SB487: Bill Text

LRB-4785/2

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1995 - 1996 LEGISLATURE

1995 Senate BILL 487

January 16, 1996 - Introduced by Senators Burke, Andrea, Grobschmidt, Moen and Wineke, cosponsored by Representatives Black, Robson, Notestein, Baldwin, Bock, Boyle, Kreuser, Krug, La Fave, Plache, Urban and R. Young. Referred to Committee on Transportation, Agriculture and Local Affairs.

SB487,1,3 An Act to create 13.505, 85.05 and 85.055 of the statutes; relating to: a state passenger rail plan, the creation of a passenger rail projects commission and passenger rail project selection.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the department of transportation (DOT) administers a rail passenger service assistance and promotion program. Under the program, DOT may contract for marketing studies or promotional activities to increase rail passenger service ridership, and may contract with Amtrak to provide rail passenger service.

DOT also administers a rail passenger route development program to fund capital costs relating to the extension of Amtrak service routes to both Green Bay and Madison from Milwaukee. Current law provides $50,000,000 in general obligation bonding authority for such capital costs, but bond proceeds may not be used unless DOT submits evidence to the joint committee on finance (JCF) that Amtrak has agreed to provide rail passenger service on the extension route, and JCF approves the use of the bond proceeds.

This bill directs DOT to establish and maintain a state passenger rail plan that is designed to maximize the use of passenger rail transportation within this state and to link areas of this state to the national and international commercial travel network. The initial state plan is required to include the identification of passenger rail routes and services, an evaluation of existing passenger rail services, and recommendations on service extensions, including implementation of the extension of Amtrak service routes to both Green Bay and Madison from Milwaukee. The bill also requires DOT to make biennial budget proposals regarding passenger rail projects in the state.

The bill creates a passenger rail projects commission having the authority to recommend to the governor or governor-elect, the legislature and the joint committee on finance approval, approval with recommendations or disapproval of any passenger rail project included in the biennial budget proposals of DOT. The bill requires DOT to submit its state passenger rail plan to the passenger rail projects commission for its approval, disapproval or approval with modifications. Finally, the passenger rail projects commission is required to make biennial recommendations to the governor or governor-elect, the legislature and JCF regarding all of the following:

1. The creation of a quasi-public authority or public corporation to operate, or to contract for the operation of, passenger rail service.

2. The appropriate type and level of intercity or commuter passenger rail service that should be made available to the citizens of this state.

3. Infrastructure projects and funding requirements necessary to support passenger rail service in this state.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB487, s. 1 Section 1. 13.505 of the statutes is created to read:

SB487,2,12 13.505 Passenger rail projects commission. (1) Creation. There is created a passenger rail projects commission consisting of the governor, 5 members who are not public officers or employes, appointed by the governor to serve at his or her pleasure, and 2 senators and 2 representatives to the assembly appointed as are the members of standing committees in their respective houses. Of the members from each house, one shall be chosen from the majority party and one shall be chosen from the minority party. The secretary of transportation and the commissioner of railroads shall serve as nonvoting members. The governor shall serve as chairperson. Members of the commission who are not public officers or employes shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred as members of the commission from the appropriation under s. 20.395 (4) (aq).

SB487,3,5 (2) Department to report proposed projects. On or before September 15, 1996, the department of transportation shall report to the commission concerning its proposal for the passenger rail projects program under s. 85.055. Not later than September 15 of each even-numbered year thereafter, the department of transportation shall report to the commission concerning its recommendations for adjustments in the passenger rail projects program under s. 85.055. The report shall include the state passenger rail plan under s. 85.05.

SB487,3,11 (3) Assistance to commission. (a) The department of transportation shall assist the commission in the performance of its duties. The department of transportation shall, when requested by the commission, make or cause to be made such studies and cost estimates with respect to any proposed passenger rail project as are necessary to permit the commission to consider the project. The costs of the studies shall be charged to the appropriate program appropriation under s. 20.395.

SB487,3,13 (b) The commissioner of railroads shall assist the passenger rail projects commission in the performance of its duties.

SB487,3,19 (4) Review of projects and plans. (a) The commission shall review all reports submitted under sub. (2). The commission shall report its recommendations concerning passenger rail projects, as defined in s. 85.055 (1), to the governor or governor-elect, the legislature and the joint committee on finance no later than December 15 of each even-numbered year. The commission may recommend approval, approval with modifications or disapproval of any project.

SB487,3,22 (b) The commission shall review all state passenger rail plans submitted under s. 85.05 (3). The commission may approve, disapprove or approve with modifications any state passenger rail plan.

SB487,4,2 (5) Additional recommendations. No later than December 15 of each even-numbered year, the commission shall make recommendations to the governor or governor-elect, the legislature and the joint committee on finance regarding all of the following subjects:

SB487,4,4 (a) The need to create a quasi-public authority or public corporation to operate, or to contract for the operation of, intercity or commuter passenger rail service.

SB487,4,6 (b) The appropriate type and level of intercity or commuter passenger rail service that should be made available to the citizens of this state.

SB487,4,8 (c) Infrastructure projects and funding requirements necessary to support intercity or commuter passenger rail service.

SB487, s. 2 Section 2. 85.05 of the statutes is created to read:

SB487,4,19 85.05 State passenger rail plan. (1) Findings. The legislature finds that passenger rail transportation serves a variety of public purposes, including the efficient movement of people and goods, the enhancement of tourism, the reduction of highway congestion and maintenance costs, the reduction of emission pollutants and the provision of energy efficient, safe and reliable transportation alternatives to the citizens of this state. The legislature further finds that passenger rail transportation serves the intercity travel needs of persons who are unable to use this state's highways or who prefer rail transportation to other means of transportation and represents the best all-weather means of transportation appropriate to the maintenance of transportation during inclement weather in this state's climate.

SB487,4,21 (2) Definition. In this section, "Amtrak" has the meaning given in s. 85.06 (1) (a).

SB487,5,6 (3) State passenger rail plan. On or before September 15, 1996, the department shall establish and thereafter maintain a state passenger rail plan that is designed to maximize the use of passenger rail transportation to serve the variety of public purposes that such transportation benefits and to link areas of this state to the national and international commercial travel network. The state passenger rail plan shall be updated not later than September 15 of each even-numbered year for inclusion in the department's report to the passenger rail projects commission under s. 13.505 (2). The plan shall be coordinated with and complementary to other planning efforts of the department, including any freight rail plans and any plans required under any applicable federal acts or programs.

SB487,5,7 (4) Plan elements. The passenger rail plan shall consist of all of the following:

SB487,5,11 (a) Identification of existing intercity and commuter passenger rail routes and services, proposed intercity and commuter passenger rail routes and services and intercity and commuter passenger rail routes and services that are the subject of feasibility studies.

SB487,5,14 (b) Evaluation of passenger rail services currently in operation in this state, including performance trends, potential for efficiency and effectiveness, possible improvements and strategies to achieve enhanced performance.

SB487,5,19 (c) A plan for development of rail corridors, including recommendations on grade crossing elimination and upgrading, curve reductions at specific locations, right-of-way widening for speeds up to 186 miles per hour and overhead clearances adequate for 50,000 volt alternating current electrification. The plan shall establish priorities for such improvements at various traffic levels.

SB487,5,21 (d) A plan for a level of and program for passenger rail services, including all of the following:

SB487,5,22 1. Service enhancements on existing and additional routes.

SB487,6,2 2. A station development plan including provisions for adequately paved automobile parking, secure bicycle storage, taxi stands, direct access for local and regional bus lines and, in larger stations, provision for shops directly serving the needs of rail travelers.

SB487,6,3 3. Development of a network using conventional railway technology.

SB487,6,4 4. Preservation of rights-of-way for future use for passenger railways.

SB487,6,6 5. Standards for ensuring high-quality passenger rail service, including all of the following:

SB487,6,7 a. Convenient schedules.

SB487,6,8 b. Adherence to arrival and departure schedules.

SB487,6,9 c. Checked baggage service.

SB487,6,10 d. Food service.

SB487,6,11 e. Attractive station facilities.

SB487,6,12 f. Mobile office facilities.

SB487,6,13 g. Sleeping car service for overnight trains.