The Polar Express Act of 2026 is currently in the early stages of the legislative process. It was recently sent to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for review. No further actions are scheduled at this time, and the bill is considered active.
Legislative Progress
House
Senate
President
Law
Unlikely to pass
Most bills that only ask for a study face an uphill battle unless they have many supporters. Since this involves international cooperation with Canada, it is a very complex project.
Key Points
This bill asks the Department of Transportation to look into building a train route that connects Alaska to the rest of the United States. Right now, Alaska's trains are not connected to the main rail lines in the lower 48 states.
The study would look at how much it would cost, where the tracks would go, and if the project is even possible. The government would talk to local leaders, tribal groups, and other countries like Canada to get their input.
A final report with recommendations must be finished within two years of the study starting. This report will help leaders decide if they should actually move forward with building the tracks.
It is important to know that this bill does not actually start construction or set aside money to build the railroad. It only pays for the research needed to see if the idea makes sense.
Impact Analysis
Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.
Milestones
2 milestones2 actions
Jun 2, 2026House
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Jun 2, 2026
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
No votes, news coverage, or related bills recorded for this bill yet.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Polar Express Act of 2026
Bill NumberHR 9088
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
