Frequently Asked Questions

Where would it go?

High speed rail is designed to connect city center to city center quickly and effortlessly. It can provide regional connections between cities where cars take too long, and air travel is too congested.

How do we finance it?

High speed rail should be financed by federal, state and  local transportation budgets.  On the local level, for example, the increased real estate values around the stations help finance the system and the stations. There are also many innovative public/private and private opportunities for financing.

How soon do we need to build it?

With rising oil prices, our current climate crisis, and imminent global shortage of oil supplies, we don't have time to wait.   If we don't act now, $4 a gallon for gas, like in summer of 2008, is just the tip of the iceberg.

We need to take bold steps to begin constructing a state-of-the-art system today. We can have high speed trains operating in a few years by 2015 and a full national system by 2030.

How much do we need to build?

We need a complete national  system similar to the U.S. interstate highway system. We should start with the busiest, most-congested corridors first and then connect them nation-wide.

How does high speed rail fit with America?

A national high speed rail network is the backbone of a sustainable American transportation system. High speed corridors will run between major cities and states, linking with regional  and local rail systems. The complete train system fosters sustainable growth in walkable cities and towns.

How many people can use a high speed train?

Two tracks of a high speed rail corridor can carry three times as many people as on a six lane divided highway. And there is never a traffic jam on a dedicated high speed rail line.

How should high speed rail be owned?

The ideal situation would be to have the U.S. government own the right-of-way, track infrastructure and stations.  Private companies, then, would operate trains with a franchise license from the government.  A model for how high speed rail can be owned and operated can be found in the U.S. aviation industry. Local governmental authorities own and operate airports and runways, while FAA and TSA regulate the traffic, and private companies own and operate the airplanes. This is also similar to the U.S. interstate highway system, where the federal government owns and operates the road system, while the state governments regulate the traffic, and the cars and trucks that operate on the road system are privately owned.  

What can you do to make this happen?

Click here