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<section article="gtr" article_name="Transportation" number="7-311" title_number="7" title_name="Mass Transit" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Transit Plans and Financing">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“MARC” means the Maryland Area Regional Commuter rail service.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“MARC Cornerstone Plan” means the plan established by the Administration to translate the Administration’s transit vision statement into strategic priorities, policies, programs, and initiatives for MARC rail service.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>“Transit vision statement” means the Administration’s objective to provide safe, efficient, and reliable transit access across Maryland with world–class customer service.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Administration shall establish individual investment programs to advance the MARC Cornerstone Plan and other MARC improvements by providing incremental enhancements for:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The Brunswick Line, including a third track between Rockville and Germantown to better serve Western Maryland and existing communities served by the line;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The Camden Line;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>The Penn Line;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>New regional service between Perryville, Maryland and Newark, Delaware;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>New regional run–through rail service to Alexandria, Virginia; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>Extending the Brunswick Line to better serve Western Maryland.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Each investment program established under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Commence in fiscal year 2023;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Include a review of existing rail operations, infrastructure, and right–of–way information to confirm existing conditions;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Include rail simulation models for each of the current corridors served by MARC and areas identified for new service;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Identify future operating scenarios that can improve service, including new midday, weekend, evening, through–running, and bidirectional service;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>Develop conceptual level improvement plans to enhance MARC’s service over time, including:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Concept plans for highest–value infrastructure improvements identified by the simulation models;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>New stations or station enhancements; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>Improvements to enhance access to jobs and housing in neighboring jurisdictions; and</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>Identify a 5–year priority set of capital projects and activities to implement planned improvements to be funded in the Consolidated Transportation Program.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>In fiscal year 2028 and every fifth fiscal year thereafter, the Administration shall update each investment program established under this subsection.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>In fiscal year 2023, the Administration shall advance the following rail priority projects as part of the investment programs required under subsection (b) of this section:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>In coordination with the District of Columbia, Virginia, the Virginia Railway Express, Amtrak, and CSX, develop a service and operations plan for MARC through–running to Alexandria, Virginia;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>In coordination with Delaware, Pennsylvania, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), and Amtrak, develop a service and operations plan for MARC, SEPTA, or Amtrak to run competitive transit schedules between Perryville, Maryland and Newark, Delaware;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Complete 30% of the design for a new Elkton infill MARC station on the Penn Line;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Complete 30% of the design for a new Bayview infill MARC station on the Penn Line;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>Complete 30% of the design for Germantown Station improvements;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>Complete 15% of the design for a fourth track on the Penn Line; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>Hire three full–time equivalent (FTE) staff at a cost of approximately $450,000 annually beginning in fiscal year 2023 for the Administration’s planning and capital programming to ensure the Administration has adequate staff resources to leverage federal rail funding.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
