Dreaming big, building big; Vice President Biden announces comprehensive high-speed rail plan

Two weeks ago, President Obama delivered a powerful message. To win the future, the President said, we must dream big and build big.

That's why it was such a privilege yesterday to join Vice President Biden in Philadelphia to announce our comprehensive plan to help the nation reach President Obama’s goal of giving 80 percent of Americans access to high-speed rail within 25 years.

Official White House photo, David Lienemann

There are some things our country cannot afford to shortchange--and one of them is infrastructure. Why? because our economy depends on it.

The President is proposing to invest $53 billion over the next six years to continue construction of a national high-speed and intercity passenger rail network. This will help jump-start a new American industry and create tens of thousands of private-sector jobs even as it builds a 21st century foundation for our economy.

Vice President Biden said yesterday there is a fundamentally new global competition going on today, and America is well-positioned to thrive in it.  We have innovative entrepreneurs. We have skilled workers. We have whip-smart engineers, physicists, chemists, and designers. 

But our ability to take advantage of our top-notch resources is only as good as our ability to move goods and people quickly, safely, and reliably. As I blogged yesterday, "We must--once again--build the best roadways, runways, and railways in the world."

And the one element of America's infrastructure that is emblematic of a nation seeking to secure long-term economic prosperity for future generations is high-speed intercity rail.

Now, the reason we made our announcement in Philadelphia's 30th Street Station is simple. That is where folks traveling from Pittsburgh and Harrisburg on Amtrak’s Keystone Corridor connect to high-speed Acela service to Boston, New York City, and Washington, DC.  Since track improvements raised speeds between Harrisburg and Philadelphia to 110 mph in 2006, the Keystone Corridor has seen rail ridership rise by 57 percent.  In fact, more passengers now travel from Harrisburg to Philadelphia--and from Philadelphia to New York City and Washington DC--by rail than by plane.

Pennsylvanians get it. Like the Americans who built this great nation, they have seen a vision of the future and said, "Yes," in terrific numbers. They know that, for certain trips, rail just makes more sense.

The President’s Budget for the coming fiscal year would invest $8 billion in expanding Americans’ access to high-speed passenger rail service.  These investments will focus on developing or improving three types of interconnected corridors:

• Core Express:  These corridors will form the backbone of our national high-speed rail system, with trains traveling on dedicated tracks at speeds of 125-250 mph or higher.
• Regional:  These crucial 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:  These corridors will feature trains traveling up to 90 mph and will provide travelers access to the larger national high-speed and intercity passenger rail network.

Dozens of companies in the rail business are ready to build plants and hire American workers. We have received commitments from more than 30 rail suppliers and manufacturers to create or expand their bases of operation in the US should they be awarded contracts for portions of high-speed rail money. More importantly, they have agreed to build our rail networks with American workers using American-made materials, which will ensure we can deliver the maximum benefits to our economy.

When it comes to building a national high-speed rail network, President Obama and Vice President Biden have been true visionaries. They’re every bit as important for tomorrow’s infrastructure as President Eisenhower was for the interstate highway system or as President Lincoln was for the transcontinental railroad.

There can be no doubt that they have set an ambitious goal. But with these two men and this great nation, we are on our way to connecting America with effective high-speed intercity rail. 

Comments

[Matthew Davis]

I'm part of a railroad club that showcases Japanese high speed rail at events in the Washington, DC area. At a train show last weekend, many visitors commented, "Why don't we have high speed trains in the US?" "Will we ever have a system like that here?"

I'm glad I was able to answer that this administration is working on it, and we'll eventually get there. Please keep pushing for real high speed rail in this country, and know that it really is something the people want.

[Tom Worker-Braddock]

If we do this, we need to actually achieve 200+mph on significant portions to make this attractive to choice car users. Acela is great, but 110 mph would not be considered "high speed" in Europe, Japan, or even China. Plus, when choice riders are deciding whether or not to drive, the rail trip needs to be attractive enough to make up for the transfer times between the the high speed rail to local transit/cab/rental car to finally reach the users end destination.

[Jimbo96]

If Amtrack can't make money and is costing the taxpayer billions of dollars wasted, what makes a high speed rail system that would cost billions more than it benefits worth it, unless it's to pay back political supporters? This isn't the time to waste more money, but to save it by not spending taxpayers money on frivolous ideas that will only cost more money.

[fred diesel]

Unfortunately Mr Secretary HSR especially in the upper Midwest will continue to be doomed until a serious ROW is finalized. Right now, between DOT, Springfield, Chicago, Madison and Minneapolis/St.Paul, there is NO agreement on anything because the MWRRS is flawed. Everybody thinks HSR can go and stop everywhere. It CANNOT. HSR needs to take the straightest route with commuter and light-rail feeding it.

I suggest MSP-Eau Claire-Wisconsin Dells-Madisons Airport-Madison-Janesville-Arlington Heights-Ohare-Oak Park-Midway. Notice that LaCrosse, Milwaukee...even downtown Chicago are excluded. There are already enough easy ways to reach these places.

[James E. Faris]

Great idea, please make it happen but don't let politics and political favors distort the train routing.

but DO use the train route to promote business/town development. I would think a high speed rail that toched the towns alont the NYS finger lakes would give NYC people a good weekend vacation alternative. win-win.

[Mason Hicks]

I hope that I live to see the day when the President of the United States no longer departs the White House grounds via Marine Corps helicopter for a connecting flight to "Air Force One", to travel to New York. Instead, he descends down well underneath the White House to board "Army One", a highly customized high speed train-set, that will skirt him off in whatever direction that his travels take him: even if it is just to Andrews, to travel abroad in AF1...
We truly have to build a continental high speed rail network in the US, and we truly have to build it big...

[Songstar]

Mr Biden-- I have travelled extensively outside the US boarders so I have witnessed public transportation at it's finest. A bus, tram, train can be boarded within a couple of blocks of any address. When we need to reduce congestion,pollution and expenses, mass transit is for certain the proven answer.

Thanks for your hard work and looking forward to being a united democracy very soon!

[Thomas Dorsey]

Mr. Obama, Mr. Biden and Mr. LaHood,

I greatly appreciate and support your collective leadership on High Speed Rail forward with the proposed $53B/6 year funding package. I am troubled however, by one aspect of your proposal (90 mph routes lumped in with HSR) and with the current organizational structure of USDOT.

As you know, the worldwide standard for entry-level HSR is 124 mph (200 kmph). But America is so far behind, the Federal Railroad Administration has positioned 110 mph as our entry level HSR. When I look at the success of 124 mph top speed, 72 mph average speed and 22 Northeast Regional trains/day, I am convinced that major traffic corridors in America will support a similar or close-to level level of service.

To spread around HSR funds to more merit-based corridors, it makes sense for some routes to be built as 110 mph top speed, 80 mph average speed, and 12 daily trains each way. Its faster than driving to attract mode-swtching from cars. It ensures that farebox recovery will be as close as possible to 100%. It will reduce regional flights.
Lastly, Such a 110 mph design approach builds the Emerging HSR brand with Americans.

But if you keep 90 mph routes in the "Interstate HSR Plan", several bad things will happen:

1. You won't get as many mode-switchers to the intercity trains and therefore less farebox recovery.
2. You leave the door open to critics who claim these are nothing more than glorified routes running at 60-65 mph average speed.
3. And worst of all, 60-65 mph average speed will NOT generate HSR envy amongst the America public for more High Speed Rail. In marketing terms, you will confuse consumers about the Emerging HSR and HSR brands.

If for political reasons, you must provide funding to upgrade long distance routes like Empire Builder, Southwest Chief, Sunset Limited and California Zephyr to 90 mph, please position them as "Selective Mid Speed Rail Add-ons to the Interstate HSR Netowrk" and limit their funding to 1% of the HSR budget.

One last point, if you really want America to "Win the future", start by an internal re-org for success. HSR will soon has a budget much larger that the historically Freight-rail oriented FRA. Furthermore, HSR's business model is more similar to Commuter Rail Transit than Freight Rail. HSR requires regulation, Freight rail abhors regulation. HSR and Freight Rail approaches requires different mindsets, priorities and have different ecosystems. Thus I conclude, Federal HSR should be its own agency within USDOT.

[M. Mitchell]

I think this is an excellent plan...way long overdue! Being 60-yrs-old and someone who has traveled in coutries with highspeed rail, I simply can't help but wonder why in the Heck the US has not planned for and built HPR starting 20 or 30 years ago?? I've never been able to understand nor have I ever been able to get a straight answer. BRAVO President Obama and VP Biden for looking forward!

[William Smit]

It'd be awesome if one of the links in the post actually went to the comprehensive plan, instead of to news articles that basically say "such a plan exists". Pretty much every release on DOT, the white house, and the vice president's office discusses how awesome the plan is, then links to another article describing how awesome the plan is, without actually containing any details of said rumored plan.

[Johnswit]

Trains traveling at high speed between urbanized areas may be a good idea. Trains traveling at the slow speed of 79 MPH within an urbanized area are hazards to public health and safety. Perhaps moderate speed connectors could aid local commutes and provide service to the high speed trains.

[Jcno 1cubs]

We cannot create jobs, just by cutting spending. Sometimes you have to spend money to make money. These types of jobs are needed and cannot be made in China...

[Juim Ahlstrom]

Let's think 21st Century. MagLev trains. You've ridden one in China. You can cut expenses in building a nationwide system by installing this elevated system in the right of way of our Interstate Highway Systyem. Since most of our Interstates go thru a downtown, riders won't have the problem of otherwise getting from an airport to downtown. Such a hi-speed system (up to 350 mph)could replace a lot of our regional airlines thus decongesting our major airports. MagLev technology offers same comfort as our commercial airliners. An elevated system would not have the problems our current AMTRAK system has with rail maintenancde, crossings, derailments etc. Before we build a 20th century rail system, please have someone study the MagLev possibilities for the U.S.
with this float and fly system above our Interstate Highways. Perhaps using the Federally owned right of way over the Interstate system could offset its higher cost when compared to your traditional high speed rail system on the ground.

[youngsurveyor]

"Dreaming big, building big" it is great idea for being big person.

[Michael E. Bailey]

The California High Speed Rail Corridor seems to be making progress with "Design/Build" contracts ready to be released. And the Corridor from San Diego to Los Angeles now has Amtrak trains that run 100 miles an hour or faster on parts of it reducing the travel time. But high speed rail also needs to provide connections to other rail services and other transit systems and modes to form an integrated transportation system where changes are made as seamlessly as possible. Orange County is planning for a transportation center in Anaheim that will include the Orange County terminal for high speed rail. We are moving forward. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.

[Mike Tramontina]

This initiative is long overdo. It will be good for the American economy short term and long term. Short term many thousands of workers will be employed constructing the rail line and many thousands more manufacturing the rail engines and cars. Long term passengers will save time and have more travel options. Freight shippers and carriers will have railines separate from passenger lines which should facilitate higher speeds and lower costs and again more shipping options. Congress shouldn't wait any longer. Vote for high speed rail and help the American economy.

[Carol Fajardo]

This is the spirit of America. I happened to hear a reporter make the statement that it won't happen in the west because westerners are too in love with their cars. Yes, we do love our cars but only because other transportation is very inconvenient in the west. We live in cities that are anywhere from 40 - 90 miles away. Visiting other cities and sharing in the economic growth within a state would be wonderful. Traveling to each city by car can be tiring. We want high speed rail so we can enjoy our entire state. In Arizona going south to Tucson and the see the beauty and history and then going north to enjoy the magnificent Grand Canyon by traveling high speed trains would be icing on the cake. Don't put the west down. Let's all understand the needs of each area of the country.

[Christopher Williams]

Ray, we got to get moving on something like this for jobs growth. It takes years to implement a major high speed rail project across America due to so many variables; however, the jobs from that can be excellent in every state.

I hope they speed up the process and break ground soon.
We need to be able to go from Los Angeles to Las Vegas in less than 2 hours by bullet train.

That would be awesome. It would also enhance the real estate values since so many folks would comute.

[Matt Mason]

I think this is an excellent plan...way long overdue! Being 60-yrs-old and someone who has traveled in coutries with highspeed rail, I simply can't help but wonder why in the Heck the US has not planned for and built HPR starting 20 or 30 years ago?? I've never been able to understand nor have I ever been able to get a straight answer. BRAVO President Obama and VP Biden for looking forward!

[volunteer in south africa]

I have been talking about this subject a lot lately with my father so hopefully this will get him to see my point of view. Fingers crossed!