§24307. Special transportation

(a) Reduced Fare Program.-Amtrak shall maintain a reduced fare program for the following:

(1) individuals at least 65 years of age.

(2) individuals (except alcoholics and drug abusers) who-

(A) have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity of the individual;

(B) have a record of an impairment; or

(C) are regarded as having an impairment.

(b) Actions To Ensure Access.-Amtrak may act to ensure access to intercity transportation for elderly or handicapped individuals on passenger trains operated by or for Amtrak. That action may include-

(1) acquiring special equipment;

(2) conducting special training for employees;

(3) designing and acquiring new equipment and facilities;

(4) eliminating barriers in existing equipment and facilities to comply with the highest standards of design, construction, and alteration of property to accommodate elderly and handicapped individuals; and

(5) providing special assistance to elderly and handicapped individuals when getting on and off trains and in terminal areas.

(c) Employee Transportation.-(1) In this subsection, "rail carrier employee" means-

(A) an active full-time employee of a rail carrier or terminal company and includes an employee on furlough or leave of absence;

(B) a retired employee of a rail carrier or terminal company; and

(C) a dependent of an employee referred to in clause (A) or (B) of this paragraph.

(2) Amtrak shall ensure that a rail carrier employee eligible for free or reduced-rate rail transportation on April 30, 1971, under an agreement in effect on that date is eligible, to the greatest extent practicable, for free or reduced-rate intercity rail passenger transportation provided by Amtrak under this part, if space is available, on terms similar to those available on that date under the agreement. However, Amtrak may apply to all rail carrier employees eligible to receive free or reduced-rate transportation under any agreement a single systemwide schedule of terms that Amtrak decides applied to a majority of employees on that date under all those agreements. Unless Amtrak and a rail carrier make a different agreement, the carrier shall reimburse Amtrak at the rate of 25 percent of the systemwide average monthly yield of each revenue passenger-mile. The reimbursement is in place of costs Amtrak incurs related to free or reduced-rate transportation, including liability related to travel of a rail carrier employee eligible for free or reduced-rate transportation.

(3) This subsection does not prohibit the Interstate Commerce Commission from ordering retroactive relief in a proceeding begun or reopened after October 1, 1981.

( Pub. L. 103–272, §1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 911 .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised Section	Source (U.S. Code)	Source (Statutes at Large)
24307(a)	45:545(c)(2).	Oct. 30, 1970, Pub. L. 91–518, 84 Stat. 1327 , §305(c)(2); added Sept. 29, 1979, Pub. L. 96–73, §105(2), 93 Stat. 539 .
24307(b)	45:545(c)(1).	Oct. 30, 1970, Pub. L. 91–518, 84 Stat. 1327 , §305(c)(1); added Nov. 3, 1973, Pub. L. 93–146, §6, 87 Stat. 550 ; Sept. 29, 1979, Pub. L. 96–73, §105(1), 93 Stat. 539 .
24307(c)	45:565(f).	Oct. 30, 1970, Pub. L. 91–518, 84 Stat. 1327 , §405(f); added June 22, 1972, Pub. L. 92–316, §8, 86 Stat. 230 ; Sept. 29, 1979, Pub. L. 96–73, §120(a), 93 Stat. 547 ; Aug. 13, 1981, Pub. L. 97–35, §1184, 95 Stat. 697 .

In subsection (a), before clause (1), the word "maintain" is substituted for "Within 90 days after September 29, 1979" and "establish" for clarity.

In subsection (b), before clause (1), the word "act" is substituted for "take all steps necessary to" to eliminate unnecessary words. The words "access to" are added for clarity. In clause (1), the words "and devices" are omitted as surplus. In clause (4), the words "architectural and other" are omitted as surplus.

In subsection (c)(1)(A), the words "period of" and "while on" are omitted as surplus.

In subsection (c)(2), the words "take such action as may be necessary to", "the terms of . . . policy or", and "to such railroad employee" are omitted as surplus. The words "or group of railroads" are omitted because of 1:1.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 11347 of this title.