The Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 was signed into law on October 16, 2008.
It reauthorized Amtrak and authorized the United States Department of Transportation to furnish grants for operating costs and capital expenses and to repay Amtrak’s long-term debt and capital leases. It required Amtrak to adopt cost and performance metrics for its intercity trains and established the Northeast Corridor Commission to govern Amtrak’s shared services along the Northeast Corridor.
It also expanded the Surface Transportation Board’s powers regarding Amtrak and commuter rail operators.
