Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Strengthen and Restore the Nation’s Long-Distance Passenger Rail Network

A bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. Senate could help accelerate progress on restoring passenger rail service across the Northern Plains and Pacific Northwest.

S. 3728, the Long-Distance Corridor Relief Enhancement Act, was introduced by Senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT) and cosponsored by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR). The legislation would eliminate the requirement for a non-federal funding match during the early planning phases of the Federal Railroad Administration’s Corridor Identification and Development Program.

Removing that barrier is essential for long-distance corridors that cross multiple states and serve rural communities and tribal nations, where assembling early matching funds can be difficult or impractical.

The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority is leading development of the Big Sky North Coast Corridor, a proposed 2,300-mile passenger rail route connecting Chicago with Seattle and Portland. The corridor would reconnect communities across the Northern Plains and Pacific Northwest to the national passenger rail network and restore a historic route that served the region for decades.

Learn more and take action

https://bigskyrailmt.gov/take-action