White House unveils high-speed rail plan

Today, Vice President Joe Biden announced a comprehensive plan to help the nation reach President Obama’s goal of giving 80 percent of Americans access to high speed rail in 25 years.

This project would dedicate $53 billion dollars over a six-year time period to help the construction of a national high-speed rail and an intercity passenger rail network. It would place the high-speed rail network on the same level as other land transportation programs.

“As a long time Amtrak rider and advocate, I understand the need to invest in a modern rail system that will help connect communities, reduce congestion and create quality, skilled manufacturing jobs that cannot be outsourced. This plan will help us to do that, while also increasing access to convenient high speed rail for more Americans,” said Biden the press release.

These are the main types of corridors that the blueprint hopes to create or improve:

  • Core Express: These corridors will form the backbone of the national high-speed rail system, with electrified trains traveling on dedicated tracks at speeds of 125-250 mph or higher.
  • Regional: Crucial regional corridors with train speeds of 90-125 mph will see increases in trips and reductions in travel times, laying the foundation for future high-speed service.
  • Emerging: Trains traveling at up to 90 mph will provide travelers in emerging rail corridors with access to the larger national high-speed and intercity passenger rail network.

This plan sounds like a positive step and we hope it is approved. Would you ride the high-speed rail?

You can read the press release here.

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