Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 95.djvu/675

 PUBLIC LAW 97-35—AUG. 13, 1981

95 STAT. 649

under section 303(b)(2) or 304(e) of the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973, and may operate any other commuter service, if the ^5 USC 743, 744. commuter authority for which such service is to be operated offers to provide a commuter service operating payment which is designed to cover the difference between the revenue attributable to the operation of such service and the avoidable costs of operating such service (including the avoidable cost of any capital improvements necessary to operate such service) together with a reasonable return on the value. "(2) Any commuter authority making an offer under this subsection shall demonstrate that such commuter authority has acquired, leased, or otherwise obtained access to all rail properties necessary to provide such additional commuter service. "(3) Any additional manpower requirements shall be satisfied through existing seniority arrangements as agreed to in the implementing agreement negotiated pursuant to section 508 of this Act. "(c) Any offer to provide a commuter service operating payment under subsection (b) of this section shall be made in accordance with regulations issued by the Rail Services Planning Office pursuant to section 205(d)(5)(A) and (6) of the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973. Such Office may revise and update such regulations as may be 45 USC 715. necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. "(d)(1) Amtrak Commuter may discontinue commuter service provided under this section upon 60 days' notice if— "(A) a commuter authority does not offer a commuter service operating payment in accordance with subsection (b) of this section; or ''(B) an applicable commuter service operating payment is not paid when it is due. "(2) The necessary contents of the notice required under this subsection shall be determined pursuant to regulations issued by the Rail Services Planning Office. "(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, compensation to the Corporation or Amtrak Commuter for right-of-way related costs for service over the Northesist Corridor and other properties owned by the Corporation shall be determined in accordance with the methodology determined by the Commission or agreed upon by the parties pursuant to section 1163 of the Northeast Rgiil Service Act of 1981.

"(f) Amtrak Commuter shall not be subject to any lease or agreement with a commuter authority under which financial support was being provided on January 2, 1974, for the continuation of rail passenger service, except that the Corporation and Conrail shall retain appropriate trackage rights (for passenger and freight operations respectively) over any rail properties owned or leased by such commuter agency. Compensation for such trackage rights shall be just and reasonable. "(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, Amtrak Commuter is not obligated to provide commuter service if a commuter authority operates the service itself or contracts for the provision of such service by an operator other than Amtrak Commuter. In any such case, Amtrak Commuter shall, where appropriate, provide the commuter authority or such other operator with access to the rail properties needed to operate such service. "(h) Amtrak Commuter and the Corporation shall, to the maximum extent practicable, enter into agreements for purposes of avoiding duplication of employee functions and voluntarily establishing a consolidated work force.

Post, p. 685.

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