New House resolution backs rail link to Lower 48, urges Pentagon to fund Northern Continental Corridor Study

By SUZANNE DOWNING

Feb. 25, 2026 – A newly introduced House joint resolution puts concept of a rail link connecting Alaska to the Lower 48 squarely back on the legislative map.

House Joint Resolution 42, introduced by freshman Rep. Garret Nelson of Sutton, urges the US Department of Defense to fund further analysis of what is known as the Northern Continental Corridor, which is a proposed surface transportation corridor that would connect Alaska by rail through Canada to the continental United States.

The project would be a game changer for Alaska’s economy, national defense posture, and could dramatically lower the cost of living for Alaskans.

The resolution lays out the case that the corridor is not only  a transportation project, but is a national defense asset. Alaska already hosts critical military infrastructure, including missile defense systems, radar installations, and Arctic-facing assets vital to the defense of the continental United States. HJR 42 argues that improved surface logistics, particularly year-round rail access, would enhance redundancy, bulk transport capacity, and long-term sustainment for Department of Defense installations.

The proposal is still in early planning stages. The resolution makes clear that the concept is based on publicly available feasibility studies, government filings, and established transportation modeling benchmarks. Lawmakers are not asking for construction funds, but rather they are asking the Pentagon to fund deeper defense-specific modeling, engineering validation, and institutional coordination analysis.

Modeled capital investment for the corridor is estimated between $22 billion and $43 billion. Projections cited in the resolution estimate the project could generate between 330,000 and 510,000 jobs nationwide, including tens of thousands of direct construction jobs and sustained long-term operational employment.

Advocates say the benefits to Alaska could be profound: Preliminary economic modeling suggests the corridor could increase Alaska’s GDP by approximately $3 billion annually. Improved rail connectivity would allow bulk movement of construction materials, fuel, industrial inputs, and consumer goods at lower cost and greater reliability than current marine and trucking-only supply chains.

Expanded rail logistics could lower the cost of living in Alaska by as much as 60% in certain freight-dependent categories, particularly in construction materials and heavy goods. The resolution emphasizes that the corridor would complement, but not replace, existing trucking and marine shipping industries. First-mile and last-mile freight delivery would continue to rely heavily on trucking and port infrastructure, while expanded freight volume would increase overall demand across sectors.

The measure also positions the corridor as aligned with broader US Arctic and industrial policy goals. Rail freight is widely considered more fuel-efficient per ton-mile than long-haul trucking, making the project potentially attractive from both energy-efficiency and emissions-reduction perspectives.

Alaska remains the only state without a direct surface transportation connection to another state. American citizens in Alaska lack the basic infrastructure access taken for granted elsewhere in the country.

If advanced beyond the study phase, the Northern Continental Corridor would represent one of the largest infrastructure projects in North American history. Proponents describe it as a “mega-project that supports other mega-projects,” enabling resource development, industrial expansion, and military logistics while improving affordability for residents.

HJR 42 directs copies of the resolution to President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, senior Department of Defense acquisition officials, US Northern Command leadership, and Alaska’s congressional delegation, Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Nick Begich, urging federal evaluation and coordination.

Whether the Pentagon embraces the request for deeper analysis remains to be seen. But with the introduction of HJR 42, the concept of a rail link tying Alaska directly to the North American rail network has formally entered the 2026 legislative conversation.