Mr. Speaker, I add the following amendment in response to your concerns.
A Bill
Easier Transport for All Act
Creating a region-wide bus system to serve as a supplement in rural areas to LincolnRail
Section 1. Creation
1. A new bus transport company owned by the region of Lincoln called LincolnBus will be created.
2. This company will be tasked with designing hundreds of bus routes across the region which service rural regions and connect them with the already existing LincolnRail network.
Section 2. Operation and Design
1. States will bid for inclusion into the LincolnBus network, providing necessary funding for the Government of Lincoln to operate a bus network in each state.
a. If a state's bid is accepted without the necessary funding to operate a network, the Government of Lincoln will provide the remaining necessary funds on a temporary basis, which will be approved by the Assembly at LincolnBus's request.
2. The company will initially operate a pilot program in the first three (3) states to have bids accepted by the Government of Lincoln. After a period of six (6) months since the first bus route began operation, the Government will accept bids from any other states wishing to apply.
3. The company will design routes connecting stations in the LincolnRail network and regional centers and rural cities by a Design Commission comprised of two members from each constituent state of the network.
4. Once a route is approved, the Government will buy the necessary equipment and materials to maintain the network, along with hiring personnel. until a private operator has been found, as defined in Section 3.
5. LincolnBus shall charge no fare to passengers.
Section 3. Ownership
1. The company will initially be owned completely and subsidized by the region of Lincoln with the cooperation and support of the states of Lincoln. These subsidies by the region of Lincoln shall be sufficient to cover fare for all passengers, fuel and all other related costs and expenditures of LincolnBus.
2. After a period of one (1) year since operation of the first bus route, the company will sell a stake in the company to private bus operators who have bid in the previous year for operation of various sections of the network, ultimately totalling to 75 percent between the various operators.
a. These operators will be tasked with management of the infrastrcture and hiring of personnel only; branding and ticketing will still be maintained by the region of Lincoln. By the end of five (5) years since the company's creation, every bus route will be maintained and operated by a private operator.
3. If a sufficient amount of operators are not found, the region will continue to maintain the network until a sufficient amount of operators are found.
Section 4. Implementation
1. This bill shall become law upon the signing of the Governor.
