Media Center

This week in Beijing, high speed rail stakeholders from across the globe will converge for the 7th World Congress on High Speed Rail.  This conference, organized by the International Union of Railways and the Ministry of Railways of the People’s Republic of China, seeks to focus on initiatives for greener transport.  Currently, China has the world’s longest high-speed rail network with over 4,300 miles of rail in service, and over 11,000 miles of infrastructure are now under construction.  By contrast the U.S. high speed rail system currently consists of only one rail line described by the U.S. Department of Transportation as a high speed rail line.  This is Amtrak’s Acela Express; which runs from Boston, south through New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore to Washington DC – covering about 450 miles.

High speed rail is widely accepted to be more environmentally conscious than automobile-based transportation.  Electric trains use less energy and are able to utilize power from more diverse sources of energy like renewables.  Though often requiring substantial initial investment, high speed rail systems provide fast and reliable service for large numbers of travelers in a densely populated country over long distances.  Also, such a system promotes the growth of urban centers and limits sprawl, which continues to be of great concern for an area like metropolitan Atlanta.

As the Atlanta area, including the 13th Congressional district, continues to experience substantial growth in population, we must continue to explore expanded transportation choices.  Most Georgians are reliant on their cars to go nearly everywhere, especially since local rail systems lack sufficient development to serve as a replacement.  In October of this year, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $4.1 million for a feasibility study on the potential of a high-speed rail link between Atlanta and Charlotte.  This grant will aid local officials in planning how best to connect Atlanta with the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor, which will link our area to locations in Upstate South Carolina including Greenville, and north to Charlotte, thereby connecting it to Raleigh-Durham, Richmond, and Washington, DC.

This grant serves as an opportunity for our state and region to make substantial progress on our rail infrastructure.  This would enable Americans to travel quickly and economically in contrast to more congested roads and higher fuel prices.  A functional high speed rail system would enable the U.S. to create local jobs, link labor markets, alleviate traffic congestion, and support energy independence.   I am optimistic about the progress the Southeast will make as a result of this needed investment in the future of our infrastructure, and I will continue to back such initiatives when they are considered in Congress.