(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. (2) "MARC" means the Maryland Area Regional Commuter rail service. (3) "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. (4) "Transit vision statement" means the Administration's objective to provide safe, efficient, and reliable transit access across Maryland with world-class customer service. (b) (1) The Administration shall establish individual investment programs to advance the MARC Cornerstone Plan and other MARC improvements by providing incremental enhancements for: (i) The Brunswick Line, including a third track between Rockville and Germantown to better serve Western Maryland and existing communities served by the line; (ii) The Camden Line; (iii) The Penn Line; (iv) New regional service between Perryville, Maryland and Newark, Delaware; (v) New regional run-through rail service to Alexandria, Virginia; and (vi) Extending the Brunswick Line to better serve Western Maryland. (2) Each investment program established under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall: (i) Commence in fiscal year 2023; (ii) Include a review of existing rail operations, infrastructure, and right-of-way information to confirm existing conditions; (iii) Include rail simulation models for each of the current corridors served by MARC and areas identified for new service; (iv) Identify future operating scenarios that can improve service, including new midday, weekend, evening, through-running, and bidirectional service; (v) Develop conceptual level improvement plans to enhance MARC's service over time, including: 1. Concept plans for highest-value infrastructure improvements identified by the simulation models; 2. New stations or station enhancements; and 3. Improvements to enhance access to jobs and housing in neighboring jurisdictions; and (vi) Identify a 5-year priority set of capital projects and activities to implement planned improvements to be funded in the Consolidated Transportation Program. (3) In fiscal year 2028 and every fifth fiscal year thereafter, the Administration shall update each investment program established under this subsection. (c) 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: (1) 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; (2) 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; (3) Complete 30% of the design for a new Elkton infill MARC station on the Penn Line; (4) Complete 30% of the design for a new Bayview infill MARC station on the Penn Line; (5) Complete 30% of the design for Germantown Station improvements; (6) Complete 15% of the design for a fourth track on the Penn Line; and (7) 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.
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