How did the Transcontinental Railroad lead to the Kansas-Nebraska Act?

The Transcontinental Railroad highlighted the need for efficient transportation and communication across the expansive territories of the United States, particularly between the East and West. As the nation envisioned a connected future, the question arose concerning the organization of territories such as Kansas and Nebraska. To facilitate the construction of the railroad, proponents pushed for the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed these territories to decide on the legality of slavery through popular sovereignty. This act ultimately increased tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions, leading to significant conflict in the region.