Future of High Speed Rail

Future of High Speed Rail

Future of High Speed Rail

President Obama was not too happy after the 2010 election saying that his party took a "shellacking". Plans for infrastructure reform are put on hold and many of the issues that the Obama administration feel strongly about, including the sustainability and environmental impact of the transportation sector, will be sidelined.

However, Obama does feel that things will eventually move forward as compromises and agreements are met. In a post-election conference, Obama said, "I think the proposal that I put forward with respect to infrastructure is one that historically we've had bipartisan agreement about. And we should be able to agree now that it makes no sense for China to have better rail systems than us, and Singapore having better airports than us . . . they're making investments because they know those investments will pay off over the long term."

High speed rail is an issue that Obama sees as an important part of transportation reform, but not everyone is on board. Ohio's governor (elect) John Kasich and Wisconsin's governor (elect) Scott Walker are opposed to high speed rail projects that have already been funded by American Recovery and Reinvestment funds. Kasich has asked to use the state's high speed rail money on other transportation projects, like road construction.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood informed Kasich and Walker that these funds would not be used for anything else outside of the High Speed Rail Program. If they don't want them, then they would simply distribute the funds to other states that support the program.

He reminds everyone that high speed rail is a clean transportation option that will produce much needed jobs in the form of construction, maintenance, operations and manufacturing. High speed rail manufacturers overseas are waiting to open plants in the US and employ American workers. Implementing high speed rail is expected to place heavy transportation equipment and parts in high demand, securing current jobs and creating many new ones in Ohio. The Spanish rail company Talgo is already waiting to open a plant in Wisconsin until the issue is resolved.

High speed rail is supported by many states. It is popular with environmentalist groups and the working class because it would take many cars off the road and provide a significant economic boost to many communities. High speed rail is expected to save many small towns that would otherwise have to be abandoned by residents due to a lack of jobs. Not only would manufacturing, operations and maintenance jobs surface, but it would give people living in small towns quick and easy access to larger cities where they could find jobs in their field.

Railroad industry reform is only one part of the infrastructure plan that is currently up in the air. Other shipping sectors, such as trucking, air, and ocean shipping will be impacted by new regulations and resources that the plan provides. Air and ocean freight industries who have been opposing some of the changes set forth in the infrastructure reform plan may be able to have a little more say in what happens next.

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