Take Action
Support S. 3728, the Long-Distance Corridor Relief Enhancement Act
What is S. 3728?
S. 3728, the Long-Distance Corridor Relief Enhancement Act, is bipartisan legislation introduced by Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT) and co-sponsored by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR). Read the bill text on Congress.gov.
The bill clarifies that a non-federal match is not required for long-distance corridors participating in the Federal Railroad Administration's Corridor Identification and Development Program. This is a program clarity issue, not special treatment for any one corridor.
Read the official announcement: Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Strengthen and Restore the Nation's Long-Distance Passenger Rail Network.
Why this matters
Long-distance corridors:
Cross multiple states
Serve rural communities
Involve multiple local partners
Early non-federal match requirements can create barriers unrelated to corridor readiness or planning quality.
S. 3728 keeps the focus on merit and program consistency.
What the bill does not do
It does not:
Guarantee funding
Guarantee service
Change Corridor ID steps
Reduce FRA oversight
It removes an early structural barrier, so long-distance corridors are evaluated on readiness and merit.
Rail Labor Supports S. 3728
The IAM Union and the Transportation Communications Union/IAM have expressed strong support for S. 3728, the Long-Distance Corridor Relief Enhancement Act.
Their April 13 letter to congressional transportation leaders states that long-distance passenger rail is national infrastructure and underscores the bill’s importance for rural communities, national connectivity, and good railroad jobs.
Read the IAM/TCU support letter. Then contact your senators and urge them to support S. 3728.