Train Lengths Would Be Capped Under New Arizona Bill

Trains traveling through Arizona would be capped at 8,000 feet in length under a new bill moving through the legislature.

Approved by the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee by a vote of 6-0-1 on February 4, 2026, HB 2669 requires that “A railroad operating in this state may not run or be allowed to run on any part of a main track or branch line a train that exceeds [8,000] feet in length.”

Your help is needed ahead of the bill’s next hearing in the House Rules Committee, which could take place as soon as Wednesday or Thursday of this week.

Act now and ask your state representative to support HB 2669 and safer train length limits for communities statewide. ►Take Action – SMART Union

Lawmakers Learn The Value of Manageable Train Lengths

A nearly identical bill was run back in 2023 but unfortunately did not become law.

Knowing that he wanted to take another shot at getting the legislation over the finish line, SMART-TD’s Arizona State Safety & Legislative Director Scott Jones got to work early with the help of House Member and bill sponsor Consuelo Hernandez.

Back in the fall, he began meeting with lawmakers on both the Transportation & Infrastructure and Rules Committees, along with those in key leadership positions, to address concerns and answer questions about the bill.

He continued that follow-up by traveling to meet lawmakers on their turf, in their districts, to point out how this bill would directly affect their constituents and the communities they serve in Phoenix.

“[The bill] will help take care of a lot of our problems [like blocked crossings],” explained SLD Jones. “The work that was put in ahead of time comes to fruition at the committee hearings and really opens lawmakers’ eyes in terms of the real-world impacts of the legislation.”

“You Showed Me Everything”

When it came time for the bill’s first hearing in the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee last week, SLD Jones ensured that lawmakers were equipped with the black and white facts about the legislation, which proved useful when questioning witnesses who spoke against the bill.

After a favorable vote to move the legislation forward, one of the two Republican committee members approached him.

Having previously voted against the bill, she changed her stance solely because Jones did his homework and focused on showing, not telling.

Reflecting on their conversation, Jones said the lawmaker told him “You didn’t talk about everything. You showed me everything.”

Make Your Voices Heard: Support HB 2669

With the bill’s next hearing potentially happening this week, SLD Jones asks Arizona members to act now: ask your lawmakers to support HB 2669.

“By educating and working with all legislators, we’re doing our part to ensure that more of them are ‘with us’ instead of ‘against us,’ Jones emphasized.