High speed passenger rail : future development will depend on addressing financial and other challenges and establishing a clear federal role : report to congressional requesters.

Format:

Book

Government document

Author/Creator:

United States. Government Accountability Office

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

High speed trains--United States--Finance.

High speed trains.

High speed trains--United States--Planning.

High speed trains--Government policy--United States.

Railroads--Passenger traffic--United States--Finance.

Railroads.

Railroads--United States--Passenger traffic--Planning.

Railroads--Passenger traffic--Government policy--United States.

Federal aid to transportation--United States.

Federal aid to transportation.

High speed trains--Finance.

High speed trains--Government policy.

High speed trains--Planning.

Railroads--Passenger traffic--Finance.

Railroads--Passenger traffic--Planning.

United States.

Physical Description:

iii, 102 pages : digital, PDF file

Other Title:

Future development will depend on addressing financial and other challenges and establishing a clear federal role

Place of Publication:

[Washington, D.C.] : U.S. Govt. Accountability Office, [2009]

Summary:

Federal and other decision makers have had a renewed interest in how high speed rail might fit into the national transportation system and address increasing mobility constraints on highways and at airports due to congestion. GAO was asked to review (1) the factors affecting the economic viability--meaning whether total social benefits offset or justify total social costs--of high speed rail projects, including difficulties in determining the economic viability of proposed projects; (2) the challenges in developing and financing high speed rail systems; and (3) the federal role in the potential development of U.S. high speed rail systems. GAO reviewed federal legislation; interviewed federal, state, local, and private sector officials, as well as U.S. project sponsors; and reviewed high speed rail development in France, Japan, and Spain.

Contents:

Results in brief

Background

Economic viability of high speed rail is affected by many corridor and service characteristics, but uncertainties about ridership and other estimates make viability determinations difficult

High up-front costs are the main challenge to high speed rail development, and challenges also exist in sustaining support and building consensus

Federal leadership has been limited, but following reexamination principles can ensure that the federal role is focused on yielding maximum benefits

Conclusions

Recommendations for executive action

Agency comments and our evaluation

Appendices.

Notes:

Title from PDF title page (viewed on May 6, 2009).

"March 2009."

Includes bibliographical references.

"GAO-09-317."

OCLC:

320374125