§ 19 — Interstate high speed intercity rail passenger network compact

§ 19. Interstate high speed intercity rail passenger network compact.\nThe interstate high speed intercity rail passenger network compact is\nhereby ratified, enacted into law and entered into with all other\njurisdictions legally joining therein in form substantially as follows:\n INTERSTATE HIGH SPEED INTERCITY\n RAIL PASSENGER NETWORK COMPACT\n ARTICLE I\n POLICY AND PURPOSE\n Because the beneficial service of and profitability of a high speed\nintercity rail passenger system would be enhanced by establishing such a\nsystem which would operate across state lines, it is the policy of the\nstates party to this compact to cooperate and share jointly the\nadministrative and financial responsibilities of preparing a feasibility\nstudy concerning the operation of such a system connecting major cities\nin Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, West\nVirginia and Kentucky.\n ARTICLE II\n COOPERATION\n The states of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania,\nIllinois, West Virginia and Kentucky, hereinafter referred to as\nparticipating states, agree to, upon adoption of this compact by the\nrespective states, jointly conduct and participate in a high speed\nintercity rail passenger feasibility study by providing such information\nand data as is available and may be requested by a participating state\nor any consulting firms representing a participating state or the\ncompact. It is mutually understood by the participating states that such\ninformation shall not include matters not of public record or of a\nnature considered to be privileged and confidential unless the state\nproviding such information agrees to waive the confidentiality.\n The participating states further agree to: 1. make available to each\nother and to any consulting firm representing the member states or the\ncompact such assistance as may be legal, proper and available, including\nbut not limited to personnel, equipment, office space, machinery,\ncomputers, engineering and technical advice and services; and\n 2. provide such financial assistance for the implementation of the\nfeasibility study as may be legal, proper and available.\n ARTICLE III\n INTERSTATE RAIL PASSENGER ADVISORY COUNCIL\n There is hereby created an interstate rail passenger advisory council,\nthe membership of which shall consist of two representatives from each\nparticipating state, one representative from each state shall hold a\nbachelor of science degree in either engineering or transportation\nscience, and shall be appointed by the governor of the participating\nstate and the other shall be the chairman of the state's railroad\nauthority, but in the event said state does not have a railroad\nauthority, the second member shall be the director of the participating\nstate's transportation agency. The members shall select designees who\nshall serve in the absence of the members. The advisory council shall\nmeet within thirty days after ratification of this agreement by at least\ntwo participating states and establish rules for the conduct of the\nadvisory council's business.\n The advisory council shall coordinate all aspects of the highspeed\nintercity rail passenger feasibility study relative to interstate\nconnections and shall do all other things necessary and proper for the\ncompletion of the feasibility study.\n ARTICLE IV\n EFFECTIVE DATE\n This compact shall become effective upon the adoption of the compact\ninto law by two or more of the participating states. Thereafter, it\nshall enter into force and effect as to any other participating state\nupon the enactment thereof by such state. This compact shall continue\nin force with respect to a participating state and remain binding upon\nsuch state until six months after such state has given notice to each\nother participating state of the repeal thereof. Such withdrawal shall\nnot be construed to relieve any participating state from any obligation\nincurred prior to the end of the state's participation in the compact as\nprovided herein.\n ARTICLE V\n CONSTRUCTION AND SEVERABILITY\n This compact shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the\npurposes thereof. The provisions of this compact shall be severable and\nif any phrase, clause, sentence, or provision of this compact is\ndeclared to be contrary to the constitution of any participating state\nor of the United States, or the applicability thereof to any government,\nagency, person, or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the\nremainder of this compact and the applicability thereof to any\ngovernment, agency, person, or circumstance shall not be affected\nthereby. If this compact shall be held contrary to the constitution of\nany participating state, the compact shall remain in full force and\neffect as to the remaining states and in full force and effect as to the\nstate affected as to all severable matters.\n