Post by: Rick Harnish, Executive Director Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was interviewed by former Secretary Ray LaHood in front of a standing-room-only crowd at the US High Speed Rail Conference this week. I left the event motivated by knowing that Sec....
Fast, frequent, and affordable trains improve our communities—big and small—in three critical ways.
They Create Smart and Sustainable Growth
High-speed trains promote density by transforming land-development patterns.
Federal policies prioritize road building, which encourages more driving and spurs ever-more spending on road construction and repairs. This cycle generates sprawl and hollows out city centers. Trains break the cycle and create healthy, walkable and thriving city centers.
They Multiply Opportunities in Small and Mid-Sized Communities
Long drives are a normal part of daily life in rural areas—for work, shopping, and the trips to the nearest city.
Trains make life better by making many trips easier and more affordable. They can connect workers to jobs; make family outings fun; and establish links to markets and customers for businesses of all sizes.
Amtrak’s inter-regional trains are currently the foundation of the rural network. Upgrading them with high-performance trains will be game-changing.
They Improve Local Transit Options
High-speed trains boost and build on existing bus and rail systems.
Travelers use local transit to reach high-speed trains, for starters. And when they are well-coordinated and easily accessible, ridership increases on both high-speed rail and local transit systems. That builds political will and funding for the entire transportation network.
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