Title 49 — TransportationRelease 119-84

§302 FINDINGS.

Title 49 › Subtitle SUBTITLE V— - RAIL PROGRAMS › Part PART E— - MISCELLANEOUS › Chapter CHAPTER 281— - LAW ENFORCEMENT › § 302

Last updated Apr 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Congress says rail is a key part of North America’s transportation network. Government actions helped grow strong, stable towns in the western U.S. and Canada by building cross‑country rail lines. Federal support stopped before rail lines were linked to Alaska and the Yukon. Rail in remote areas can control access and cause less harm to sensitive places. Building a rail link through northern British Columbia and the Yukon to the Alaska Railroad would help U.S. and Canadian tourism by moving people comfortably while reducing local impacts. Ongoing rail research keeps trains safer, cleaner, and more efficient.

Full Legal Text

Title 49, §302

Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

“Congress finds that—

“(1)rail transportation is an essential component of the North American intermodal transportation system;

“(2)the development of economically strong and socially stable communities in the western United States and Canada was encouraged significantly by government policies promoting the development of integrated transcontinental, interstate and interprovincial rail systems in the States, territories and provinces of the two countries;

“(3)United States and Canadian federal support for the completion of new elements of the transcontinental, interstate and interprovincial rail systems was halted before rail connections were established to the State of Alaska and the Yukon Territory;

“(4)rail transportation in otherwise isolated areas facilitates controlled access and may reduce overall impact to environmentally sensitive areas;

“(5)the extension of the continental rail system through northern British Columbia and the Yukon Territory to the current terminus of the Alaska Railroad would significantly benefit the United States and Canadian visitor industries by facilitating the comfortable movement of passengers over long distances while minimizing effects on the surrounding areas; and

“(6)ongoing research and development efforts in the rail industry continue to increase the efficiency of rail transportation, ensure safety, and decrease the impact of rail service on the environment.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

49 U.S.C. § 302

Title 49 — Transportation

Last Updated

Apr 22, 2026

Release point: 119-84