A new report released in January 2026 by the Eno Center for Transportation, Looking Down the Tracks, offers a critical warning that every Ohio rail advocate needs to hear: The historic progress we’ve made could be stalled if Congress returns to business as usual.

For decades, passenger rail in the U.S. has suffered from a "feast or famine" funding cycle—years of starvation budgets interspersed with short-term cash infusions. This uncertainty has historically made it impossible for states like Ohio to plan long-term projects like the 3C&D (Cleveland-Columbus-Dayton-Cincinnati) corridor.

The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) changed the game by providing five years of guaranteed funding. This certainty allowed Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to finally build the staff capacity and project pipelines necessary to expand service. It is the very reason Ohio currently has four routes in the federal Corridor ID pipeline.

The 2026 Cliff

However, the Eno report identifies a looming threat: The IIJA’s advance appropriations expire in September 2026.

If federal funding reverts to the old annual discretionary model, the capacity built up over the last five years could be wasted. For Ohio, the timing is critical. Our corridors are currently moving through the Service Development Plan phases. If the funding window slams shut just as Ohio is ready to break ground, we risk repeating the history of the early 2010s, where projects withered on the vine.

What Needs to be True for Ohio's Future?

Based on the Eno Center’s analysis, three things must happen to ensure Ohio's passenger rail plans become reality:

1. Certainty Beyond 2026 We cannot build multi-year infrastructure on one-year budgets. The report argues that Congress must continue the multi-year advanced appropriations model established by the IIJA. This allows agencies to plan efficient construction schedules without fear that the money will disappear next year.

2. A Dedicated Pipeline for Expansion Current federal grants have successfully funded the planning of new corridors (like ours), but there is still uncertainty about where the construction money will come from once those plans are finished. The report recommends a "Phased Funding Agreement" structure that gives states confidence: if we do the planning work, the capital funding will be there to build it.

3. Maintaining Institutional Capacity Amtrak and state partners have hired thousands of employees to manage these complex projects. If funding dips, this workforce will be lost, and re-hiring them later will be costly and slow. Sustained funding is the only way to keep the experts we need to deliver the 3C&D and Midwest Connect.

The Bottom Line

The "Corridor ID" wins we celebrated last year were just the beginning. To turn those studies into steel wheels on tracks, All Aboard Ohio must advocate not just for our specific routes, but for a predictable, long-term federal funding structure. As the report states, "Reverting to prior funding frameworks would have a devastating impact on the progress that was made possible".

Let’s ensure Congress keeps the green light on for Ohio.

Recommended Viewing

For a deeper dive into how All Aboard Ohio is strategizing around these federal opportunities, watch this discussion on our advocacy roadmap.

All Aboard Ohio's Rail Advocacy Strategy