Cost Benefit Analysis of Washington-Richmond High-Speed Rail

Cost Benefit Analysis of Washington-Richmond High-Speed Rail Spring 2010
days of ISTEA, the Federal government has taken small steps in laying the groundwork for a high-speed
intercity passenger rail network—until 2009.
2.1 High-Speed Rail Grant Selection by Obama Administration
President Barack Obama's vision for the future of intercity transportation, envisions development of
high-speed intercity passenger rail as a complement to the Nation's highway and aviation system,
moved from policy concept to program reality with the enactment of the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA) on February 17, 2009. Title XII of ARRA provided the U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT) $8 billion and directed DOT, consistent with the statutory authorizations of grant
programs made under sections 301, 302 and 501 of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act
of 2008 (PRIIA), to initiate a program of high-speed intercity passenger rail capital investment.
Consistent with the provisions of ARRA, and with direction from the Secretary of Transportation, the
FRA produced a high-speed rail strategic plan, “Vision for High-Speed Rail in America,” in April 2009.
Based upon the President’s vision for high-speed rail in America, the initial $8 billion in investment was
focused on the following areas that will deliver transportation, economic recovery and other public
benefits:
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• Building new HSR corridors that will fundamentally expand and improve passenger
transportation in the geographic regions they serve
• Upgrading existing intercity passenger rail services
• Laying the groundwork for future high-speed passenger rail services through smaller projects
and planning efforts
To that end, the administration, through the FRA, proposed to advance the development of a system of
high-speed intercity passenger rail service across the nation. One corridor in particular, the Southeast
Corridor, has been planned for over a decade through the coordinated efforts of the States of North
Carolina, and Virginia. When these improvements are completed the corridor from Atlanta, Georgia in
the south, through Charlotte, Raleigh and Richmond to Washington, D.C. in the north will be served by
an integrated network of HSR for passengers that provides intercity connectivity from the Southeast
Corridor though the Northeast Corridor. Moreover, the future of HSR in the United States will be
contingent upon the continued support from the administration and the Congress. As it stands, the $8
billion investment in HSR corridors is just the beginning. As the program matures, discussions will
continue as part of future surface reauthorizations proposals.
“Imagine whisking through towns at speeds over 100 miles an hour, walking only a few steps to public
transportation, and ending up just blocks from your destination. Imagine what a great project that
would be to rebuild America.”
President Barack Obama (April 16, 2009)