Chugging along towards the future, U.S. Representatives Seth Moulton (D-Massachusetts) and Suzan DelBene (D-Washington) are looking to give the nation's rail system a high-speed boost. On March 8, the duo introduced a bill pegged the American High-Speed Rail Act, aiming to lay down the tracks for a national high-speed rail network with a massive $205 billion investment over an ambitious five-year timeline. The proposed legislation promises to not only streamline travel across the country but also to drive substantial job creation, with a hopeful forecast of generating 2.6 million American jobs, as reported by KXAN.
According to KXAN, Moulton stressed the trifecta benefits of speed, environmental upsides, and safety that such a rail system could deliver. "High-speed rail is faster, cleaner, safer, and better for our economy," Moulton stated, underscoring the additional boon of connecting people to more jobs in new places. Moulton further criticized the existing transport framework, highlighting the staggering costs of sustaining weather-beaten planes and crumbled roadways, and seizing this juncture as a chance "to think big and think differently."
Notably, the Moulton-DelBene plan, as outlined in a Smart Cities Dive article, would earmark $41 billion annually, funneling funds into projects that can demonstrate potential in equity, resilience, and economic development. Special consideration is set to be given to regions neglected by the aviation industry or where essential air services hinge on government subsidies. The bill also eyes to sweeten the pot for transits that skirt along development-friendly paths, nudging state and local agencies and even the private sector to get on board.
Among a palette of endorsements, the legislation has received nods from industry proponents. "The growing support for the American High-Speed Rail Act is great news," said Andy Kunz, CEO of the U.S. High-Speed Rail Association, celebrating the leap from three co-sponsors in 2021 to a commendable 25 for this reintroduction. Affirmations also flowed from Jim Mathews, president, and CEO of the Rail Passengers Association, who told Smart Cities Dive that people yearn for "safe, reliable, fast, environmentally friendly trains" as alternatives to the congestion and hazards of highways and the high cost of airlines. As such, a swifter future is on the horizon if this congressional bill manages to stay full steam ahead and avoid the stalling derailments of legislative bureaucracy.
