(a) The Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing shall establish, through an annual budget process, the level of state funding available for the operation of intercity passenger rail service in each corridor.
(b) Where applicable, operating funds shall be allocated by the secretary to the joint powers board in accordance with an interagency agreement which includes mutually agreed-upon rail services. Funds for the administration and marketing of services, as appropriate, shall also be transferred by the secretary to the joint powers board, subject to the terms of the interagency agreement.
(c) The joint powers board or local or regional entities may augment state-provided resources to expand intercity passenger rail services, or to address funding shortfalls in achieving agreed-upon performance standards.
(d) The department may provide any support services as may be mutually agreed upon by the board and the department.
(e) Operating costs shall be controlled by dealing with, at a minimum, the current Amtrak cost allocation formula and the ability to contract out to Amtrak or other rail operators as a part of federal legislation dealing with Amtrak reauthorization.
(f) Not later than December 31, 1997, the secretary shall establish a set of uniform performance standards for all corridors and operators to control cost and improve efficiency.