High speed 2

(cont'd from yesterday's post)

U.S. High Speed Rail Alliance wants to convince Americans to build high speed trains for our public transportation needs. They say it's the "realistic, easy, and affordable" way forward.

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Certainly it's more relaxing than driving through traffic; it's easy to socialize/eat/read/watch the scenery when you're not at the wheel. Less time is required since the common definition of "high speed rail" is moving at 155 mph or more.

But efficiency and energy benefits may be the biggest appeal to lawmakers who worry about the environment. Per passenger, rail transportation emits less carbon dioxide and uses less energy than either cars or airplanes.

According to Brightline West, that HSR project from LA to Las Vegas (yesterday's post) will mean 700 million fewer vehicle miles traveled per year and 400,000 tons fewer carbon emissions.

from U.S. High Speed Rail  Alliance