State Senator Margo Juarez of Omaha knows firsthand the complications and costs that can arise from driving a personal car daily back and forth to Lincoln.

She says the state’s broader workforce likely would benefit from a passenger rail system between certain cities.

And she is curious: Wouldn’t Nebraska fans be game for taking a train to see a Husker football game? An Omaha concert? A Grand Island museum?

Starting Aug. 19 in Columbus, Juarez and ProRail Nebraska advocates are kicking off a statewide series of five town halls to gauge the interest Nebraskans have in passenger rail options.

The feedback is for a legislative interim study also evaluating existing passenger rail infrastructure in Nebraska — which sponsors say could lead to legislation proposing ways to create easier commutes between Nebraska cities.

Nebraska ‘far behind’

Juarez said her hope is for a frequent and steady Omaha-Lincoln route, but she also sees potential for better connection from western Nebraska to the state’s capital city of Lincoln or to its largest city, Omaha.

“Transportation is a priority in our state, and I’m disappointed in the lack of progress we’ve made,” she said. “I want communities across Nebraska to see what a great asset passenger rail can be.”

Town hall schedule

(Times are 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., except in Omaha, which is 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.)

• Aug. 19, Columbus, library, 2500 14th St., in English and Spanish
• Sept. 5, Lincoln, First Presbyterian Church, 840 S. 17th St.
• Sept. 9, North Platte, library, 120 W. 4th St.
• Sept. 16, Grand Island, library, 1124 W 2nd St.
• Sept. 22, Omaha, Willa Cather library, 1905 S. 44th St.

She referred to a trip she recently made to Salt Lake City, where she once lived. She said a light rail system allowed her to ride from the airport to downtown and her hotel for $1.25.

“It reinforced in my mind how far behind Nebraska is in mass transportation,” said Juarez. “That kind of reliability and affordability should be available to everyone in Nebraska.”

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According to the Juarez-led legislative resolution seeking the study, interest in rail transit and public transportation has grown in Nebraska, especially among young professionals. In addition to trying to retain homegrown talent and meeting workforce needs, the resolution said passenger rail projects can drive tourism and large public and private investment.

The study, among other tasks, will examine plans that the Amtrak passenger railroad may have relevant to Nebraska. Juarez said the study and recommendations from the public town halls will help inform legislation she plans to present in January.

Costs to buy and own a vehicle are fast increasing, Juarez noted. “These transportation systems need to be in place, because there are people who can’t even afford to buy a car,” she said.

A major roadblock to expanding passenger rail service, she acknowledged, is cost. Juarez said she recognizes that “plenty of research” still is ahead.

A less expensive pathway, Juarez said, would be to use existing rails, perhaps adding more frequent intercity Amtrak trips between, say, Omaha and Lincoln.

California Zephyr

Currently, she said, Nebraska’s passenger rail service is limited to Amtrak’s California Zephyr route that stops in Omaha, Lincoln, Hastings, Holdrege and McCook on its way from Chicago to Emeryville, California. Nebraska stops are typically in the late night or early morning hours, not geared toward workers or a daily outing.

“It’s what we call a long-distance train that runs daily, although the time-keeping in the wintertime can be challenging,” said Clyde Anderson, a representative of ProRail Nebraska.

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Snow and the fact the Zephyr shares tracks with freight trains can throw off schedules. Anderson said pickup and drop off times aren’t convenient for commuters wanting to move from one Nebraska town to another.

“There’s a lot of people who ride between intermediate points,” he said, not necessarily from one end of the route to the other end.

Juarez has held information-gathering discussions with sources including representatives of a local railroad. One suggestion Juarez said she received during preliminary discussions was to start with test excursion trips headed to a Nebraska football or volleyball game, for example.

The Nebraska Department of Transportation said in a statement to the Nebraska Examiner that passenger rail currently is “not viable in the state because the development of such a route would pose a significant cost, and there is currently no mechanism to pay for such a project with existing state revenue.”

The state has been involved with groups dedicated to expansion and study of passenger rail, including the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission (MIPRC), which Nebraska helped establish. However, lawmakers withdrew from the multi-state commission under a 2015 proposal by then-State Senator Bill Kintner of Papillion, who said in his bill’s intent statement that membership benefits “do not outweigh the expenditure of tax dollars on dues.”

The commission in conjunction with the Federal Railroad Administration released a draft four years ago for a 40-year regional plan, identifying key corridors. The plan at that time did not extend beyond Omaha, the NDOT statement said, adding that no route into Nebraska is officially planned.

State Senator George Dungan of Lincoln on March 6 2023, presented a proposal for Nebraska to rejoin the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

At least two state senators in recent years have launched efforts to rejoin the commission that coordinates and supports improvements to passenger rail service among its members. The most recent proposal was earlier this year by Senator Dan Quick of Grand Island. Senator George Dungan of Lincoln made a push in 2023, saying also that it was important for Nebraska to have a voice in future passenger development and funding allocation.

“Whether the Nebraska Legislature should choose to reenter the MIPRC, as has been proposed in past years legislation, or commit to any other opportunities to study passenger rail, NDOT will remain committed to delivering a high-quality, safe and efficient transportation system for the movement of people and goods in Nebraska,” the statement said.

Workforce, tourism

The ProRail group, which is associated with the Rail Passenger Association, wants the state DOT to update a state rail passenger plan, Anderson said.

He said his group has advocated in the past for a second Amtrak train that would run during daytime hours across Nebraska. ProRail also supports improved bus service between Nebraska cities, including Omaha and Lincoln.

A company that had provided daily bus rides to students between the Omaha and Lincoln campuses of the University of Nebraska at one time was interested in offering the service to a broader audience, Anderson said. He said the idea fizzled during the COVID-19 pandemic and to his knowledge has not been revived.

Lack of convenient public transit options between Omaha and Lincoln, he said, can hinder people such as himself from, for example, testifying on a bill before the Legislature.

Juarez said better intercity transit opportunities also could help fill labor gaps and encourage more tourism and entertainment outings between cities. “The potential is massive,” she said.

Organizers of the town halls said they hope to hear voices from urban and rural communities. Virtual participation is an option. Those who want a remote connection are asked to email mjuarez@leg.ne.gov at least two days in advance of the chosen meeting to get a registration link.

An online survey also is ongoing and hosted by Poll The Vote, which plans to provide results to the Nebraska Legislature and the LR 203 interim study.