S 2520119th CongressIn Committee

All Aboard Act of 2025

Introduced: Jul 29, 2025

Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (D-Massachusetts)

Infrastructure

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The All Aboard Act of 2025 is a broad rail policy package that would dramatically expand electrification and zero-emission technology in U.S. rail, while also strengthening passenger rail service, workforce development, and rail-related environmental protections. The bill creates a State Rail Formula Funding program to provide grants to states for planning, operating, and expanding rail infrastructure; establishes a Green Railroads Fund to support electrification projects with strong labor, environmental, and community engagement requirements; and sharply increases federal investment in passenger and high-performance rail through new and expanded grant programs. It also directs attention to air-quality improvements near railyards, climate resilience for rail infrastructure, and a robust rail workforce training framework. The package aims to accelerate a transition to zero-emission locomotives by 2047, expand high-performance rail, and shift some travel from short-haul flights to rail along targeted corridors. If enacted, the bill would inject substantial federal funding (multi-billion-dollar levels over five years in several programs) and place new labor standards and local workforce protections on projects, with explicit prioritization for projects that reduce pollution in environmental justice communities and expand electrified rail infrastructure. It would affect multiple actors—federal agencies (DOT, EPA, DOE, FERC), Amtrak, states, Class I/II/III railroads, labor organizations, rail equipment suppliers, tribal entities, and local communities—particularly those near rail corridors and railyards.

Key Points

1State Rail Formula Funding: Creates a formula grant program to help states develop rail plans, operate services, and expand/upkeep rail infrastructure. Each state must submit progress reports showing how plans expand passenger rail (including high-performance rail) and electrify freight and passenger rail. States receive a minimum annual grant (not less than $5 million per year for five years) and funding is intended to support planning, construction, operations, and coordination with federal grant programs. Authorization: $3.5 billion over 5 years (starting Oct 1, 2025).
2Green Railroads Fund: Establishes competitive grants to eligible entities (states, Amtrak, railroads, tribes, manufacturers, utilities, and others) to enable or improve electrified rail operations. Requirements for applicants include robust public engagement, environmental/public health safeguards, wage/apprenticeship standards, and a workforce transition plan. Uses include electrification infrastructure, rolling stock, yards, right-of-way acquisitions, and climate resilience. Labor provisions require project labor agreements, local hiring, and two-person freight crews. Priority goes to projects that cut air pollution in environmental justice communities and expand high-performance rail. Authorization: $50 billion over 5 years.
3Transmission Co-location Study: A 180-day study to evaluate co-locating electric transmission infrastructure with rail corridors to streamline permitting, reduce land use, and expand renewable energy alongside rail electrification; may lead to an interagency task force and priority corridor designations.
4Expansion of Passenger/HPR Rail: Significant increases in federal funding for passenger intercity rail and high-performance rail, including:
5- Federal-State Intercity Partnership Program: $80 billion over 5 years, with priority for high-performance projects that install or upgrade infrastructure to enable faster, more reliable service; expands consideration of electrification benefits in cost-benefit analyses.
6- Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement Program: $30 billion over 5 years, with expanded eligibility to include electrification projects; adds new eligible activities related to zero-emission infrastructure and related workforce/engagement requirements; strengthens workforce transition planning.
7- Amtrak Funding: $30 billion over 5 years for Amtrak, including $5 billion for climate resilience projects.
8- Other Programs: Additional authorizations for rail crossing elimination ($10 billion) and restoration/enhancement programs ($1 billion), plus a provision to allow grant funds to cover non-Federal share when advancing intercity rail investments.
9- Rail Electrification Priority: Grants under these programs must prioritize electrification projects in freight yards or corridors, especially in environmental justice communities and along existing or new corridors.
10Rail Air Pollution Grants: EPA would operate a grants program under Clean Air Act sections 103 and 105 to address air pollution from railyards. Authorization: $500 million over 5 years.
11Labor Protections and Workforce Development: Applies labor standards and protections to grants; designates passenger-rail operations and related suppliers as rail carriers for certain federal laws; sets wage requirements for laborers and mechanics; creates two national Rail Workforce Training Centers (Passenger Rail and Freight Rail) to coordinate standards-based training, apprenticeship programs, and workforce development, including training for zero-emission technologies. Authorization: $500 million over 5 years for the training centers.
12Transfer/Use of Federal Funds: Provisions allowing Amtrak or states to use federal grant funds to cover non-Federal cost share when advancing intercity rail investments, and amendments to railroad crossing funding to emphasize protective devices installation.
13Definitions: Several key terms defined to support implementation, including electrification infrastructure, zero-emission locomotive, environmental justice community, and high-performance rail service.
14Scope and Jurisdiction: The bill envisions coordination across DOT, EPA, DOE, Amtrak, and rail carriers, with an emphasis on climate resilience, environmental justice, and workforce development.

Impact Areas

Primary groups/areas affected- States and state transportation agencies: Access to new formula grants for planning, operating, and expanding rail services; must submit state rail plans and progress reports.- Amtrak and intercity rail carriers: Expanded funding and eligibility; involvement in electrification projects; subject to new labor and wage requirements; climate resilience funding.- Rail workforce and labor organizations: Stronger engagement requirements, wage standards, apprenticeship programs, and formal workforce training centers to support both passenger and freight rail sectors.- Environmental justice communities: Explicit prioritization for pollution reduction and electrification projects in EJ communities; robust public engagement requirements.Secondary groups/areas affected- Class I/II/III railroads and rail equipment manufacturers: Eligible for electrification grants; must comply with labor and workforce requirements; potential partnerships with states or Amtrak.- Tribes and tribal organizations: Eligible entities under the Green Railroads Fund and related programs; potential for infrastructure investments in tribal areas.- Local governments and utilities: Partners in projects to install or expand electrification and related infrastructure; involved in community engagement and environmental safeguards.Additional impacts- Climate, air quality, and public health: Investment in electrification and zero-emission locomotives aimed at reducing pollutants; EPA Clean Air Act grant program to address railyard emissions.- Economic and regional development: Large-scale investments could spur construction, manufacturing, and jobs; potential regional shifts toward rail as a preferred mode of travel and freight.- Regulatory and permitting processes: Study on transmission co-location may influence future permitting and interagency coordination; enhanced emphasis on safety, resilience, and workforce transition.- Transportation options and mobility: Expanded high-performance passenger rail could modify travel patterns and reduce reliance on short-haul flights between targeted city pairs.

Generated by gpt-5-nano on Oct 8, 2025