Passenger rail projects become reality over years and even decades of thorough work—from ideation to scheduling and budgeting, to project development. Some use existing railways to create new passenger routes. Others focus on improving safety and technology. No matter the initiative, it is no surprise funding is at the core of every rail project. Who is providing the financing? Is the money guaranteed? How long will the funding last? Following the investments and understanding what laws and grants impact passenger rail work paints a clear picture for where we stand now and what’s to come. 

Advocates in Ohio know that securing funding, not just support, at all levels is the guaranteed path to progress. 

What financial backing exists at the federal level?

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) was signed into law in 2021. Also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), this legislation is essential for making rail travel safer, more reliable and more expansive from coast to coast. At the federal level, this is the primary source of investment for passenger rail.

The IIJA provides $102 billion in total funding for rail improvement projects across the nation through fiscal year 2026. Of that $102 billion, $66 billion is advance appropriations and $36 billion is authorized funding. 

The graph below from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) outlines five groups the $66 billion advance appropriations is funding for fiscal years 2022 to 2026.

Group 1: Amtrak ($22B)

As a quasi-public corporation, Amtrak is chartered by the U.S. government (the majority shareholder) and also operates as a revenue-generating business. In practice, that means Amtrak gets a cut of the BIL funding as appropriated by Congress.

According to the Department of Transportation website, “In conjunction with operating revenues and funds from states, local governments, and other entities, Amtrak uses federal funds for a wide range of its operating and capital activities, including a portion of its operating expenses, capital maintenance of fleet and infrastructure, capital expansion and investment programs, and capital debt repayment.” 

Essentially, Amtrak works hand-in-hand with partners at the local, state and federal level to support the passenger rail work. The Northeast Corridor Account and National Network Account are supported through grants provided by the FAST Act, or Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act. 

Group 2: Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements ($5B)

Also known as the CRISI Program, the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program is just as the name states—federal investments focused on improving safety and reliability for passenger and freight rail. 

Some of the outlined areas of improvement include adding or upgrading railroad safety technology, addressing congestion challenges that impact rail service, relocating and improving rail lines, and more. 

Group 3: Railroad Crossing Elimination ($3B)

This grant program provides financing dedicated to highway-rail or pathway-rail grade crossing improvements projects. This work improves “the safety and mobility of people and goods,” according to the Department of Transportation. 

This work would include improvement or installation of signs, signals and protective devices, track relocation, environmental reviews, and more. 

Group 4: Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail ($36B)

Another name you’ll see for this grant program is the National Railroad Partnership (NRP) Program. Applications for this program are due in early February 2026. 

Eligible projects could focus on improvements for infrastructure, equipment or facilities, improving rail passenger performance, establishing new rail service and more. 

Group 5: Restoration and Enhancement ($250M)

The smallest beneficiary of the IIJA focuses on increasing frequency of current service, extending current service, establishing new service, restoring previously offered service and offering new on-board services. 

What updates do we have for 2026 investments?

Sometimes annual budgets change! For the last fiscal year of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, here’s everything that’s getting upgraded:

• Northeast Corridor Grants to Amtrak carried over a balance of $21 million from last year and now has $1.6 billion in new appropriations. 

• National Network Grants to Amtrak carried over a balance of $202 million from last year and now has $3.6 billion in new appropriations.

• Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grants carried over a balance of $13 billion from last year and now has $7.2 billion in new appropriations.

• CRISI Grants carried over a balance of $5 billion from last year and now has $1 billion in new appropriations. 

• Railroad Crossing Elimination Program carried over a balance of $2 billion from last year and now has $600 million in new appropriations. 

• National Culvert Removal, Replacement and Restoration Grant Program carried over a balance of $747 million last year and now has $196 million in new appropriations. 

Where national funding impacts Ohio

The Corridor ID Program is one of the largest initiatives in the IIJA. In 2023, the following fourOhio routes were selected out of 69 total routes nationwide. 

• 3C+D (Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton)

• Cleveland - Toledo - Detroit

• Midwest Connect (Chicago, Ft. Wayne, Lima, Columbus, Pittsburgh)

• Cardinal 

The program expedites timelines and fills gaps where the FRA otherwise has limited funding available. Learn more about the 3 steps to developing our rail routes. In December 2025, the FRA announced significant changes to the Corridor ID program that could influence Step 2 in the process through a new Core Service Development Plan (Core SDP). 

The nation benefits when Ohio gets a slice of the pie

Four routes in the Corridor ID program speak for themselves. Connecting many of the most populous cities in our state, increasing access to reliable multimodal transportation, and upgrading service to existing routes are just some of the benefits Ohioans know we need to compete in the 21st century.

As the 2026 fiscal year comes to a close in October, all eyes will be on new funding rollouts in 2026 and into 2027.