APTA’s Center for High-Speed Rail has identified a comprehensive list of resources to assist in developing and moving forward with high-speed rail in the United States.
This information is categorized by APTA Resources, FRA Resources, Legislation, and Other Resources.
APTA Resources
Assessing the Business Case ROI for Intercity Passenger Rail Projects
June 2021
On June 9, 2021 APTA released a new high-performance rail return on investment report, “Assessing the Business Case ROI for Intercity Passenger Rail Corridor Investment: Guide for Decision Makers”. This new report provides a consistent methodology to quantify the economic and social benefits of passenger rail corridor investments.
Documents linked below are intended to provide both decision making support and to strengthen public and stakeholder understanding of the full merits of developing high speed and intercity passenger rail projects. They provide a more expansive view of public benefits and associated return on investment, grounded in economic, environmental, and social equity impacts that are relevant to specific stakeholders, particularly at different levels of government.
- VOLUME 1: Guide for Decision Makers
- VOLUME 2: Methodology
- VOLUME 3: ROI Tool Information and Instructions
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Framework for Assessing the Return on Investment from High-Speed and Intercity Rail Projects September 2017
This report reviews 47 prior studies that have assessed benefits, costs, economic impacts and/or social impacts of High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail (HS&IPR) proposals. The review shows consensus that HS&IPR can have broad societal benefits that go far beyond time and cost for users. There is, however, a lack of consistency regarding coverage of alternative travel modes, breadth of study areas and time periods, and the set of wider societal benefits that are covered. This report provides a guide to developing a comprehensive study of the potential impacts of proposed HS&IPR projects. The background report can be accessed here.
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2015 APTA High-Speed Train Survey September 2015 In a survey conducted by TechnoMetrica for APTA, two-thirds (63 percent) of Americans are likely to use high-speed trains if high-speed rail were available today. This jumps to nearly seventy (67) percent when respondents were informed of the costs and time saving benefits of high-speed rail service. |
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High-Speed Rail: On the Move in America July 2012
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July 2012
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An Inventory of the Criticisms of High-Speed Rail With Suggested Responses and Counterpoints This report is the summary of extensive research that examined the criticism that has been leveled over the past three years at the national efforts to improve intercity passenger rail and introduce true high-speed passenger rail in the United States. |
Getting It Done: Building High-Speed Passenger Rail in America America is poised to take the most significant step toward transforming its transportation network since the Interstate Highway System was begun more than 50 years ago. The nation is embarking on an ambitious plan that will lead to a network of high-speed rail corridors that will support millions of jobs, help revitalize our economy and improve mobility for millions of Americans. |
APTA’s Recommendations on Federal Public Transportation Authorizing Legislation: High-Speed Rail Program The recommendations provide a solid framework for a stronger federal role in public transportation and recognize the significant energy, environmental, and economic benefits of public transportation. They serve as the first step toward fulfilling APTA’s TransitVision 2050. |
APTA’s Principles for a Legislative Framework: Fleshing Out an Ongoing Federal High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail Program Passenger Transport: APTA Adopts High-Speed Rail Legislative Principles |
High-speed rail is critical to America’s economic future. Congestion on our highways and runways already costs $130 billion a year, and our population is expected to grow by another 100 million people in the next 40 years. That is the key rationale behind the Obama Administration’s more than $10 billion investment in high-speed and passenger rail projects across the country.
This paper addresses the initial investment and on-going cost of operation and maintenance of high-performance passenger rail (HPPR) in four of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) sanctioned HPPR regional networks – Northeast, Chicago Hub, California, and Northwest – over a 40 year period. The system can generate a net benefit of at least $660 million annually. If the nation should forgo this opportunity, it stands to sustain a cost of at least $26.4 billion in foregone economic benefits over the next four decades.- APTA High-Speed Train Survey – May 2012
The results of a national survey that show that nearly two-thirds of Americans are interested in traveling by high-speed rail and the figure soars to 74 percent among those in the 18-24 age brackets.
This report focuses on key issues critical to private investors as they consider investments or future expansion into business serving growing passenger rail markets. It highlights national and international trends, the market potential in the U.S. future funding sources, and the need for public support.
- High-Speed Rail Investment Background Data- February 1, 2011
Historical and projected growth trends of passenger trips, vehicles, and agencies for all types passenger rail; high-speed rail policy, plan, and need statements from APTA and other organizations; summaries of research detailing high-speed rail land use impact, energy use and emissions reduction, and economic benefits.
High Speed Rail Corridor and Intercity Passenger Rail Service Principles Task Force
Adopted by APTA Executive Committee May 2, 2009
Approved by APTA Legislative Committee December 12, 2008
FRA Resources
- National Rail Plan: Moving Forward, A Progress Report
September 2010 - Webcast: Conference on Domestic High-speed Rail Manufacturing
December 4, 2009 - High-Speed Passenger Rail Safety Strategy
November 2009 - Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Guidelines for High-Speed Passenger Rail
November 2009 - Preliminary National Rail Plan: The Groundwork for Developing Policies to Improve the United States Transportation System
October 2009 - Vision for High-Speed Rail in America: FRA’s High-Speed Rail Strategic Plan
April 2009 - President Obama, Vice President Biden, Secretary LaHood Call for U.S. High-Speed Passenger Trains: Vision for a New Era in Rail Entails Clean, Energy-Efficient Option for Travelers
April 16, 2009 - High-Speed Rail Corridor Designations
A map depicting proposed high-speed rail corridors in the United States.
Legislation
- Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA) – P.L. 110-432 Legislative Summary
As enacted by Congress on October 1, 2008 - Text of Bill
PUBLIC LAW 110–432—OCT. 16, 2008
Other Resources
High-Speed Rail and Sustainability |
Carbon Footprint of High-Speed Railway Infrastructure This study looks at the carbon footprint analysis of four new high speed rail lines. |
California High-Speed Rail Program Draft 2012 Business Plan In 2008, Californians voted to develop a statewide high-speed rail program. This business plan marks the transition from the vision of a world-class high-speed rail system to the realities of building and operating that system. |
Intercity Rail Passenger Systems Update The online newsletter is designed to disseminate information about current research and developments in intercity rail passenger systems. |
High-Speed Rail: Public, Private or Both? Public-private partnerships – or “PPPs” – have come to play an important role in the construction of high-speed rail lines around the world. The experience with high-speed rail PPPs, however, has been mixed. |
A Track Record of Success: High-Speed Rail Around the World and Its Promise for America As America moves toward construction of new high-speed rail networks in regions throughout the country, we have much to learn from experiences abroad. |
Intercity Rail Passenger Systems Update The online newsletter is designed to disseminate information about current research and developments in intercity rail passenger systems. |
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