2006 New York Code - Interstate High Speed Intercity Rail Passenger Network Compact.

 
    § 19. Interstate  high speed intercity rail passenger network compact.
  The interstate high speed intercity rail passenger  network  compact  is
  hereby  ratified,  enacted  into  law  and  entered  into with all other
  jurisdictions legally joining therein in form substantially as follows:
                        INTERSTATE HIGH SPEED INTERCITY
                       RAIL PASSENGER NETWORK COMPACT
                                  ARTICLE I
                             POLICY AND PURPOSE
    Because the beneficial service of and profitability of  a  high  speed
  intercity rail passenger system would be enhanced by establishing such a
  system  which  would operate across state lines, it is the policy of the
  states party  to  this  compact  to  cooperate  and  share  jointly  the
  administrative and financial responsibilities of preparing a feasibility
  study  concerning the operation of such a system connecting major cities
  in Ohio, Indiana,  Michigan,  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Illinois,  West
  Virginia and Kentucky.
                                  ARTICLE II
                                 COOPERATION
    The  states  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Michigan,  New  York,  Pennsylvania,
  Illinois,  West  Virginia  and  Kentucky,  hereinafter  referred  to  as
  participating  states,  agree  to,  upon adoption of this compact by the
  respective states, jointly conduct  and  participate  in  a  high  speed
  intercity rail passenger feasibility study by providing such information
  and  data  as is available and may be requested by a participating state
  or any consulting  firms  representing  a  participating  state  or  the
  compact. It is mutually understood by the participating states that such
  information  shall  not  include  matters  not  of public record or of a
  nature considered to be privileged and  confidential  unless  the  state
  providing such information agrees to waive the confidentiality.
    The  participating states further agree to:  1. make available to each
  other and to any consulting firm representing the member states  or  the
  compact such assistance as may be legal, proper and available, including
  but  not  limited  to  personnel,  equipment,  office  space, machinery,
  computers, engineering and technical advice and services; and
    2. provide such financial assistance for  the  implementation  of  the
  feasibility study as may be legal, proper and available.
                                  ARTICLE III
                 INTERSTATE RAIL PASSENGER ADVISORY COUNCIL
    There is hereby created an interstate rail passenger advisory council,
  the  membership  of which shall consist of two representatives from each
  participating state, one representative from each  state  shall  hold  a
  bachelor  of  science  degree  in  either  engineering or transportation
  science, and shall be appointed by the  governor  of  the  participating
  state  and  the  other  shall  be  the  chairman of the state's railroad
  authority, but in  the  event  said  state  does  not  have  a  railroad
  authority,  the second member shall be the director of the participating
  state's transportation agency. The members shall  select  designees  who
  shall  serve  in  the absence of the members. The advisory council shall
  meet within thirty days after ratification of this agreement by at least
  two participating states and establish rules  for  the  conduct  of  the
  advisory council's business.
    The  advisory  council  shall  coordinate all aspects of the highspeed
  intercity  rail  passenger  feasibility  study  relative  to  interstate
  connections  and  shall do all other things necessary and proper for the
  completion of the feasibility study.
                                  ARTICLE IV
                               EFFECTIVE DATE
    This compact shall become effective upon the adoption of  the  compact
  into  law  by  two  or  more of the participating states. Thereafter, it
  shall enter into force and effect as to any  other  participating  state
  upon  the  enactment thereof by such state.  This compact shall continue
  in  force  with respect to a participating state and remain binding upon
  such state until six months after such state has given  notice  to  each
  other  participating  state of the repeal thereof. Such withdrawal shall
  not be construed to relieve any participating state from any  obligation
  incurred prior to the end of the state's participation in the compact as
  provided herein.
                                   ARTICLE V
                        CONSTRUCTION AND SEVERABILITY
    This  compact  shall  be  liberally  construed so as to effectuate the
  purposes thereof.  The provisions of this compact shall be severable and
  if any phrase,  clause,  sentence,  or  provision  of  this  compact  is
  declared  to  be contrary to the constitution of any participating state
  or of the United States, or the applicability thereof to any government,
  agency, person, or circumstance is held invalid,  the  validity  of  the
  remainder   of  this  compact  and  the  applicability  thereof  to  any
  government, agency,  person,  or  circumstance  shall  not  be  affected
  thereby.  If  this compact shall be held contrary to the constitution of
  any participating state, the compact shall  remain  in  full  force  and
  effect as to the remaining states and in full force and effect as to the
  state affected as to all severable matters.