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Re: FRA Invites Bids to Replace Amtrak on Three Routes
Author: WebDigger
Date: 08-02-2017 - 10:50
Alf Doten Wrote:
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> Unless I missed something here....what three routes are we talking about?? What's behind door #1,#2,#3 is an odd way of presenting it. Is it some kind of secret?
I wondered that, too, and went digging:
Searched for: [The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has announced final rules permitting eligible petitioners to submit proposals to replace Amtrak on up to three Amtrak routes. The rules implement provisions of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act that require the FRA to implement a pilot program to evaluate and select new operators over particular long-distance routes.] [www.google.com]
Chose "Federal Register :: Competitive Passenger Rail Service Pilot Program" [www.federalregister.gov]
About 35% down the page, found this analysis:
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> Unless I missed something here....what three routes are we talking about?? What's behind door #1,#2,#3 is an odd way of presenting it. Is it some kind of secret?
I wondered that, too, and went digging:
Searched for: [The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has announced final rules permitting eligible petitioners to submit proposals to replace Amtrak on up to three Amtrak routes. The rules implement provisions of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act that require the FRA to implement a pilot program to evaluate and select new operators over particular long-distance routes.] [www.google.com]
Chose "Federal Register :: Competitive Passenger Rail Service Pilot Program" [www.federalregister.gov]
About 35% down the page, found this analysis:
Quote:II. Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 269.1 Purpose
This section provides that the final rule carries out the statutory mandate in 49 U.S.C. 24711 requiring FRA, on behalf of the Secretary, to implement a pilot program to competitively select eligible petitioners in lieu of Amtrak to operate not more than three long-distance routes, as defined in 49 U.S.C. 24102, and operated by Amtrak on the date of enactment of the FAST Act.
A commenter stated an eligible petitioner should be able to decide the route(s) on which they bid and should be able to bid on inactive routes. The pilot program does not apply to inactive routes. The FAST Act limits the pilot program to the long-distance routes, as defined in 49 U.S.C. 24102, operated by Amtrak on the date of enactment of the FAST Act. 49 U.S.C. 24711(a).
