WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on August 26 unveiled a voluntary federal initiative intended to turn existing highway and railroad rights-of-way into multi-use corridors for high-voltage transmission lines, fiber-optic cables, water pipelines and other utilities.
USDOT said the program, named America’s Great Corridors of Commerce, would allow state transportation departments and railroads to lease land running alongside roads, tracks or shared utility tunnels. Those owners could then work with private-sector “corridor managers” responsible for design, construction, operation and maintenance of the added infrastructure. Officials described the effort as a first-of-its-kind nationwide opportunity built around public-private partnerships.
“America has always been at the bleeding edge of innovation. But we will lose the race to develop the technologies of the future if we cannot lower costs and get the government out of the way,” Duffy said in the department’s announcement. “By working with the private sector to combine our existing transportation network with transmission lines, fiber optic cables, and other critical infrastructure, we can make energy more affordable and fuel American industry for generations to come. Under President Trump, we will continue to slash red tape, stop the endless delays, and reverse skyrocketing project costs to get America building again.”
The approach, according to USDOT, would use land that has already been assembled for transportation rather than requiring new private property acquisitions. The department argued that this would lower project costs and allow some work to proceed under categorical environmental exemptions that can shorten federal review. Revenues from utility leases would be directed toward repairs and upgrades of the roads, bridges, tunnels and rail lines along the same corridors, according to the agency. Officials said the build-out would occur at no additional cost to taxpayers and without reducing the safety of existing transportation assets.
The department framed the initiative as a response to capacity shortfalls. DOT said China has built more high-voltage transmission lines in the past 15 years than the United States has constructed in its history, while American communities and manufacturing sites remain constrained by limited grid capacity even as new generating plants come online. The agency also cited rising demand for fiber-optic networks used in semiconductor production, large data centers and smart transportation systems, saying that demand is expected to double by 2029. Officials added that the program is intended to help address what they described as a multi-trillion-dollar backlog of needed upgrades to existing roads, tunnels, bridges and rail lines.
Expanding energy and telecommunications capacity along transportation routes is needed to give more households access to affordable power, support high-tech manufacturing, shorten permitting timelines and create a new revenue stream for infrastructure maintenance, USDOT says. The department’s program page said the effort also aims to make highway and rail rights-of-way more valuable to nearby data centers and manufacturing sites and to give state agencies and railroads additional technology for safety systems and intelligent transportation networks. Officials said the work supports the national energy emergency declared in Executive Order 14156 by accelerating a more reliable grid and a more diversified energy supply.
The Build America Bureau, which coordinates federal credit programs and technical assistance for transportation projects, is leading implementation. Bureau Executive Director Morteza Farajian said the program is voluntary and is intended to give states and railroads new options for building more integrated corridors.
“America can’t wait decades for modern utility and transportation infrastructure,” Farajian said. “By leveraging our existing transportation rights-of-way and bringing in private sector partners, we are charting an innovative path forward for a new age of infrastructure delivery established on strong partnerships, aligned interests, cutting through red tape and bureaucracy, collaboration, and efficiency.”
USDOT has published a request for information (RFI) on the proposed model and said comments would be accepted through Sept. 12, 2026.
After reviewing public input, the department said it would seek proposals from rights-of-way owners and anticipates selecting up to five initial priority corridors. Those designated corridors would receive technical support, help with streamlined permitting and assistance in structuring public-private partnership models. Officials said other rights-of-way owners could still pursue similar leasing arrangements even if they are not among the first designated corridors
Author: Mario Lotmore
