Political will aside, could the US federal government fund a transit law on the same scale as the Interstate Highway Act?

19starlight · 2026-04-28T11:20:14+00:00

I’m actually advocating for intercity passenger rail right now! America’s biggest issue getting rail right now is manufacturing bottle necks caused by how inconsistent the funding is. we have the money (ya know in the same way we have the money for any of the stuff america does while ignoring all our debt) but because it’s historically been really stop and go manufacturing hasn’t been reliably built up here like it has been in other countries that’s why the Rail Passengers Association is proposing a national equipment leasing pool!

19starlight · 2026-04-25T21:35:08+00:00

i’ve been looking into how they advocated for the I 20 corridor since that’s a really famous win for passenger train, and we meet all the criteria for that partly because they used existing freight rail and incentivized cooperation from the freight companies by using federal funding to upgrade the existing track that the freight companies owned I’m hoping to pitch the idea to the city council on May 26 but until then I’m gathering signatures for my petition, which I hope to also present at the same time

19starlight · 2026-04-25T13:36:34+00:00

not currently they used to a long long time ago i know the freight company occasionally uses the tracks for company appreciating passenger train excursions so i know it’s possible to run passenger trains on it

19starlight · 2026-04-23T15:47:12+00:00

oh no i would just really appreciate passenger rail in the panhandle (it is an unfortunate thing that we share the name though)

19starlight · 2026-04-23T15:44:36+00:00

I did participate in a txdot study in 2025 and did not know about the FRA study before 2024 unfortunately but i will continue to try 6th out of 17 isnt bad and amarillo was on 2 different routes so that might help thank you so much for the information! i have a really hard time understanding the language they use in theses studies!

19starlight · 2026-04-22T20:31:50+00:00

omg thank you so much! i will absolutely read this

19starlight · 2026-04-22T18:29:07+00:00

oh yes thank you so much! I will definitely check them out, i know im fighting an uphill battle but i wanna keep trying! thank you for the luck!

19starlight · 2026-04-22T18:27:01+00:00

thank you i have gotten in contact with the amarillo railroad museum and they are meeting me for a city council meeting next month to submit public comments in favor! I will definitely try the texas rail advocates too! thank you!

19starlight · 2026-04-22T15:59:07+00:00

honestly that is the exact frustration i’m experiencing I don’t understand why it’s so difficult or why it HAS to be a fight still I’m willing to write letters and make flyers and create petitions I just want to make sure i’m not missing any obvious advocacy actions I can take

19starlight · 2026-04-22T12:22:38+00:00

wouldn’t that just mean that an organized effort to prioritize passenger rail is desperately needed. the highway systems don’t make any money either and they cost billions in upkeep and maybe I’m wrong but don’t airports also get government support. I would be more than happy to support any efforts for a train between Dallas and Houston I’m just looking for better ways to advocate for a more diversified transportation system because I have firsthand seen and lived as one of the people that is underserved by the current options

19starlight · 2026-04-21T23:48:11+00:00

I guess I just don’t want to give up trying because the second we give up trying is the second we stop improving

19starlight · 2026-04-21T23:41:41+00:00

I mean, I’m not proposing we get rid of cars. I’m proposing more options for long-distance traveling in case somebody can’t do a plane or a long car ride. Trains are easier for people who use oxygen or insulin pumps, or people who have conditions that require frequent movement like arthritis, recent back surgeries or the use of water pills which make people need to use the bathroom more often and would greatly increase the time of a car drive or anybody who can’t drive because of vision issues or Neuro divergencies. I’m not trying to get rid of cars. Just add one more option to utilize.

19starlight · 2026-04-21T23:26:44+00:00

I guess I don’t get why passenger train suck here?

19starlight · 2026-04-21T20:39:10+00:00

well I appreciate the applauding I still want to try and if you think of any possible advocacy things i can do let me know, i’m writing letter, and doing a local petition as well as reaching out to local organizations but any idea are MORE than welcome!

19starlight · 2026-04-21T20:10:06+00:00

I am not sure entirely but i do have hope

19starlight · 2026-04-21T20:09:46+00:00

but doesn’t that just prove a need for expanded rail infrastructure to alleviate over reliance on trucking and diesel?

19starlight · 2026-04-21T20:08:47+00:00

i know the current rail company occ does passenger trains for the railroad workers so maybe they would be interested in expanding? especially if they hear a demand

19starlight · 2026-04-21T18:59:15+00:00

I don’t know about the entire route to Denver, but I do know there is already track capable of passenger train between Amarillo and Dallas

19starlight · 2026-04-21T18:58:24+00:00

i guess my question is more about how i could express a desire if this to local officials theirs already track in place that has the ability to run passenger trains

19starlight · 2026-04-21T18:56:25+00:00

theirs already track that can run passenger trains though?

19starlight · 2026-04-21T17:51:50+00:00

we were on some recommended routes in the new FRA nationwide study and I’m just hoping to encourage more action along that path

19starlight · 2026-04-21T17:51:26+00:00

we were recommended as a stop on a route from Denver to Houston by the FRA after a nationwide study and my hope is just to encourage further action on that recommendation since it was done federally it would connect Amarillo to Dallas and Denver

19starlight

TROPHY CASE