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Mapping the Expansion of Passenger Rail in the United States
PART ONE - Visualizing Amtrak Connects 2035, Corridor Identification and Development Program Submissions, and the FRA Long Distance Study
Introduction
Amtrak was founded in 1971. But beginning in the late 1970s, many of their routes were discontinued and have never returned. But with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), passenger rail is poised to have the greatest expansion in a generation.
Amtrak's Existing Route Map
Amtrak Connects US 2035 Map
This program by Amtrak was started in 2020 to plan for and expand Amtrak service throughout the country and to come up with a vision for Amtrak's network by 2035.
This vision framework was enhanced by the legislative codification of the Corridor ID Program in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Corridor ID Program Routes
The Corridor Identification and Development (Corridor ID) Program will identify intercity passenger rail routes ready for development and implementation.
Map Key
New intercity passenger rail routes of less than 750 miles
Restoration of service over all or portions of an intercity passenger rail route formerly operated by Amtrak
Enhancements of an existing intercity passenger rail route of less than 750 miles
Increase of service frequency of a long distance intercity passenger rail route
Existing Amtrak routes (dashed)
Amtrak Connects US 2035 routes not included in the Corridor ID program
- Enhancements parallel existing routes (dashed)
- New routes stand alone
Eligible Entities: "...Amtrak, States, groups of States, entities implementing interstate compacts, regional passenger rail authorities, regional planning organizations, political subdivisions of a State, federally recognized Indian Tribes, and other public entities, as determined by the Secretary."
Legislative Authority: "The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Public Law 117-58 , authorized the Secretary of Transportation to establish the Corridor ID Program to facilitate the development of intercity passenger rail corridors. 49 U.S.C. 25101(a) . The Federal Railroad Administrator is delegated the authority to establish and administer the Corridor ID Program. 49 CFR 1.89(a) ."
Funding Available: "For each selected Corridor, FRA will initially award the grantee $500,000 for eligible activities related to the initiation of a grantee’s Corridor development efforts to include the development of a scope, schedule, and cost estimate for preparing a service development plan (SDP) for a Corridor."
Source: Corridor Identification and Development (Corridor ID) Program (Sections above taken from the law)
Corridor IDs vs. Amtrak Today
FRA Daily Long Distance Service Study
While a separate program, also codified in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the FRA Daily Long Distance Service Study complements the Corridor ID program and focuses on evaluating the restoration of discontinued long distance routes (since the late 1970s), the potential for new routes, and long distance routes with nondaily service.
The former Northcoast Hiawatha (Chicago to Seattle via southern Montana) and Pioneer (Salt Lake City to Portland) discontinued routes are likely to be analyzed in the FRA Long Distance study. In addition, both of these routes were also submitted for the Corridor ID program.
Legislative Authority: "Section 22214 of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) of 2021 tasks the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), under delegation from the Secretary of Transportation, with conducting an Amtrak Daily Long-Distance Service Study to evaluate the restoration of daily intercity passenger rail service and the potential for new Amtrak long-distance routes."
"Over the next year, FRA will be engaging with and listening to stakeholders, including transportation and rail partners, federally recognized tribes, and communities, as we evaluate how to better connect people with long-distance rail services. Stakeholder engagement for the Long-Distance Service Study began in September 2022 and will conclude in late 2023."
Source: https://railroads.dot.gov/rail-network-development/planning/amtrak-daily-long-distance-service-study (Sections above taken from law)
Full Map
CorridorIDSubmissions_0625_v3