SB3618eng 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB3618 Engrossed LRB097 19381 HEP 65295 b

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section 2705-355 as follows:

(20 ILCS 2705/2705-355 new)

Sec. 2705-355. Amtrak Illinois bus program.

(a) The purpose of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly is to create a pilot program for intercity bus service that generates enough ticket revenue to cover all of its costs and to generate more ridership and revenue for the Amtrak Illinois rail service. This bus service shall be known as the Amtrak Illinois bus program.

(b) The Department shall issue a concession to an intercity bus operator for a period of 2 years. The concessionaire shall participate in the Amtrak Thruways program.

(c) The Department shall require Amtrak, as a condition of receiving State funds for intercity rail service, to enroll the concessionaire in the Amtrak Thruways program and sell and issue tickets for the bus service of the concessionaire. The Department shall further require Amtrak, as a condition of receiving State funds for intercity rail service, to account for the ticket revenue of all rail passengers who also purchased a bus ticket from the concessionaire for the same trip. This revenue of rail tickets sold to individuals who also purchased a bus ticket from the concessionaire on the same trip shall be distributed to the concessionaire from Amtrak on a monthly basis for the duration of the concession. Any additional revenue collected by Amtrak due to higher ticket prices sold to non-bus passengers shall remain with Amtrak and may be used to reduce the annual operating subsidy for rail service due from the State. No Amtrak revenues may be redirected to the bus operator.

(d) The concessionaire shall affix large signage that reads "Amtrak Illinois" on all bus vehicles used by the concessionaire to transport passengers. The Department shall require Amtrak, as a condition of receiving State funds for intercity rail service, to allow the concessionaire to use the Amtrak Illinois trademark and logo as part of their signage.

(e) The Department shall market Amtrak Illinois bus service in the same manner as the Department markets Amtrak Illinois rail service.

(f) The concession shall be for at least one of the following routes: Champaign, Normal, Peoria, Galesburg, and the Quad Cities; and Champaign, Decatur, Springfield, and Quincy, with any intermediate stops of the concessionaire's choosing. These routes shall be timed to connect with Amtrak service in Champaign, Normal, Galesburg, and Springfield as much as possible. Preference shall be granted for concessionaire proposals that include the most frequencies on the routes. The Department may grant a concession for one or both of these routes as part of the pilot program.

(g) The concessionaire shall be encouraged to pick up and drop off bus passengers that do not also purchase a rail ticket.

(h) The Department shall issue a Request for Proposals from potential concessionaires by November 1, 2012 and shall select the concessionaire by February 1, 2013. The Request for Proposals shall contain a statement that the only revenue available to cover operating costs of the concessionaire will be from the farebox and any other sources generated by the concessionaire. The State shall have no cost responsibility for the service. Service shall begin by April 1, 2013 to coincide with the issuance of the Amtrak timetable in the spring of 2013.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.