Fully Fund the 15 FRA Long-Distance Rail Routes

America’s long-distance passenger rail network reflects the priorities of a past era. While billions in federal funding flow into the Northeast Corridor, the rest of the country is ignored. Vast regions across the Midwest, South, and Mountain West remain without reliable intercity rail service. Connecting these sprawling regions is not just about transit; it is a profound economic catalyst. Expanding the network will bring vital tourism dollars, create thousands of good-paying union jobs, and economically revitalize small towns that have been entirely left behind by consolidated airlines and highway bypasses. Fortunately, the FRA’s January 2025 Daily Long-Distance Service Study identified 15 planned routes necessary to restore national connectivity. Now that the blueprint exists, the only remaining question is whether Congress will act. Younger generations refuse to accept a transportation paradigm that locks us into forced car dependency. More importantly, millions of Americans—including seniors, people with disabilities, and those who simply cannot afford a $30,000 vehicle—are effectively trapped without intercity rail. We cannot just keep adding lanes to our highways forever in a futile attempt to pave our way out of traffic. Building a robust rail network relieves crippling highway congestion and saves taxpayers billions in devastating road wear-and-tear. Beyond economics and accessibility, Americans want a transportation system that works safely for everyone, regardless of the season. Driving across the Midwest and Mountain West in the dead of winter is dangerous, stressful, and often fatal. Passenger trains provide a steadfast, reliable, and safe alternative when roads are frozen solid or closed entirely by blizzards. The 2026 Surface Transportation Reauthorization is therefore a decisive, once-in-a-generation moment. Congress must build the rail network its citizens need rather than letting another historic study gather dust on a shelf. Lawmakers must fully authorize and fund all 15 planned routes. To achieve this, Congress must establish a dedicated Passenger Rail Trust Fund with predictable, multi-year funding comparable to what we readily provide for highways and aviation. It must guarantee a 90 percent federal match—the exact standard set by the Interstate Highway Act—to prevent uneven state politics from blocking national connectivity. Finally, Congress must firmly affirm that passenger rail is an indispensable public service and end the destructive mandate treating it as a profit-driven enterprise. We do not ask our highways to turn a profit. It is time to end the structural double standards and build the map.