Image: Washington Post |
Our Mission
The state departments of transportation are bringing a new era of passenger rail to the United States. State DOTs are responsible for planning, building, and delivering high-speed and intercity passenger rail and are working collaboratively with existing freight and passenger railroads and the Federal Railroad Administration to achieve success.
For more information on AASHTO's High-Speed Rail program, contact Shayne Gill, sgill@aashto.org.
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What's New?
- The full House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a hearing entitled "FRA's Highspeed Intercity Passenger Rail Program: Mistakes and Lessons Learned," Secretary LaHood Defends High-Speed Rail Program. Link to Story , Sec LaHood's Testimony , NARP President's Testimony , Sec LaHood's Response to The Hearing
- Presentations on passenger rail, including those related to economic development, P3s, innovations, equipment, and railroad agreements from the 2011 meeting of the Standing Committee on Rail Transportation, held in Charlotte, NC, are now available at: 2011Charlotte.aspx
- California's High Speed Rail Authority shows its planned rail system will be a job-creator. The Authority has released a new business plan that lays the foundation for an economically viable high speed rail system that will create 100,000 jobs in the next five years, and is expected to generate another 1 million jobs moving forward. (Link to press release)
- Amtrak Service to Norfolk, VA expected to start 10 months ahead of schedule. Bringing passenger rail service to Norfolk for the first time in over 30 years. (Link to story)
- Amtrak outlines major projects in 2012, including new electric locomotives, as well as investments in NextGen High Speed Rail. (Link to Press Release) (Link to Bloomberg Article)
- More than 90% of Federal funding has been approved by the Federal Railroad Administration. As of December 1, 2011, $9.2 billion has been approved for 145 projects in 32 states, the District of Columbia, and Amtrak. (Link to Information)
Latest Press Releases from AASHTO, States and Federal Government
US DOT and NIST/MEP launch partnership to help connect passenger railcar builders and US suppliers to help achieve 100% Buy America goal. Visit the NIST/MEP web site
California High Speed Rail Authority Releases Preferred Route Through Valley. Train Stations in Downtown Merced and Fresno
Michigan DOT Announces Ridership Growth on all three Amtrak Lines
US DOT announces millions for New York and Washington State to improve rail service
News Articles, Opinion Pieces, Blogs on Passenger Rail
Riding High-Speed Rail to a U.S. Recovery
Iowa DOT wants feds to divvy up rail money
Washington Monthly Article: The Case for Not-Quite-So-High-Speed Rail
Viewpoints: Case for high-speed rail grows only stronger
NGEC Chair Bill Bronte's Letter to the Editor, Trains Magazine
High-Speed Rail Is Not Dead
Governors of both parties agree: Rail is vital to N.C.'s future
A world class system of high-speed and intercity passenger rail in America is no longer just a dream. It is real and its success is critical to transforming transportation in our lifetime.
State departments of transportation have spearheaded the effort to develop and fund a national intercity passenger rail system for the past decade. They have planned, financed, and delivered successful intercity passenger rail service, and they will lead the development of high-speed rail systems across the nation.
Fueled by $8 billion in economic recovery funding, and a strong consensus of continuing support in Congress, America is making a permanent investment in passenger rail. Regardless of which routes are first to get awards, there will not be winners and losers. There will be winners and future winners.
State transportation departments are providing best practices, technical assistance, standards development and planning to create the next generation of passenger rail service connecting America.