HB 2424 -- Missouri and Midwest High-Speed Rail Commission Act

Sponsor:  Brown (50)

This bill establishes the Missouri and Midwest High-Speed Rail
Commission Act and the Missouri and Midwest High-Speed Rail
Commission consisting of 12 public members appointed by the
Governor and three ex-officio members including the directors of
the departments of Transportation and Economic Development and
the chairperson of the Highways and Transportation Commission.
The member qualifications, the procedure for filling vacancies,
and the reimbursement of travel expenses are specified in the
bill.

The rail commission is required to:

(1)  Meet at least monthly until April 2011 and at least
quarterly thereafter;

(2)  Prepare and issue a report to the Governor, General
Assembly, and the public recommending the best governmental
structure for a public-private partnership to design, build,
operate, maintain, and finance a high-speed rail system for
Missouri and the Midwest by March 20, 2011.  The report must
include specific recommendations for legislation, regulations,
funding sources, and ways to integrate the high-speed rail system
into existing and planned Amtrak expansions, airports, and public
transportation systems;

(3)  Issue a follow-up report by February 1, 2012, detailing the
status of its recommendations and any revised and updated
recommendations based on further public and stakeholder input;

(4)  Develop a process for receiving public and stakeholder input
on opinions and proposals for the high-speed rail system and to
include the solicitation and receipt of formal expressions of
interest and other testimony from global high-speed rail
operators including, without limitation, Amtrak;

(5)  Solicit and receive testimony from representatives of other
Midwestern states, including local governments; and

(6)  Work collaboratively with the Department of Transportation
on any planning projects for high-speed rail administered by the
department to comply with federal high-speed rail requirements.

The department may provide staff and other support to the
commission from funds available to the department for this
purpose.  The General Assembly may also specifically appropriate
funds to the department and the commission to provide staff and
other support, and the commission may accept monetary or in-kind
gifts from any public or private source.  These provisions will
not preclude the department from planning for high-speed rail.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:14 pm