case study
Nebraska Passenger Rail Interim Study
LR203
July 22-October 1, 2025
Senator Margo Juarez Omaha District 5
In 2024, State Senator Margo Juarez of Omaha’s District 5 launched a statewide effort to gather public sentiment on the future of passenger rail service in Nebraska. This initiative supports Legislative Resolution 203 (LR203), an interim study assigned to the Legislature’s Transportation and Telecommunications Committee. The purpose of LR203 is to evaluate Nebraska’s existing passenger rail infrastructure, understand public attitudes about expanding rail service, and determine the legislative and administrative actions needed to position Nebraska for future rail investment.
Interest in rail transportation has grown steadily in Nebraska, particularly among young professionals and members of the state’s expanding workforce. Passenger rail is increasingly viewed as both a mobility solution and an economic development catalyst, with potential to help retain homegrown talent, support regional job access, and attract large-scale public and private investment to Nebraska communities.
Scope
LR203 directs the Committee to examine several key components of Nebraska’s passenger rail landscape, including:
Current and historic passenger rail infrastructure within the state
Amtrak’s planned future services relevant to Nebraska, along with Nebraska’s participation (or lack thereof) in national rail expansion programs
Public opinion on rail transit, collected through statewide town halls and an online public survey administered by Senator Juarez
Legislative actions necessary to advance passenger rail planning, including potential direction for the Nebraska Department of Transportation
A coalition of senators also champion LR203, including Senator Victor Roundtree (District 3), Senator John Cavanaugh (District 9), Senator Machaela Cavanaugh (District 6), Senator Wendy DeBoer (District 10), Senator Ashlei Spivey (District 13), Senator George Dungan (District 26), and Senator Jason Prokop (District 27).
Public Engagement Process
To ensure broad geographic representation, Senator Juarez and ProRail Nebraska hosted a series of public town hall meetings across the state, including forums in:
Columbus — August 19
Lincoln — September 5
North Platte — September 9
Grand Island — September 16
Omaha — September 22
In parallel, Nebraska residents were invited to participate in an online public opinion survey to share their views on passenger rail priorities, desired destinations, service needs, and broader transportation concerns.
Participant Breakdown
While Nebraskans from many counties participated, the vast majority of responses came from the state’s population centers, especially Douglas County (Omaha) and Lancaster County (Lincoln). Sarpy County also contributed a significant share. More rural counties—including Scotts Bluff, Madison, Platte, Adams, and several panhandle and central Nebraska counties—are represented but at much lower volumes.
MOTIVATIONS FOR USING RAIL
The largest share of respondents indicated they would use passenger rail for traveling to neighboring states (about 18.7%). This is closely followed by visiting relatives or friends (16.1%) and other business or leisure activities (17.9%). Travel to or from an airport also ranked high at roughly 17.3%.
Lower-frequency purposes included going to sporting events (11.9%), commuting for work (8.1%), and visiting a government office (6.1%). The least common intended use was visiting or attending school, at just under 4%.
Overall, respondents most strongly associate passenger rail with regional travel, personal trips, and leisure, while daily or administrative uses are less common.
DESTINATIONS OF INTEREST
Regional Hubs
Midwest: Madison, Milwaukee, Fargo, ND, and Des Moines
Southern Corridor: Oklahoma City, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and Austin
Mountain: Cheyenne, Fort Collins, and Colorado Springs
Northern Corridor: Sioux City, Sioux Falls, Fargo, Canada
Tourism and Recreation: Major Recreation areas: Rapid City, SD, the Black Hills, and Badlands National Parks.
Larger cities on both coasts: Seattle Portland Los Angles, San Francisco, CA, New York City, Washington, DC, and Boston, MA
Warm-weather vacations: Florida, Arizona, and Las Vegas
participant feedback
Desire for Omaha–Lincoln Daily Rail
“Connecting Lincoln and Omaha by passenger rail should be our first priority…”
“The commute takes at least an hour each way… rail would be a game changer.”
“Connecting Lincoln and Omaha by passenger rail should be our first priority…”
“The commute takes at least an hour each way… rail would be a game changer.”
Affordability + Equity
“Nebraskans deserve reliable, affordable transportation for healthcare, work, education.”
“People who never want to ride the train should still support it — one less car on the road.”
Sustainability + Modernization
“I would prefer an electrified rail system… rail is already more sustainable than roads.”
“It amazes me that we are so far behind the world in this area.”
Integration with Local Transit
“The key is not just the train but the distribution system once you reach your destination.”
“Connecting the airport, bus lines, and streetcar is essential.”
“The commute takes at least an hour each way… rail would be a game changer.”
Tourism + Recreation
“Lines close to state parks could drive weekend tourism.”
“Excursion trips seem like a good way to start.”
Safety + Convenience
“This would reduce drunk and drowsy driving, especially around events.”
Reliability + Frequency Needs
“Trains only come once a day — it’s impossible to depend on that.”
“Schedules need reasonable travel times between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.”