACT OF 1976 210 117–58 Statute Compilation United States House of Representatives Office of the Legislative Counsel text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. GPO Statute Compilations USLM converter, version 20210527.1 2021-12-13 Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 1801 94 1976-02-05 RAILROAD REVITALIZATION AND REGULATORY REFORM ACT OF 1976 [Public Law 94-210] [As Amended Through P.L. 117–58, Enacted November 15, 2021] [Currency: This publication is a compilation of the text of Public Law 94-210. It was last amended by the public law listed in the As Amended Through note above and below at the bottom of each page of the pdf version and reflects current law through the date of the enactment of the public law listed at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/comps/] [Note: While this publication does not represent an official version of any Federal statute, substantial efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of its contents. The official version of Federal law is found in the United States Statutes at Large and in the United States Code. The legal effect to be given to the Statutes at Large and the United States Code is established by statute (1 U.S.C. 112, 204).]
AN ACTTo improve the quality of rail services in the United States through regulatory reform, coordination of rail services and facilities, and rehabilitation and improvement financing, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That this Act, divided into titles and sections according to the following table of contents, may be cited as the “Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976”: TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE I— Sec. 101. Sec. 102. TITLE II— Sec. 201. Sec. 202. Sec. 203. Sec. 204.1

Public Law 95–437 repealed section 204 without repealing the item relating to section 204 in the table of contents.

 Sec. 205. Sec. 206. Sec. 207. Sec. 208. Sec. 209. Sec. 210. Sec. 211. Sec. 212. TITLE III— Sec. 301. Sec. 302. Sec. 303. Sec. 304. Sec. 305. Sec. 306. Sec. 307. Sec. 308. Sec. 309. Sec. 310. Sec. 311. Sec. 312.2

Public Law 95–374 repealed sections 305 and 312 without repealing the items relating to those sections in the table of contents.

 TITLE IV— Sec. 401. Sec. 402. Sec. 403. TITLE V—3

All items in the table of contents relating to title V should probably be struck. See amendment made by section 21301(b)(1)(A) of division B. of Public Law 117-58.

 Sec. 501. Sec. 502. Sec. 503. Sec. 504. TITLE VI— Sec. 601. Sec. 602. Sec. 603. Sec. 604. Sec. 605. Sec. 606. Sec. 607. Sec. 608. Sec. 609. Sec. 610. Sec. 611. Sec. 612. Sec. 613. Sec. 614. Sec. 615. Sec. 616. Sec. 617. Sec. 618. Sec. 619. TITLE VII— Sec. 701.4

Sections 701–706(a), (c)–(i), 707, 803, 808, 901–904 were repealed by P.L. 103–272 without repealing the corresponding items in the table of contents.

 Sec. 703. Sec. 704. Sec. 705. Sec. 706. Sec. 707. Sec. 708. TITLE VIII— Sec. 801. Sec. 802. Sec. 803. Sec. 804. Sec. 805. Sec. 806. Sec. 807. Sec. 808. Sec. 809. TITLE IX— Sec. 901. Sec. 902. Sec. 903. Sec. 904. Sec. 905. Sec. 906.
<num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="I">TITLE I—</num><heading style="-uslm-dtd:header">GENERAL PROVISIONS </heading> <section style="-uslm-dtd:section" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tI/s101" styleType="traditional"> <heading style="-uslm-dtd:header">declaration of policy </heading> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="101">Sec. 101. </num><subsection style="-uslm-dtd:subsection" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tI/s101/a" styleType="OLC" class="inline"><num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="a">(a) </num><heading style="-uslm-dtd:header">Purpose.—</heading><chapeau style="-uslm-dtd:text">The purpose of this Act and chapter 224 of title 49, United States Code, is to provide the means to rehabilitate and maintain the physical facilities, improve the operations and structure, and restore the financial stability of the railway system of the United States, and to promote the revitalization of such railway system, so that this mode of transportation will remain viable in the private sector of the economy and will be able to provide energy-efficient, ecologically compatible transportation services with greater efficiency, effectiveness, and economy, through—</chapeau> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tI/s101/a/1" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="1">(1) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">ratemaking and regulatory reform;</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tI/s101/a/2" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="2">(2) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">the encouragement of efforts to restructure the system on a more economically justified basis, including planning authority in the Secretary of Transportation, an expedited procedure for determining whether merger and consolidation applications are in the public interest, and continuing reorganization authority;</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tI/s101/a/3" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="3">(3) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">financing mechanisms that will assure adequate rehabilitation and improvement of facilities and equipment, implementation of the final system plan, and implementation of the Northeast Corridor project;</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tI/s101/a/4" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="4">(4) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">transitional continuation of service on light-density rail lines that are necessary to continued employment and community well-being throughout the United States;</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tI/s101/a/5" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="5">(5) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">auditing, accounting, reporting, and other requirements to protect Federal funds and to assure repayment of loans and financial responsibility; and</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tI/s101/a/6" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="6">(6) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">necessary studies.</content> </paragraph></subsection> <subsection style="-uslm-dtd:subsection" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tI/s101/b" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="b">(b) </num><heading style="-uslm-dtd:header">Policy.—</heading><chapeau style="-uslm-dtd:text">The policy of this Act and chapter 224 of title 49, United States Code, is to—</chapeau> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tI/s101/b/1" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="1">(1) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">balance the needs of carriers, shippers, and the public;</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tI/s101/b/2" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="2">(2) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">foster competition among all carriers by railroad and other modes of transportation, to promote more adequate and efficient transportation services, and to increase the attractiveness of investing in railroads and rail-service-related enterprises;</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tI/s101/b/3" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="3">(3) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">permit railroads greater freedom to raise or lower rates for rail services in competitive markets;</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tI/s101/b/4" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="4">(4) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">promote the establishment of railroad rate structures which are more sensitive to changes in the level of seasonal, regional, and shipper demand;</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tI/s101/b/5" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="5">(5) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">promote separate pricing of distinct rail and rail-related services;</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tI/s101/b/6" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="6">(6) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">formulate standards and guidelines for determining adequate revenue levels for railroads; and</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tI/s101/b/7" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="7">(7) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">modernize and clarify the functions of railroad rate bureaus.</content> </paragraph> </subsection><editorialNote style="-uslm-dtd:usc-reference" role="uscRef"><b>[</b><ref href="/us/usc/t45/s801">45 U.S.C. 801</ref><b>]</b> </editorialNote> </section> <section style="-uslm-dtd:section" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tI/s102" styleType="traditional" role="definitions"> <heading style="-uslm-dtd:header">definitions </heading> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="102">Sec. 102. </num><chapeau style="-uslm-dtd:text">As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise indicates, the term—</chapeau> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tI/s102/1" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="1">(1) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text"> “<term style="-uslm-dtd:term">Association</term>” means the United States Railway Association;</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tI/s102/2" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="2">(2) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text"> “<term style="-uslm-dtd:term">Commission</term>” means the Interstate Commerce Commission;</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tI/s102/3" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="3">(3) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text"> “<term style="-uslm-dtd:term">Corporation</term>” means the Consolidated Rail Corporation;</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tI/s102/4" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="4">(4) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text"> “<term style="-uslm-dtd:term">final system plan</term>” means the final system plan and any additions thereto adopted by the Association pursuant to the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 (45 U.S.C. 701 et seq.);</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tI/s102/5" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="5">(5) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text"> “<term style="-uslm-dtd:term">includes</term>” and variants thereof should be read as if the phrase “<term style="-uslm-dtd:quote">but is not limited to</term>” were also set forth;</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tI/s102/6" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="6">(6) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text"> “<term style="-uslm-dtd:term">Office</term>” means the Rail Services Planning Office of the Commission;</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tI/s102/7" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="7">(7) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text"> “<term style="-uslm-dtd:term">railroad</term>” has the meaning given that term in section 20102 of title 49, United States Code; and</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tI/s102/8" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="8">(8) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text"> “<term style="-uslm-dtd:term">Secretary</term>” means the Secretary of Transportation or his designated representative.</content> </paragraph><editorialNote style="-uslm-dtd:usc-reference" role="uscRef"><b>[</b><ref href="/us/usc/t45/s802">45 U.S.C. 802</ref><b>]</b> </editorialNote> <elided style="-uslm-dtd:omitted-text">* * * * * * *</elided> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" styleType="OLC" role="undesignated-level" /> </section><editorialNote style="-uslm-dtd:legis-comment"><b>[</b>Titles II, III, and IV are omitted because they consist entirely of sections making amendments to other laws in this compilation or obsolete policy.<b>]</b> </editorialNote> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="V">TITLE V—</num><heading style="-uslm-dtd:header">RAILROAD REHABILITATION AND IMPROVEMENT FINANCING<ref style="-uslm-dtd:footnote-ref" idref="ID19F05316C884454CA7B736E47935E551" class="footnoteRef">5</ref> </heading><footnote id="ID19F05316C884454CA7B736E47935E551" style="-uslm-dtd:footnote"><sup style="-uslm-dtd:superscript">5</sup><p style="-uslm-dtd:para; margin-left:1em">Sections 501–504 of title V were repealed by section 21301(b)(1)(A) of division B of Public Law 117-58 after the text of such sections were moved to sections 22401 through 22404 of title 49, United States Code by subsection (a) of such section 21301. The heading of title V of this Act remains in law, however, it probably should have been struck.</p></footnote><editorialNote style="-uslm-dtd:legis-comment"><b>[</b>Titles VI and VII are omitted because they consist of sections making amendments to other laws in this compilation.<b>]</b> </editorialNote><editorialNote style="-uslm-dtd:legis-comment"><b>[</b>Titles VIII and IX, except for section 809, are omitted because they consist of sections making amendments to other laws in this compilation.<b>]</b> </editorialNote> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="VIII">TITLE VIII—</num><heading style="-uslm-dtd:header">LOCAL RAIL SERVICE CONTINUATION </heading> <elided style="-uslm-dtd:omitted-text">* * * * * * *</elided> <section style="-uslm-dtd:section" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tVIII/s809" styleType="traditional"> <heading style="-uslm-dtd:header">conversion of abandoned railroad rights-of-way </heading> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="809">Sec. 809. </num><subsection style="-uslm-dtd:subsection" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tVIII/s809/a" styleType="OLC" class="inline"><num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="a">(a) </num><heading style="-uslm-dtd:header">Study.—</heading><chapeau style="-uslm-dtd:text">The Secretary shall, within 360 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, the Office, the Association, the Environmental Protection Agency, any other appropriate Federal agency, any appropriate State and regional transportation agency, any other appropriate State and local governmental entities, and any appropriate private groups and individuals, prepare and submit to the Congress and the President a report on the conversion of railroad rights-of-way. This report shall evaluate and make suggestions concerning potential alternate uses of, and public policy with respect to the conversion of, railroad rights-of-way on which service has been discontinued or is likely to be discontinued. This report shall include—</chapeau> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tVIII/s809/a/1" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="1">(1) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">an inventory statement developed by the Secretary as to all railroad rights-of-way abandoned since 1970 and significant segments of such rights-of-way which retain their linear characteristics, including, as to each, identification of the owner of record and an evaluation of its topography, characteristics, condition, approximate value, and alternate use suitability;</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tVIII/s809/a/2" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="2">(2) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">an evaluation of the advantages of establishing a rail bank consisting of selected such rights-of-way, as a means of assuring their availability for potential railroad use in the future, a discussion of interim uses for such rights-of-way, the development of conveyancing and leasing forms, conditions, and practices to assure such availability, a projection as to the costs of such a program, and recommendations regarding the administration of such a program;</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tVIII/s809/a/3" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="3">(3) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">a survey of existing Federal, State, and local programs utilizing or attempting to utilize abandoned railroad rights-of-way for public purposes, including an assessment of the benefits and costs of each; and</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tVIII/s809/a/4" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="4">(4) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">an assessment and evaluation of suggestions for more effective public utilization of abandoned railroad rights-of-way, including recommendations for legislative, administrative, and regulatory action, if any, and proposals as to the optimum level of funding therefor.</content> </paragraph></subsection> <subsection style="-uslm-dtd:subsection" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tVIII/s809/b" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="b">(b) </num><heading style="-uslm-dtd:header">Information and Funding.—</heading><chapeau style="-uslm-dtd:text">The Secretary of the Interior, after consultation with the Secretary, shall, in accordance with this subsection, provide financial, educational, and technical assistance to local, State, and Federal governmental entities for programs involving the conversion of abandoned railroad rights-of-way to recreational and conservational uses, in such manner as to coordinate and accelerate such conversion, where appropriate. Such assistance shall include—</chapeau> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tVIII/s809/b/1" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="1">(1) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">encouraging and facilitating exchanges of information dealing with the availability of railroad rights-of-way, the technology involved in converting such properties to such public purposes, and related matters;</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tVIII/s809/b/2" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="2">(2) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">making grants, in consultation with the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation of the Department of the Interior, to State and local governmental entities to enable them to plan, acquire, and develop recreational or conservational facilities on abandoned railroad rights-of-way, which grants shall cover not more than 90 percent of the cost of the planning, acquisition, or development activity of the particular project for which funds are sought;</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tVIII/s809/b/3" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="3">(3) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">allocating funds to other Federal programs concerned with recreation or conservation in order to enable abandoned railroad rights-of-way, where appropriate, to be included in or made into national parks, national trails, national recreational areas, wildlife refuges, or other national areas dedicated to recreational or conservational uses; and</content> </paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tVIII/s809/b/4" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="4">(4) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">providing technical assistance to other Federal agencies, States, local agencies, and private groups for the purpose of enhancing conversion projects. To increase the available information and expertise, the Secretary may contract for special studies or projects and may otherwise collect, evaluate, and disseminate information dealing with the utilization of such rights-of-way.</content> </paragraph> </subsection> <subsection style="-uslm-dtd:subsection" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tVIII/s809/c" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="c">(c) </num><heading style="-uslm-dtd:header">Conforming Amendment.—</heading><editorialNote style="-uslm-dtd:legis-comment"><b>[</b>Omitted.<b>]</b> </editorialNote> </subsection> <subsection style="-uslm-dtd:subsection" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tVIII/s809/d" styleType="OLC"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="d">(d) </num><heading style="-uslm-dtd:header">Authorization of Appropriations.—</heading><paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tVIII/s809/d/1" styleType="OLC" class="inline"><num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="1">(1) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the provisions of this section, not to exceed $6,000,000 for the fiscal year and the transitional fiscal period ending September 30, 1976, not to exceed $7,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1977, and not to exceed $7,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1978. Sums appropriated pursuant to this authorization are authorized to remain available until expended. Of the funds appropriated, at least four-fifths are to be made available to the Secretary of the Interior to carry out subsection (b) of this section.</content></paragraph> <paragraph style="-uslm-dtd:paragraph" identifier="/us/sComp/94/210/tVIII/s809/d/2" styleType="OLC" class="leftIndentDecrease1"> <num style="-uslm-dtd:enum" value="2">(2) </num><content style="-uslm-dtd:text">There are authorized to be appropriated, for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of subsection (b)(2) of this section, not to exceed an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 for the fiscal years 1981, 1982, and 1983. Such sums are authorized to remain available until expended. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b)(2) of this section, the Federal share for each grant made from the funds authorized to be appropriated pursuant to this paragraph may not exceed 80 percent of the total cost of any project.</content> <elided style="-uslm-dtd:omitted-text">* * * * * * *</elided> </paragraph> </subsection> </section>