Could Southern California become the high-speed rail capital of the world?
Posted by Matt Kelly | Filed under Uncategorized
As high-speed rail emerges as a key element of President Obama’s efforts to remake the nation’s transportation infrastructure, one question emerges: could Southern California become the high-speed rail capital of the world?
After all, Silicon Valley is the high-tech capital of the world, so why not?
The president has long favored expanding passenger rail service and his $825 billion economic stimulus package includes $30 billion for rail and mass transit projects, while a Senate version specifically allocates $850 million for Amtrak and $2 billion for high-speed rail.
This is significant because it represents the first major step toward establishing a genuine high-speed train network in the United States and fulfills a campaign pledge.
Speaking to U.S. mayors last summer, candidate Obama noted that China is home to the world’s first commercial maglev train, capable of speeds faster than 300 mph.
“I don’t want to see the fastest train in the world built halfway around the world in Shanghai,” Obama said. “I want to see it built right here in the United States of America.”
The dream is a nation connected by high-speed lines faster and more convenient than driving or flying which lowers transportation costs for Americans and reduces their overall gas consumption. By connecting nearby regions with high speed rail, consumers will save time, save money, save on gas and America will leap towards investing in our energy independence.
But perhaps more important it will create jobs. California voters understand this and committed to high-speed rail by passing Prop 1A which authorizes the legislature to issue almost $10 billion in bonds to start construction of an 800-mile high-speed rail line linking San Francisco with Los Angeles. One way, the 432-mile trip would take 2 1/2 hours. Proponents have also suggested a high-speed maglev rail system between Disneyland in Orange County and Las Vegas.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger agrees California must lead the nation to a high-speed future.
“We need high-speed rail. Our rail system in America is so old. We’re driving the same speed as we did 100 years ago, the same system as 100 years ago. If we want to have mass transportation, we should modernize those things, we should do what other countries do. All over the world you see high speed rail that goes 200 to 300 miles an hour. We should do the same in this country. Especially in this state. We should start here. Show leadership. Show rest of the country how to do it. So, I think we should go ahead with all of those projects.”
The next step is doling out the money. The Federal Railroad Administration is scrambling to develop guidelines for the program within the next six weeks and has already designated 11 high-speed corridors around the country, but other projects - such as the O.C-Las Vegas project - could apply for stimulus funding. As a result, states, advocacy groups and lobbyists not accustomed to this level of funding are queuing up.
Which is why Sacramento and Los Angeles transportation officials need to be at the head of the line, applications in hand, if the region is to create the green jobs that will champion sustainable transportation and energy independence.
Tags: Amtrak, high_speed_rail, maglev, Matt_Kelly, Prop1A, stimulus, transportation