Why Development of Passenger Rail in the Midwest is Important   

A modern passenger rail system is an integral component of the intermodal transportation infrastructure needed to move people and goods quickly, safely and economically in the 21st Century.

Within the last 10 years, thanks to passage of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act of 2015 and the infrastructure Investment and Jobs (IIJA) Act of 2021, this essential transportation component has begun to receive the federal attention and funding afforded to other transportation modes. Thanks to this transformation, new passenger trains and equipment are running, vital improvements to our region’s rail infrastructure have been made, and planning is underway to make the Midwest Regional Rail Plan a reality.

In addition to state-supported services, long-distance trains provide vital connections to 80 urban and rural communities across the Midwest.

With all major metropolitan cities within 100 to 500 miles of the Chicago Hub, our region is the ideal candidate to benefit from this federal partnership to build faster and more frequent intercity passenger rail service, with long-distance routes providing the backbone upon which regional corridor service can be built.

Midwestern state officials and other advocates need to continue declaring with one voice that improvements in passenger rail are critical and necessary. The Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact provides structure and legitimacy to such a united voice.

On this page, you will find basic information about MIPRC; you can find more information about our work on our Advocacy page.
 

Reports

Federal Railroad Administration's Midwest Regional Rail Plan (October 2021)
The Economic Impact of Passenger Rail Suppliers on Midwestern States (May 2015)
Amtrak's Long-Distance Trains: Brief History, Benefits, Infrastructure Challenges (June 2014)
The Role of Passenger Rail in Midwestern Emergency Planning (November 2006)

Additional MIPRC Resources

The Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact (and states enacted)
MIPRC Brochure (as of November, 2024)