For the past several years, state-of-good-repair needs and long-distance route improvements have been top-of-mind concerns for Amtrak officials. The Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (PRIIA) and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will help the railroad address both issues.rnPRIIA requires Amtrak to prepare a capital spending plan in consultation with the U.S. transportation secretary and northeastern states for infrastructure projects needed to return the railroad right of way, facilities, stations and equipment to a state of good repair. In April 2009, Amtrak released a report on Northeast Corridor (NEC) maintenance needs that indicated the railroad had a state-of-good-repair backlog of about $5.5 billion.
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