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High Speed Rail Corridors
Transit Home > High Speed Rail Corridors
In 1992, the United States Department of Transportation initiated
a high-speed rail corridor program under the Intermodal Surface
Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA). Initially the program designated
four corridors. In 1998, under the Transportation Equity Act for
the 21st Century (TEA-21), the high-speed rail corridor program
was expanded to include three more corridors. Later, in 2000, still
more corridors were added to the program for a total of eleven.
This program differs from the concept of high-speed rail operating
in Europe and Asia. The U.S. approach is essentially based on incremental
corridor development where both freight and passenger services operate
within the same corridor. Although the freight carriers own most
of the passenger train rights-of-way, it is believed that the carriers
will look positively at such partnerships. The benefits of rebuilding
infrastructure and realizing increased speed (as the site conditions
of the corridor and its funding parameters permit) are very real
incentives. For passenger service, speeds exceeding 125 mph are
the goal.
The corridor program will help to solve two problems. For passenger
rail, it will provide a reliable alternative to air or auto as a
means of access to urban centers. For freight rail, the program
will facilitate the increase of speeds for intermodal trains from
their current average of 30–40 mph to 90 mph. That speed could
more readily coexist with the higher speed passenger service. Overall
however, corridor improvements will also ameliorate safety risks
and grade crossing hazards. Across the United States, 38 states
are now working with Amtrak to expand passenger rail service; 28
are developing regional high-speed corridors. Legislation now pending
in Congress would authorize bond funding for high-speed rail projects
undertaken in partnership with the states. The funding would be
used to upgrade rail lines for high-speed service, purchase locomotives
and passenger cars, and close grade crossings. The national high-speed
rail investment bill enjoys the support of 67 Senators, 170 House
members and a variety of business, labor, and environmental groups.
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