Project Overview: I-20 Corridor

• The proposed I-20 Rail Corridor service will connect the mega-regions of Dallas-Fort Worth and Atlanta with the economies and populations of Northern Louisiana and beyond through connections with Amtrak’s Texas Eagle, City of New Orleans, and Crescent trains.

• Passenger rail service provides an attractive transportation alternative to automobile travel in the congested I-10 corridor. With shrinking regional airport service, threat of losing essential air service is a real concern. New rail service would create a life-line to connect residents with the international airport in Dallas-Fort Worth.

• The I-20 East Texas Corridor Advisory Committee was established in August 2013 by the Texas Transportation Commission to assist TxDOT in assessing the rural transportation needs, including passenger rail, along I-20 by providing locally focused input and recommendations.

• The Southern Rail Commission continues to partner to support the efforts of the I-20 Corridor Council. See more: https://www.i-20corridorcouncil.com/

• The East Texas Corridor Council (Amtrak, TXDOT, Union Pacific and local governments) completed a feasibility study in 2014 to study passenger rail service between Dallas-Fort Worth and Shreveport.

• In 2015, the NW Louisiana Council of Governments completed a feasibility study for the 2nd segment for this passenger rail service to link Dallas-Fort Worth, Shreveport and Vicksburg, Mississippi. This study was funded by the State of Louisiana.

• To complete the full I-20 Rail Corridor Study, Mississippi will evaluate passenger rail service from Vicksburg to Meridian, pending state funding.

• In 2021, Canadian Pacific has proposed a merger with Kansas City Southern freight railroad which has positive implications for this service.

• In 2022, the following organizations submitted Resolutions of Support to the STB for the merger of CP and KSC and the passenger rail service along the I-20 Corridor:

  • Anniston

  • Athens

  • Blanchard

  • Bossier Parish

  • Bossier Chamber of Commerce

  • Brandon

  • Byram

  • Caddo Parish

  • Village of Dixie Inn

  • Grambling

  • Greater Bossier Economic Development Foundation

  • Haughton

  • Hinds County

  • Jackson

  • Jackson Metropolitan Planning Organization

  • Jacksonville State University

  • Lauderdale

  • Lincoln Parish

  • Meridian

  • Monroe

  • Natchitoches

  • Newton County

  • Northwest Louisiana Council of Governments

  • Rankin

  • Raymond

  • Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham

  • Richland

  • Ruston

  • Scott County

  • Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau

  • Simsboro

  • Vicksburg

  • Warren County

  • Webster Parish

• The STB approved the merger on March 15, 2023 and CP is committed to working with SRC and exploring passenger rail service on this route.

• Also, Amtrak announced it will lead the Federal-State Partnership Program application for the I-20 Corridor submitted to the FRA in April of 2023. The application will support the extension of passenger rail service from Meridian, Mississippi to Dallas/Fort Worth along the I-20 corridor.

• Rail Passengers Association recently conducted an Economic Impact Assessment on Amtrak’s proposal to extend service on the Crescent route from Meridian, MS, to Fort Worth, TX, while simultaneously operating a modified service on the Crescent’s current route to New Orleans, finding it could generate as much as $50.7 million annually in new economic benefits (2023 dollars) to a dozen communities that would be served and some $207 million annually overall to the three states – Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas.

• In December 2023, the FRA granted $1,000,000 as part of the Corridor Identification and Development Program to SRC. $500,000 is dedicated for the I-20 Corridor Intercity Passenger Rail Service towards development of a train service that will connect Shreveport, Ruston and Monroe to Dallas, Texas.

• In March 2024, the FRA awarded the Southern Rail Commission $400,000 from the Interstate Rail Compacts (IRC) grant program to support administrative capacity, operations, and initiatives to expand passenger rail operations across the South.