The U.S. Department of Transportation is soliciting proposals to design, finance, build, and maintain 11 new high-speed rail corridors around the country. USDOT secretary Mary Peters joined New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and three Congress members in announcing the solicitation for proposals at New York's Penn Station on Monday, Dec. 15.
The eleven proposed lines will connect the major cities within each highly populated area in the country. “Vital questions like the need to invest in our transportation infrastructure are finally getting the serious attention that they've long needed,” Bloomberg said.
A high-speed rail system would reduce emissions caused by driving or flying, and alleviate air and road congestion. Air congestion at New York-region airports cause 40 percent of flight delays across the nation, according to a 2008 report by the Government Accountability Office. Making rail viable for regional travel will free up airports for cross-country and international travel. Furthermore, rail is operable no matter what aboveground weather conditions are and can haul more passengers per trip.
The Environmental Law and Policy Center wrote, “For the City of Chicago, a high speed rail hub will have the equivalent economic impact of a medium-sized airport located in the heart of the central business district, without having to displace a single office.” In the Federal plan, the Chicago Hub would serve cities as far away from Chicago as Detroit, Kansas City, and Minneapolis/ St. Paul.
| Major cities served by each of the 11 Federally designated high-speed rail corridors:
Northeast Corridor—Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, DC |
So far, regional governments have spearheaded efforts toward development of high-speed rail. This year, California voters approved a high-speed rail that will take passengers between the Bay Area and Los Angeles in two and a half hours. The only other high-speed rail in the country is the Acela Express, which is a three-hour ride from Penn Station to Washington, DC.
The plan is part of the Rail Safety Enhancement Act of 2008, which was signed into law in October. Section 502 of the law, penned by Congressman John Mica (R-Fla.), requires that the Northeastern Corridor be able to take passengers from New York to DC in two hours or less, including stops along the way. Different technologies can reduce that time further, but the pricing must be taken into consideration, according to the mayor.
The way Bloomberg sees it, investment in infrastructure is much more rewarding than pouring money into the economy. “A year ago, this country spent $150 billion on a stimulus program which fundamentally mailed out checks to people so they could buy flat screen TVs made in Chinese factories that have since closed, sold by Circuit City, which has since gone bankrupt. Maybe we should invest in infrastructure projects. They have a heck of a lot better return,” Bloomberg said.
Questions remain about the financing and efficiency of such development. A provision of the bill allows private sector engagement of financing, building, and operation of high-speed rail service. Specific costs of construction and operation are dependent on proposals received. Proposals are due in September 2009 and commissions of governors, mayors, rail labor, and transit authorities must recommend regional proposals to the DOT in February 2010. The Federal government has allotted $5 million in start-up funding to each winning proposal.