SB15-176 Summary

• Eliminates requirements that Kansas and New Mexico formally agree to fund Southwest Chief rail line improvements in Colorado

• Changes Pueblo stop requirement from mandatory addition within 5 years to exploration of potential benefits only

• Replaces aggregate spending requirement of $15.2 million per year for 10 years with requirement that Amtrak and Burlington Northern Santa Fe railway spend at least $16 million toward repair

• Maintains Amtrak confirmation that service will continue at Lamar, La Junta, and Trinidad stops, and that Amtrak will explore benefits of adding stops in Pueblo and Walsenburg

• Appropriates $8.91 million from the general fund to the Southwest Chief Rail Line Economic Development, Rural Tourism, and Infrastructure Repair and Maintenance Fund for fiscal year 2015-16