Railroads, not the government, have to foot the bill for installing, operating and maintaining the Possitive Train Control systems. It will be very costly, and no doubt, some lines will see abandonment rather than comply---simply won't be worth the expense. Since it also applies to certain chemicals, no doubt shortlines will simply not handle those commodities rather than spend all the money for the technology---that traffic will shift to trucks. Haven't had time to read the whole thing, but if it applies to tourist lines, most of them will go too. Big price to pay to get people to pay attention to their jobs, although it may be a first step towards automation of certain trains (oops, law requires people to be on board) so what employees will be doing when they really don't have to pay attention is unknown. Too bad it had to come to this, but we have mandated an idiot proof society and accidents are not allowed, and yet no one wants to pay attention to what they are supposed to be doing. Today my metro bus driver was texting on his cell the whole time I was on the bus---more new laws are to come for this too, but positive bus control on the roads will be wholly taxpayer funded.
$700 billion will look like chump change.