House Bill 14-1161 Summary

• Creates the Southwest Chief Rail Line Economic Development, Rural Tourism, and Infrastructure Repair and Maintenance Commission to preserve Amtrak's Southwest Chief rail line service through Colorado (currently serving Lamar, La Junta, and Trinidad) and expand it to include a stop in Pueblo.

• Establishes a dedicated fund to support rail infrastructure improvements and expansion, accepting moneys from federal government, local governments, public-private partnerships, and voter-approved ballot measures.

• Commission may expend fund moneys only for administrative costs, studies, and rail improvements if Amtrak commits in writing to: continue existing stops, add a Pueblo stop within five years, and explore adding a Walsenburg stop.

• Requires Kansas and New Mexico, Amtrak, and the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway to collectively commit in writing to spend an average of at least $15.2 million annually for 10 years on track upgrades and maintenance.

• Commission consists of five voting members (representing tourism industry, rail transportation advocacy, freight rail industry, and two regional residents who advocated for public rail) plus two non-voting advisors; appropriates $5,279 for initial fiscal year operations and repeals automatically effective July 1, 2017.