Sen. Michael W. Frerichs
Filed: 2/23/2012
 
 

 

 

 
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1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 3618




2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 3618 by replacing 
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:

 
4    "Section 5. The Department of Transportation Law of the

5Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended  by adding 
6Section 2705-355 as follows:
 
7    (20 ILCS 2705/2705-355 new)
8    Sec. 2705-355. Amtrak Illinois bus program.
9    (a) The purpose of this amendatory Act of the 97th General 
10Assembly is to create a pilot program for intercity bus service 
11that generates enough ticket revenue to cover all of its costs 
12and to generate more ridership and revenue for the Amtrak 
13Illinois rail service. This bus service shall be known as the 
14Amtrak Illinois bus program.
15    (b) The Department shall issue a concession to an intercity 
16bus operator for a period of 2 years. The concessionaire shall 
 
 
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1participate in the Amtrak Thruways program.
2    (c)




The Department shall require Amtrak, as a condition of 
3receiving State funds for intercity rail service, to enroll the 
4concessionaire in the Amtrak Thruways program and sell and 
5issue tickets for the bus service of the concessionaire. The 
6Department shall further require Amtrak, as a condition of 
7receiving State funds for intercity rail service, to account 
8for the ticket revenue of all rail passengers who also 
9purchased a bus ticket from the concessionaire for the same 
10trip. This revenue of rail tickets sold to individuals who also 
11purchased a bus ticket from the concessionaire on the same trip 
12shall be distributed to the concessionaire from Amtrak on a 
13monthly basis for the duration of the concession. Any 
14additional revenue collected by Amtrak due to higher ticket 
15prices sold to non-bus passengers shall remain with Amtrak and 
16may be used to reduce the annual operating subsidy for rail 
17service due from the State.
18    (d)




The concessionaire shall affix large signage that reads 
19"Amtrak Illinois" on all bus vehicles used by the 
20concessionaire to transport passengers. The Department shall 
21require Amtrak, as a condition of receiving State funds for 
22intercity rail service, to allow the concessionaire to use the 
23Amtrak Illinois trademark and logo as part of their signage.
24    (e)




The Department shall market Amtrak Illinois bus service 
25in the same manner as the Department markets Amtrak Illinois 
26rail service.
 
 
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1    (f)




The concession shall be for at least one of the 
2following routes: Champaign, Normal, Peoria, Galesburg, and 
3the Quad Cities; and Champaign, Decatur, Springfield, and 
4Quincy, with any intermediate stops of the concessionaire's 
5choosing. These routes shall be timed to connect with Amtrak 
6service in Champaign, Normal, Galesburg, and Springfield as 
7much as possible. Preference shall be granted for 
8concessionaire proposals that include the most frequencies on 
9the routes. The Department may grant a concession for one or 
10both of these routes as part of the pilot program.
11    (g)




The concessionaire shall be encouraged to pick up and 
12drop off bus passengers that do not also purchase a rail 
13ticket.
14    (h)




The Department shall issue a Request for Proposals from 
15potential concessionaires by November 1, 2012 and shall select 
16the concessionaire by February 1, 2013. Service shall begin by 
17April 1, 2013 to coincide with the issuance of the Amtrak 
18timetable in the spring of 2013.

 
19    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
20becoming law.".