S. 3728, the Long-Distance Corridor Relief Enhancement Act, would remove a requirement that the Transportation Secretary consider non-Federal funding (money from states, private sources, or other non-federal entities) when selecting long-distance intercity passenger rail routes for federal development programs. Currently, the law requires the Secretary to evaluate whether projects have committed or anticipated funding from non-federal sources, which can disadvantage routes in areas with limited local funding capacity. This bill exempts long-distance rail corridors from that requirement, making it easier for such projects to qualify for federal support regardless of their ability to secure private or state funding. The change would apply to any long-distance route corridor accepted into the program on or after October 1, 2023. The bill does not specify new federal funding amounts but effectively lowers the bar for long-distance rail projects to access existing federal program resources.
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