Approved by the Transportation Policy Committee on March 12, 2025 
Approved by the Public Policy and Practice Committee on May 7, 2025
Adopted by the Board of Direction on July 10, 2025

 Policy

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) supports continued maintenance, improvement, and expansion of rail infrastructure needed to provide a strong freight and passenger rail transportation system within the United States. These systems are needed to support continued growth of the nation’s economy, reduce system congestion, and provide safe and efficient service to meet future demand for freight and passenger service.

Rail infrastructure maintenance, improvement, and development programs should be an integral component of all jurisdictions’ multimodal transportation service plans and capital investment programs, that support a role for both freight and passenger rail. ASCE also supports a regulatory and financial environment that encourages continued private investment in the nation’s railroad system. Additionally, ASCE encourages the use of innovative financing methods to increase funding for both freight and passenger rail such as revenue bonds and tax-exempt financing at the state, regional and local levels, public-private partnerships, and state infrastructure banks. 

ASCE supports public sector programs to provide a safe and efficient system, including, but not limited to:

  • Federal and state level assistance programs to provide low interest loans and grants to short line railroads to help modernize infrastructure as necessary.
  • This would allow the accommodation of larger loads and clearances, such as those required for double-stacked container cars and increase allowable speeds.
  • Funding for the Federal Highway Administration’s Rail-Highway Crossings program under Section 130.
  • Continued and increased funding for Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program and Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program. 

Issue

From its beginnings in the mid 1820’s, the nation’s railroad network has been a critical component of the nation’s transportation system and has provided the foundation for the movement of goods and people throughout the country. Throughout their history, railroads have spurred development and growth of our cities and towns, provided for the movement of passengers throughout the country, and promoted the development and expansion of business and industry. 

The U.S. passenger and freight rail network includes nearly 140,000 miles of track and over 100,000 bridges. The private freight rail industry owns the vast majority of the nation’s rail infrastructure and continues to make significant capital investments to ensure the good condition of the rail network. Rail should play an increased role because of its efficiencies in moving freight, coupled with its ability to help reduce highway congestion, highway fatalities, fuel consumption, greenhouse gases, logistics, and public infrastructure maintenance costs by providing an alternative to the transport of freight by truck. Short line and regional railroads provide a connection to major railroads for lower density traffic. However, their investment needs are not readily funded from freight receipts, and they often rely on tax credits, and state and local funding to provide this service. These public investments need to be made to upgrade tracks to handle larger 286,000-pound rail cars, to accommodate double stack containers, and repair or replace aging bridges. 

The population, production and consumption patterns of the U.S. have changed dramatically over the last several decades, and an improved rail system is needed to support the country's economy. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that between 2023 and 2050, there will be a 43 percent increase in demand for freight movement from 20.2 billion to 28.9 billion tons across the nation by all transport modes combined. During this period, the volume of freight being moved on the nation’s railway system is expected to increase by 20 percent from 1.6 to 1.9 billion tons. 

Intercity rail travel operated almost exclusively by Amtrak provided service to 32.8 million passengers, reaching record levels in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. This represents a total of 6.54 billion passenger miles of travel during that period. In early 2024, Amtrak set goals to double passenger ridership to 66 million by FY2040. Amtrak covers a high portion of its operating costs with ticket sales and other revenues but continues to rely heavily on government funding for capital investment. Increased passenger rail travel, combined with Amtrak’s ridership goals, clearly indicate the need to boost investment in rail infrastructure.

Passenger rail transport faces notable challenges, having the dual problem of aging infrastructure and insufficient funding. Additionally, since the vast majority of Amtrak’s network runs on privately owned railroads, Amtrak relies heavily on freight railroad maintenance and system support to deliver passenger service. Freight and passenger rail generally share the same network, and a significant increase in rail demand will add to freight railroad capacity challenges. Passenger and freight rail systems should have separate facilities to improve efficiency and reduce service interruptions. 

Coupled with programs to increase regional and intercity passenger rail and develop high-speed rail, investments in rail are needed to achieve broad benefits for passengers, shippers, and the general public. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021 included a significant boost for rail infrastructure. While the law provides $66 billion in rail investments over five years, increased sustainable funding is still needed. 

Rationale

The U.S. needs to increase its policy focus and funding priority for strategic investments in freight and passenger rail mobility that can reduce congestion and grow the economy. 

To compete in the global marketplace and to enhance quality of life, effective investments in both freight and passenger rail infrastructure must be made and innovative transportation solutions must be considered. An efficient, well-funded, national rail network allows people and businesses to cost effectively provide for better national mobility. It provides better individual transportation options and allows U.S. businesses to be competitive, ultimately helping the nation’s economy to prosper and grow.

Investments in intercity passenger rail systems, including high-speed rail, are increasingly attractive as part of an overall transportation mobility strategy to provide added capacity and high-quality service. As congestion on the nation’s surface transportation system continues to worsen, it becomes increasingly important to ensure proper rail investment meets future demands. 

ASCE Policy Statement 521 
First Approved in 2006

Related ASCE Policy Statements:
Policy Statement 402 – High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail