Over Three Quarters of Americans Want Better Passenger Rail Network

The vast majority of Americans want the federal government to invest in strengthening the national passenger rail network, according to a new poll by the Rail Passengers Association (RPA), the nation's largest advocacy organization for rail passengers. Specifically, 78% of respondents said having a strong passenger rail system in the U.S. is "Important" and 66% said they support adding more routes to the current rail network.

The results of the poll come after Congress passed and President Joe Biden signed the Investment in Infrastructure and Jobs Act, which could provide up to $100 billion for the national network over the next five years.

Whether its traffic, or rising gas prices, or carbon reduction, rail is a crucial part of our transportation future.

"Americans want and deserve a robust, efficient, and practical national rail network. The signing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill gives us a once-in-a-generation chance to deliver on that promise," said Rail Passengers President & CEO Jim Mathews. "This support we see is broad-based across all demographics – Republicans, Democrats and Independents, men and women of all ages and races, and even rural or urban living."

The poll found that there is strong support among all political parties, social and ethnic groups for passenger rail, which reinforces the importance of a strong network. Some of the key demographic findings of support include:

95% Democrats; 61% Republicans; 77% independents

80% women; 75% men

91% Black or African American; 81% for Hispanic or Latinx; 75% for White or Caucasian.

82% urban; 74% rural; 78% suburban

Of those polled, 42% also said the Infrastructure Bill should contain  more than the $100 billion currently allotted for rail, including 24% of respondents who thought the bill should contain much  more

RPA's polling was conducted in November 2021 by Change Research and polled 1,280 registered voters from across the United States.