State resolution that requested funds for the rail expansion killed in the committee in Alaska

Juneau, Alaska – A resolution that demands federal financing for two extensions of the Alaska Railroad Network is dead for this year after not picking up from a Senate committee.

The committee for the Senate rules voted on May 20 at 14-6 against improving the joint decision by House House. The characteristics of the decision include a call to the contingent of the state in the congress, to pursue federal financing for a 32-mile rail line according to Port Mackenzie and the north rail extension. The adoption of the resolution is considered a necessary step to pursue funds such as consolidated rail infrastructures and safety improvement grants, said Read Alaska.

The legislation was postponed on May 20 for the year, which means that no further measures can take place until the legislature occurs again on January 20, 2026.

The State House adopted the resolution on May 7 with 40: 0.

MP Kevin McCabe (R-Big Lake), the main sponsor of Bills, has pushed several fronts for the Alaska Railroad to complete the connection to Port Mackenzie. This line was approved and the construction began in 2012, but was discontinued because of the financing. The efforts of McCabe to secure bond financing for the project was killed by the legislator last year [see “Legislative committee advances bill …,” Trains News Wire, May 15, 2024].

McCabe was also the sponsor of a law this year in which the privatization of Alaska Railroad was required [see “Alaska legislator reintroduces …,” News Wire, March 12, 2025]. This draft law could not get out of the committee either.