Benefits of high-speed rail draw a crowd

Since the Department of Transportation announced the availability of an additional $2.4 billion for high-speed rail projects last month, governors and members of Congress from both major parties have been clamoring for the opportunity to participate.

As of our Monday deadline, we received more than 90 applications from 24 states, the District of Columbia, and Amtrak.  The preliminary total of those requests is nearly $10 billion, more than four times what we have available. 

Why is demand for high-speed rail support so high? 

Because elected officials have seen the immediate benefits of jobs where rail work has already begun.  They've seen these jobs in Maine--where the Downeaster extension to Brunswick is under construction--and they've seen them in Illinois--where 96 miles of track are now being laid for the Chicago-St. Louis high-speed corridor. 

Demand is high because these leaders--Democrats and Republicans--have also seen the expanded manufacturing activity in Indiana, where the workers of Steel Dynamics are forging track.  They know that 30 other manufacturers and suppliers have agreed to build or expand operations in the U.S. should they participate in high-speed rail projects.  They know that our Buy America requirements ensure they'll be using American-made supplies and materials, so U.S. companies, workers, and communities will receive the maximum economic benefit of our high-speed rail investment.

Sacramento Intermodal Transportation Facility

And demand is high because they can't ignore the economic development that rail corridors deliver.  They've heard about the success of Brunswick Station, where private investment has already helped generate a number of businesses, condominiums, a new hotel, and a modern medical center.  They've heard about the 240 acres under redevelopment near the Sacramento Intermodal Transportation Facility, and the transit-oriented land-use planning that centers on San Jose's Diridon Station.  They've heard about towns seeking high-speed rail stops so businesses will plant roots, confident that they have access to a 21st century transportation option that helps them compete in the global economy.

From Maine to the Midwest to California, construction has begun on America's high-speed rail facilities, and we can't afford to see this train turn back. 

By 2050, our population is expected to grow by another 100 million people.  That's nearly a third more than we have now--roughly the equivalent of adding another California, New York, Texas, and Florida.  And those people will need to get to jobs, schools, grocery stores, and from city to city, adding tens of millions of cars to our already congested roadways.  They will need goods and services, adding trucks.

If we refuse to plan ahead, our commercial arteries will be constricted, preventing businesses from moving goods to markets and choking our economy.

Today, our Federal Railroad Administration will begin determining which of the more than 90 projects can quickly deliver benefits like sustained economic development, reduced energy consumption, and improved regional transportation efficiency.

But while the FRA is reviewing the latest applications, our existing rail investments are already creating jobs, boosting American rail manufacturing, and spurring economic development.  And rail can do these things while also reducing oil consumpttion, greenhouse gas emissions, and road congestion. 

That's the kind of investment we owe the next generation of Americans.  That's the kind of investment that will help this nation win the future.

Comments

[Wade White]

By giving citizens more choices we create fertile ground for future improvements in passenger transportation and real choices for travelers.

[Chenry]

Mr Secretary, please consider with the limited funding we have available that these monies go to true high-speed rail 110 miles an hour over. Many of the projects are worthwhile and needed for our nation's transportation rail system, thou the current funding should be split between California HSR and the Northeast corridor projects to advance these true high-speed rail project further.. thank you and best wishes in the securing high-speed rail funding the next transportation bill.

[Pat]

They can't even keep Amtrak out of the red yet you want to spend billions to start up another rail the taxpayers will eventually have to keep afloat! We've already wasted billions funding solar companies that have gone under, now you want to wast billions more. Try investing in OIL production where we will see something accomplished in lowering fuel prices and growing our economy and limit our dependency on foreign. I don't want to be Brazil's best customer. How about doing something for our country instead of running it in the ground!

[Jeane Welch]

Dear Secretary of Transportation: Have you spoken with The President about "The Greenway Project"? (confidentially)

[Winfred Jewett]

The novel Dream Jockey, available at amazon.com, outlines the ultimate in high speed transportation. It has not been built yet, but China has it on the board for construction. We need to wake up or we are going to be left in the dust.

[Ryan Hissam]

I am dumbfounded by this story. We continue to elect people in ohio that keep our high speed rail from happening. Its a sad day when anything that could produce more jobs and work for an already struggling economy keeps getting stopped by the higher ups. When are we going to wake up and actually go vote in mass, before there is no middle class, and our kids have a future worse than it already is.

[JJ Zern Tol.Oh.]

Our Gov. Kasich has already ruined our chances for expanded rail. He talks out of both sides of his face. He says he's working to create jobs then he turns down the fed money for rail in Ohio. We are trying to find a way to remove him before he destroys our state.

[Mat Weller]

Hilarious.

"Why is demand for high-speed rail support so high?"

Well, a significant portion of the population has been asking for it for fifty years and we're getting little annoyed at paying half of everything we earn in taxes and seeing little to nothing in return.

[David Mankins]

I am so thrilled as a concerned citizen that our government is working on these projects. I have often wondered why America was not competing with other countries having high speed rail for many years!

The projects and job opportunities for thousands of Americans is incredible and believable as well.These projects would certainly not be available if left to certain congressional members who would cut most all programs benefitting people favoring instead to make corporate profiteering even more profitable! All there's left to say is WAY TO GO DOT SECRETARY and President Obama!

[Roadapathy]

It's nice to see America modernizing. The train will make the life of tourists much easier too. I think that's very important. The most important aspect is the lives that will be saved. 40,000 people per year die in cars here in America. Cars are just too expensive; the cost on the economy is very high. I'm glad to see more trains in our future. :-D

[FloridaBeachMG]

Mister Secretary, I run a website mostly interested in promoting the benefits of the Tampa Bay Area. Not only would the 49 other States have to pay back China for the loan to pay for High Speed Rail, with interest, but Chinese, not American countries would be mostly involved in the construction of the infrastructure in Florida and on top of that, a 50th State would have to contribute to the Federal taxpayer pool for our own gift - Florida. Frankly we don't want nor need your money. When it makes economic sense to replace the I-4 with your proposed money tree with leave falling all over the reach of Florida voters and taxpayers, we'll build our own. Thanks but no thanks.

[Tom Schroeder]

My previous email (Question Ref. 110406-000050) spoke to the issue of calling highspeed rail, high performance rail, to make it more acceptable, and descriptive, to riders and companies seeking contracts. A demonstration or several demonstration routes and public displays of "futuristic cars" would be helpful. It may also be worth while to consider stations out side central cities, to reduce construction costs, and allow other modes of transportatiion to transport passengers to central city.

[Lyndee]

It's no question that high speed rail will add more jobs to the economy, however, Does evidence show that the benefits will off-set the costs? I am not completely opposed to the idea, but I believe it is particularly important to provide statisticcs because all available data suggests that high speed rail costs billions of dollars to create, operates at a steady stream of losses, insignificantly reduces highway traffic, and pollutes the environment nearly as much as planes and automobiles respectively. What other benefits are there besides job creation?

[John Dough]

"Why is demand for high-speed rail support so high?"

Because it's seen by myopic, short sighted governors as free money. In the end, after they are long gone, taxpayers will be saddled with endless subsidies. 

"They've seen these jobs in Maine--where the Downeaster extension to Brunswick is under construction...."

Funny how passenger rail supporters always drag this one out to illustrate their points about federal largesse.  The truth (put into perspective) is that the Downeaster 30-mile extension is costing federal taxpayers $35 million and Maine taxpayers $3 million. When done, the extension is expected "boost ridership by another 36,000 passengers each year."

Or, 49 round trip passengers per day!

That means the cost of removing each car from the (uncongested) Maine roads is approximately $775,500...about 25 TIMES the cost of the car!

Imagine the outcry if FHWA built a 30-mile long road for $38 million that would carry an ADT of only 98 vehicles?!

Source: http://www.kjonline.com/news/Maine-railroad-track-delivery-could-cause-delays-.html

[JMB]

Why are we even considering hi-speed rail when our country is about to shut down. We can't afford to fund Social Security, Medicaid, etc and feed our seniors yet we can find billions for hi-speed rail. Something is wrong with this picture. Now with this Government shutdown, instead of keeping more DOT employees from being furloughed Mr. LaHood has cut DOT staff to the bare bones. We're without paychecks but he has $10 billion for his hi-speed rail! America wake up and fund what's important. Take care of the elderly first.

[John Dough]

"Why is demand for high-speed rail support so high?"

Because it's seen by myopic, short sighted governors as free money. In the end, after they are long gone, taxpayers will be saddled with endless subsidies. 

"They've seen these jobs in Maine--where the Downeaster extension to Brunswick is under construction...."

Funny how passenger rail supporters always drag this one out to illustrate their points about federal largesse.  The truth (put into perspective) is that the Downeaster 30-mile extension is costing federal taxpayers $35 million and Maine taxpayers $3 million. When done, the extension is expected "boost ridership by another 36,000 passengers each year."

Or, 49 round trip passengers per day!

That means the cost of removing each car from the (uncongested) Maine roads is approximately $775,500...about 25 TIMES the cost of the car!

Imagine the outcry if FHWA built a 30-mile long road for $38 million that would carry an ADT of only 98 vehicles?!

Source: http://www.kjonline.com/news/Maine-railroad-track-delivery-could-cause-delays-.html

[Jon]

Why should California and the Northeast get all the fun?
There are tens of millions of people from Ohio to Missouri that would benefit from the Chicago Based hub which having a central location with access to many more cities than either an east or west coast rail corridor: it makes much more sense that if one were to pick and choose, the Midwest would be the clear choice for "true" advancement. They are not just fly-over states and these should not be fly-over funds.

[Mo]

Investment in high-speed rail has the beneficial quality of being smart both in the short-run and the long-run. The jobs created by building the infrastructure are needed now and will be appreciated now, while future generations will appreciate the fact that it is more environmentally sound and economically fruitful. Success is found by creating connections--be them interpersonal or economic. High-speed rail happens to facilitate both kinds of connections.

[charles l]

Lived in Germany for over 20+ years for the first time I am convience that the US will place a high speed train system in our country. I travel daily from Frankfurt to Stuttgart Germany on the ICE-Intercity Express, the average speed is 260-290km and distance of over 150 miles in 1h17m from train station to staion with 3 stops on the way. I spend a month $520.00 monthly for the cost of this high speed train. I also can go all over Germany and pay for the connecting countries to continue travel. I wish before time goes to fast and money which it takes us to build now is well worth it. We/I would pay to travel to work via express train, doing it today in a foreign country for over one year. Sign DOD employee.

[Jon Sappah]

32K Dead on Hiways, Crumbling Infrastructure, Expanding Population, Dependency on Fuels, Environmetal Issues. I want my Money in the Rails. I want to see Corporate America participating. Tax loops, You made money. Now invest in America's future. Thats right Americans time to MOVE ON.