GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

H	2 

HOUSE BILL 257
Committee Substitute Favorable 7/14/97

Short Title:  RR Ports Use Incentive Study.	(Public)

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Sponsors:

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Referred to:

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February 17, 1997

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE STUDY OF WAYS TO INCREASE RAIL SERVICE TO THE STATE'S PORTS AND ADJOINING COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING INCENTIVES FOR RAILROADS TO INCREASE SERVICE TO THE STATE'S PORTS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  The Legislative Research Commission may study the issue of ways to increase rail service to the State ports at Wilmington and Morehead City and adjoining communities, including incentives to railroads to increase rail service to the State ports.  The Commission may look at issues addressed in House Bill 257, First Edition, of the 1997 General Assembly.  The study shall include at least the following:
(1)	Ways to entice railroads to provide increased rail service to the State's ports at Morehead City and Wilmington, including increased services from Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Raleigh, Hamlet, and Wallace;
(2)	The effect of incentives, including tax incentives, on rail service;
(3)	Examination of what other states, including South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, and Florida, have done to encourage and effect increased rail service to the ports and other state-owned economic development and trade areas in those states;
(4)	The costs and benefits of the State ports operating rail lines, or transporting freight, to inland rail terminals and connections;
(5)	Use of the North Carolina Railroad to increase rail service to the ports;
(6)	Incentives and preferences now being granted to Class I railroads serving North Carolina, their parent, sister, subsidiary, or related companies in North Carolina;
(7)	A comparison of incentives and preferences as set forth in subdivision (6) offered by other states, including the states set forth in subdivision (3); and
(8)	The cost and effect (economic and otherwise) of North Carolina ports not having rail service commensurate to that of other states.  This analysis should include the effect on statewide economic development, job creation, and tax revenues.
Section 2.  The Legislative Research Commission may make an interim report to the 1997 General Assembly, 1998 Regular Session, and shall make a final report to the 1999 General Assembly.
Section 3.  The act is effective when it becomes law.