The Obama Administration has demonstrated its willingness to invest in clean technology through the High Speed Intercity Rail Program, which was launched nearly a year ago and aims to connect major cities through targeted investments in the existing railroad infrastructure. The initial phase of the project is currently underway in several locations, and the Federal Rail Administration (FRA) anticipates issuing a national rail plan by fall of this year.
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute and the American Public Transportation Association co-hosted a briefing last week on the “Benefits, Costs, and Challenges” of high speed rail development, at which participants discussed the topic in the context of growing domestic tourism, the threat of increasing oil prices, deregulation of the airline industry, and a crumbling, congested interstate system – and whether America’s so-called “love affair with the automobile” will continue to stand in the way of new approaches to investing in public transportation.
Map showing US high speed rail corridors as of July 9th, 2009.
Posted by JointCenter 
