High Speed Rail (HSR) in the United States (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Dec. 8, 2009 |
| Report Number |
R40973 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
David Randall Peterman, Coordinator, Analyst in Transportation Policy |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
Congress has been interested in high speed rail (HSR) since the 1960s, but the provision of$8 billion for intercity passenger rail and high speed rail projects in the American Recovery andReinvestment Act (ARRA; P.L. 111-5), enacted in February 2009, has catalyzed enthusiasm forhigh speed rail in Congress and the nation. One consequence has been a proposed authorization of$50 billion for intercity passenger rail development (including high speed rail) as part of newsurface transportation authorization legislation. There have been other periods of interest in HSRon the part of Congress and various states over the past few decades; they largely faded in theface of obstacles such as the high cost of HSR and policies supporting other modes oftransportation. Comparing the costs and benefits of investing in one mode versus another istypically not a part of transportation funding decisions.
