America’s Great Commercial Corridors: How it Could Unlock U.S. Infrastructure Growth

On August 26, 2026, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy introduced the “America’s Great Commercial Corridors” (AGCC) initiative, a voluntary program aimed at transforming existing highways and railways into multipurpose corridors for the installation of electric transmission lines, fiber-optic networks, water pipelines, and other essential infrastructure.

Today, September 10, 2026, Secretary Duffy published an opinion piece in collaboration with The Washington Post, in which he presented the initiative as part of a strategy to restore U.S. leadership over China in infrastructure, energy, and advanced manufacturing.

The secretary attributed part of the U.S. infrastructure gap to lengthy permitting processes, environmental reviews, and litigation. He stated that the Department of Transportation has reduced environmental review timelines by more than half during the first 18 months of the Trump administration, in addition to implementing 30 deregulatory measures and awarding $9.7 billion in competitive grants.

Duffy highlighted that the United States has approximately 161,000 miles of highways and 140,000 miles of railways that could be used to install energy and technology infrastructure without the need to acquire new land. Under the proposed model, states and railroad companies could lease rights-of-way to private operators, while the resulting revenues would help fund the maintenance and improvements of the transportation infrastructure itself.

The secretary also emphasized the importance of accelerating the construction of high-voltage transmission lines and fiber-optic networks to meet growing energy demand and connect high-tech manufacturing facilities, artificial intelligence data centers, and intelligent transportation systems.

Participation in the program would be voluntary, and Duffy presented it as an opportunity to attract private capital, reduce construction timelines, and once again position the United States as a global leader in technological innovation.

America’s Great Commercial Corridors (AGCC)

So, what is the AGCC actually seeking to accomplish? The proposal aims to accelerate the construction of critical infrastructure, expand energy and telecommunications capacity, reduce permitting timelines, and generate revenue for the maintenance of roads, bridges, tunnels, and railways through public-private partnerships.

The AGCC would allow state departments of transportation and railroad companies to lease rights-of-way to private operators responsible for designing, developing, operating, and maintaining these corridors. By using existing transportation rights-of-way, the government expects to reduce costs and streamline environmental processes.

The initiative also responds to growing demand for electricity and digital connectivity. According to the Department of Transportation, the United States faces a significant shortage of electric transmission capacity, while demand for fiber-optic infrastructure could double by 2029. The program also seeks to help address the country’s transportation infrastructure investment gap.

“For a long time, America has been synonymous with building big, beautiful projects. It built the Golden Gate Bridge—a true transportation marvel—in four and a half years. It built the Hoover Dam—a powerhouse of energy production—in less than five years. In the decades that followed, America became the undisputed leader in transportation and energy infrastructure,” Duffy wrote in The Washington Post.

The AGCC is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Build America initiative. A Request for Information (RFI) has been issued regarding the proposed AGCC model and the Department’s approach to implementing the AGCC, with the deadline for submitting comments on the RFI set for September 12, 2026.

Up to five initial priority corridors will be selected. According to the Department of Transportation’s official announcement, these corridors will receive technical assistance, expedited permitting processes, and public-private partnership (PPP) models to expand the electric grid infrastructure.