§ 716. Final system plan

(a) Goals The final system plan shall be formulated in such a way as to effectuate the following goals:

(1) the creation, through a process of reorganization, of a financially self-sustaining rail and express service system in the region;

(2) the establishment and maintenance of a rail service system adequate to meet the rail transportation needs and service requirements of the region;

(3) the establishment of improved high-speed rail passenger service, consonant with the recommendations of the Secretary in his report of September 1971, entitled “Recommendations for Northeast Corridor Transportation”;

(4) the preservation, to the extent consistent with other goals, of existing patterns of service by railroads (including short-line and terminal railroads), and of existing railroad trackage in areas in which fossil fuel natural resources are located, and the utilization of those modes of transportation in the region which require the smallest amount of scarce energy resources and which can most efficiently transport energy resources;

(5) the retention and promotion of competition in the provision of rail and other transportation services in the region;

(6) the attainment and maintenance of any environmental standards, particularly the applicable national ambient air quality standards and plans established under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1970, taking into consideration the environmental impact of alternative choices of action;

(7) the movement of passengers and freight in rail transportation in the region in the most efficient manner consistent with safe operation, including the requirements of commuter and intercity rail passenger service; the extent to which there should be coordination with the National Railroad Passenger Corporation and similar entities; and the identification of all short-to-medium distance corridors in densely populated areas in which the major upgrading of rail lines for high-speed passenger operation would return substantial public benefits; and

(8) the minimization of job losses and associated increases in unemployment and community benefit costs in areas in the region presently served by rail service.

(b) Factors

The final system plan shall be based upon due consideration of all factors relevant to the realization of the goals set forth in subsection (a) of this section. Such factors include the need for and the cost of rehabilitation and modernization of track, equipment, and other facilities; methods of achieving economies in the cost of rail operations in the region; means of achieving rationalization of rail services and the rail service system in the region; marketing studies; the impact on railroad employees; consumer needs; traffic analyses; financial studies; and any other factors identified by the Association under section 712(b) of this title.

(h) Obligational authority

The final system plan shall recommend the amount of obligations of the Association which are necessary to enable it to implement the final system plan.

(i) Terms and conditions for securities

The final system plan may include terms and conditions for any securities to be issued by the Corporation in exchange for the conveyance of rail properties under the final system plan which in the judgement of the Association will minimize any actual or potential debt burden on the Corporation. Any such terms and conditions for securities of the Corporation which purport to directly obligate the Association shall not become effective without affirmative approval, with or without modification by a joint resolution of the Congress.

(j) Additional properties deemed designated

Any rail properties over which rail service was being provided as of February 5, 1976, and which were recommended in the preliminary system plan for transfer to the Corporation, shall be deemed to be designated in the final system plan for transfer to the Corporation under subsection (c)(1)(A) of this section. Any designation in the final system plan, pursuant to subsection (c)(1)(B) of this section, of overhead trackage rights to be acquired by a profitable railroad operating in the region over specified rail properties to be acquired by the Corporation, where such designation does not (1) authorize such profitable railroad to interchange traffic with at least one railroad, or (2) provide for the connection of portions of such profitable railroad’s rail properties, and where the transfer of ownership of such rail properties (including trackage rights) to such profitable railroad was recommended in the preliminary system plan, and the Commission has made a determination with respect thereto, in accordance with subsection (d)(3) of this section, shall be deemed to authorize such profitable railroad to interchange traffic with the Corporation and any other profitable railroad connecting with such specified rail properties.

(Pub. L. 93–236, title II, § 206, Jan. 2, 1974, 87 Stat. 994; Pub. L. 94–5, § 2(b), Feb. 28, 1975, 89 Stat. 7; Pub. L. 94–210, title VI, § 607(e)–(j), (o)–(q), title VIII, § 807, Feb. 5, 1976, 90 Stat. 96–98, 143; Pub. L. 94–436, §§ 2, 4, Sept. 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 1398; Pub. L. 94–555, title II, § 202(a), (c), Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2616, 2617; Pub. L. 95–611, § 4(a), Nov. 8, 1978, 92 Stat. 3090.)

References In Text

References in Text

Clean Air Act Amendments of 1970, referred to in subsec. (a)(6), mean Pub. L. 91–604, Dec. 31, 1970, 84 Stat. 1676. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1970 Amendment note set out under section 7401 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and Tables.

Section 712(b) of this title, referred to in subsec. (b), which related to additional duties of the Association, was repealed and section 712(c) of this title was redesignated section 712(b) by Pub. L. 97–35, title XI, § 1148(a), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 674.

Section 714 of this title, referred to in subsec. (b), was omitted from the Code.

Subchapter III of chapter 113 of title 49, referred to in subsec. (d)(3), was omitted in the general amendment of subtitle IV of Title 49, Transportation, by Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 102(a), Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 804. Previously, in subsec. (d)(3), “subchapter III of chapter 113 of title 49” was substituted for “section 5 of part I of the Interstate Commerce Act (49 U.S.C. 5)” on authority of Pub. L. 95–473, § 3(b), Oct. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 1446, the first section of which enacted subtitle IV (§ 10101 et seq.) of Title 49.

Sections 762 and 763 of this title, referred to in subsec. (g), were repealed by Pub. L. 94–210, title VIII, § 806, Feb. 5, 1976, 90 Stat. 143, eff. Apr. 1, 1978.

Amendments

Amendments

1978—Subsec. (d)(5)(C). Pub. L. 95–611 substituted “3 years” for “900 days”.

1976—Subsec. (c)(1)(A). Pub. L. 94–210, § 607(g), inserted proviso relating to notice by the Corporation to the Association.

Subsec. (c)(1)(B). Pub. L. 94–210, § 607(f), inserted provision relating to alternative designations to be made under this paragraph.

Subsec. (c)(1)(D). Pub. L. 94–210, § 607(j), designated existing provision as cl. (i) and added cl. (ii).

Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 94–210, § 607(h), inserted provision relating to sale of designated properties to a subsidiary of the Corporation.

Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 94–210, § 607(i), inserted “or any subsidiary thereof” after “Corporation” wherever appearing.

Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 94–210, § 607(e), inserted provisions relating to correction to the preliminary system plan published in 40 Fed. Reg. 16377, determinations made with respect to such correction by the Commission, and determinations made with respect to acquisitions referred to in any supplement to the preliminary system plan.

Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 94–210, § 607(o), inserted provision relating to modification of offer until the date of acceptance, and substituted “95” for “60” and “7 days after February 5, 1976,” for “30 days after the effective date of the final system plan”.

Subsec. (d)(5). Pub. L. 94–555, § 202(a), inserted “or for purposes of providing rail marine freight floating service” after “intercity rail passenger service”.

Pub. L. 94–436, § 2, inserted provision relieving the Corporation, its Board of Directors, and its individual directors from liability to any party by reason of the fact that the Corporation transferred property pursuant to section 743 of this title.

Pub. L. 94–210, § 807, restructured provisions and substituted provisions relating to valuation of transferred properties transferred by the Corporation and adjustment of such valuation, for provisions relating to valuation of transferred properties sold by the Corporation.

Subsec. (d)(6). Pub. L. 94–210, § 607(p), added par. (6).

Subsec. (d)(7). Pub. L. 94–555, § 202(c), inserted “by the Corporation pursuant to the final system plan” after “with respect to the acquisition”.

Pub. L. 94–436, § 4, added par. (7).

Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 94–210, § 607(q), added subsec. (j).

1975—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 94–5 inserted “and express” after “rail”.

Effective Date Of Amendment

Effective Date of 1978 Amendment

Pub. L. 95–611, § 4(b), Nov. 8, 1978, 92 Stat. 3090, provided that: “The amendment made by this Act [probably meaning this section 4, which amended section 716 of this title] shall be effective on January 2, 1974.”

Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 94–555 effective Oct. 1, 1976, see section 303 of Pub. L. 94–555, set out as a note under section 702 of this title.

Miscellaneous

Abolition of Interstate Commerce Commission and Transfer of Functions

Interstate Commerce Commission abolished and functions of Commission transferred, except as otherwise provided in Pub. L. 104–88, to Surface Transportation Board effective Jan. 1, 1996, by section 702 of Title 49, Transportation, and section 101 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as a note under section 701 of Title 49. References to Interstate Commerce Commission deemed to refer to Surface Transportation Board, a member or employee of the Board, or Secretary of Transportation, as appropriate, see section 205 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as a note under section 701 of Title 49.

Abolition of United States Railway Association and Transfer of Functions and Securities

See section 1341 of this title.

Applicability of National Environmental Policy Act

Application of National Environmental Policy Act to actions of Commission not affected by title VI of Pub. L. 94–210, see section 619 of Pub. L. 94–210, set out as a note under section 791 of this title.