High Speed Trains

High speed trains must, and will become an essential component of the
U.S. transportation system during the next 20 years. This seems to be
obvious, but is something that the (lack of) leadership in Washington
D.C. has yet to seriously consider. A combination of lack of vision,
deeply entrenched vested interests, a troubled Amtrak system and a ‘not
invented here’ mindset has combined to allow the U.S. to be woefully
behind the curve when it comes to both rail transport and an
intelligent, integrated national transportation system.



Flying has become an extremely unpleasant and unreliable travel
experience. In addition it is a large contributor to greenhouse gas
emissions into the atmosphere. Predicated on cheap oil, high prices and
customer service, the airline business must now operate in an
environment of expensive oil, low prices and a general lack of quality
customer service not to mention cancellations and poor on-time
performance. At the other end of the transportation spectrum,
automobile travel is undergoing change due to increasing price of
gasoline. Gasoline prices consistently over $3 means that in addition
to looking for a high MPG when buying a new car, people will think
twice before making a long road trip and will increasingly find that
commuting by car is adversely affecting the household budget.

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