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More lawmakers back high speed rail as answer to US transport woes


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Following the lead of two Democratic congressman last month, U.S. Rep. John L. Mica (R-Florida) has endorsed the proposed Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act - which would authorize more than $14.4 billion in funding for Amtrak, state passenger grants and high-speed rail over the next five years.

One of the first goals would be to produce a passenger transit rail system that can travel between New York and Washington in about two hours.

As for those who argue that the air travel lobby might derail High Speed rail initiatives, Mica says: "We'll drag them kicking and screaming into the 21st century."

digitrash

15 responses // More lawmakers back high speed rail as answer to US transport woes

  • thank goodness. we need to join the rest of the world on high speed commuter and long distance trains. we invented the steam engine, used railroads to expand america, and then lost it all to the car markets.
    great for green travel. great for expanding americans personal bubble....
    phillyphil
  • it's about damn time!

    Amtrak has been a joke for so long in this country. I would LOVE to get across the country by rail, much like european countries do.
    benjaminV
  • I would be happy if Caltrains would offer more then 3 times to go to work in the morning and 3 times to travel back to my house at night.
    clarity_kat
  • They just finished a high speed rail line in my city. In just a week of operation, traffic was cut down during rush hour quite noticably. It makes it much easier to get across town.
    ajbarber9
  • this isn't UK news
    fostec
  • As roads gets more congest, oil prices rises, and pressure rises on the environment citizens will eventually switch to public transportation. Even better as more people ride trains and public transportation the more it'll expand and develop - most likely walking the "green" route.
    ipodrulz
  • this is cool as hell, maybe we'll go into like a retro-futuristic age, you know like the anime's that are set in the future where everything is advanced but has this rustic old west feel and style..ba
    pirho338
  • This is well over-due! Highspeed rail will not only cut down on driving but provide lots of jobs to build the infrastructure!
    BetterWatching
  • Very interesting. I heard a while back about a proposal for a California bullet train, and while it may not be the most important piece of 'slature on the table it would be good to see in a while. Far more efficient than cars alone.
    Dmitri_Molotov
  • What a novel Idea!!! Finally catching up with the rest of the world. Gee is this really feasible. Our GOOverment actually using thier brains. Incredible. But I guess I will wait and see. But I won't hold my breath.
    Robroy1
  • america needs trains like japan and other countries. It too big to drive around and gas too expensive today
    kazu
  • It's time to put this idea on fast forward. Think about the jobs, the boost to our failing economy and the end result. Plus someday we might reverse global warming and actually get to breathe clean air. What a wonderful thing to leave to our children, and grandchildren. Go the whole way, and let us build wind and solar farms while we are at it. An economy based on clean green growth is a better idea than one that requires war to survive.
    Marilynn_Murray
  • This has been necessary for quite some time.
    It's where overland long distance travel belongs.
    Good news.
    Humdrum
  • Nice. Attention being turned back to trains.
    Could a resurgence of electric trolleys be far behind?
    (No. Really. I've been investing.)
    I never did like flying all that much and there's plenty of country to cover.
    Wooo-woooooooo!!
    huntre
  • hey you might be interested in this...

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