When the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) expires in September 2026, federal funding for intercity passenger rail could revert to the unstable, short-term model that historically defined the program.
For decades, federal support for Amtrak has relied primarily on annual appropriations without a dedicated revenue source — creating uncertainty for long-term planning, capital investment, and service expansion. The IIJA marked a significant shift, providing $66 billion for passenger rail over five years and introducing a more predictable federal commitment.
In the recent Eno report, Looking Down the Tracks: A Case for More Predictable Intercity Passenger Rail Funding, Rebecca Higgins examines the structural challenges of the past funding model and outlines a path toward a durable, long-term federal strategy. In this webinar, hosted by the High Speed Rail Alliance, Higgins shares Eno’s analysis and discusses how a more stable funding framework could improve efficiency, sustain ridership growth, and support investments befitting the growing importance of passenger rail in the national transportation system.
