Policy and Legislation

Action Alert: Rockford and the Quad Cities Passenger Rail

Policy and Legislation, Projects and Planning

Making Shared-Use Work

HSR 101, Policy and Legislation

Needed Policy Changes

Policy and Legislation

Illinois Needs an Integrated Rail Plan

Policy and Legislation

Rail Commission Bills Introduced in Illinois and Indiana

Policy and Legislation

We are happy to share that state legislators in Illinois and Indiana have introduced legislation that could play a key […]

California Wins! Lawmakers Release Funds for High-Speed Rail

Policy and Legislation, Projects and Planning

On Wednesday evening, the California Legislature passed a state budget that includes $4.2 billion in funding for high-speed rail. California […]

Houston to Dallas bullet-train project scores big court win

Policy and Legislation, Projects and Planning

The Texas Supreme Court gave the company behind a planned bullet train from Dallas to Houston a win today, potentially […]

Lawmakers Push for High-Speed Rail Funding

Policy and Legislation

The federal budget process is underway, which will determine funding levels for passenger rail for Fiscal Year 2023. A group […]

California High Speed Rail is Happening! Help Keep It Going!

Policy and Legislation, Projects and Planning

The nation’s first high-speed line is being built in California, and it will transform travel throughout the state. The project will serve as the backbone of […]

FRA creates the Corridor Identification and Development Program, asking for expressions of interest

Policy and Legislation

The Federal Railroad Administration recently launched the Corridor Identification and Development (Corridor ID) Program. This program is meant to facilitate […]

Time for beast mode: California must go all-in on building high-speed rail and better transit

Policy and Legislation, Projects and Planning

California’s high-speed line from San Francisco to Los Angeles is the biggest public-works project now underway in America. Its payoffs will be […]

Pushback to Biden’s picks for Amtrak board: Not diverse enough

Policy and Legislation

The Biden administration’s five nominees for Amtrak’s board of directors are provoking strong pushback due to their lack of geographic […]

Amtrak’s Funding & Policy Requests

Policy and Legislation

On March 31, Amtrak submitted to Congress its Fiscal Year 2023 General and Legislative Annual Report. The report includes an […]

Lessons from APTA’s High Speed Rail Conference

Policy and Legislation

Image: The new Acela train, which we had a chance to tour as part of APTA’s conference. They should be […]

Americans want better trains, new poll shows

Policy and Legislation

A new poll makes it clear that Americans want better trains: 78% of respondents said having a strong passenger rail […]

Long-Distance Passenger Train Services: Putting “National” into “National Network”

Policy and Legislation

Guest Blog by Dan Bilka Image: Proposed Routes for Sec. 22214 Studies, primary routing options highlighted in yellow. Base map: Rail […]

Washington State Legislature Approves High-Speed Rail Funding

Policy and Legislation, Projects and Planning

On March 10, the Washington State Legislature signed off on a historic transportation package. The Move Ahead Washington bill invests […]

Let’s build the train equivalent of the Interstate Highway System

Policy and Legislation

Thank you to everyone who responded to the Federal Railroad Administration’s recent request for input on their Corridor Identification and […]

How long do you think gas prices will stay this low?

Policy and Legislation

Gas prices passed $4 per gallon this week in many parts of the country. Enjoy it while it lasts. Russia’s […]

Help shape how new funding for trains gets used

Policy and Legislation

Last fall, Congress provided unprecedented new funding for trains: at least $66 billion over the next five years. Now, a […]

Thoughts on an HSR Implementation Strategy

Policy and Legislation

Guest post by CrossRail Chicago Technical Committee we want to put forth my thoughts on what is necessary to create […]

A Freight Railroad’s Need Offers Rail Passengers an Opportunity: a Chicago-Champaign Shuttle

Policy and Legislation

Guest post By F.K. Plous The case for 10 trains a day to Champaign A drama currently under way on […]

Get Big or Get Out: It’s Time to Ditch Modest Passenger Rail Projects

Policy and Legislation

Guest post by FK Plous Today’s example: The case for eight daily roundtrips between Moline and Chicago. What’s the best way […]

Ultra high-speed line in Pacific Northwest racks up high-profile support

Policy and Legislation, Projects and Planning

The CEO of Challenge Seattle—a public-policy organization representing CEOs of the largest employers in the Pacific Northwest—made a forceful case […]