High Speed Rail

We really need high speed rail for a lot of reasons. It is efficient, lower carbon, and will create jobs.

A major investment in high-speed rail could dramatically decrease congestion at airports and on highways as well. A single railroad track, just 6 feet across, would provide the same capacity as expanding the Long Island Expressway by six lanes. Amtrak's high-speed Acela Express trains have already captured a significant portion of travelers between New York and Washington, competing with shuttle flights for passengers.

As for energy savings, even the most conservative studies give trains an advantage of 4 to 1 over cars and airplanes. According to studies done in Japan, high-speed trains produce one-tenth the carbon-dioxide emissions of airplanes.

With our economy most likely headed into a recession, another compelling argument for a major investment in high-speed rail is that it will help produce millions of new jobs and promote economic growth. A $20 billion investment in high-speed rail will create more than 300,000 jobs nationally. That ratio of investment to job creation compares quite favorably to the recently enacted federal stimulus package. According to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, the $150 billion stimulus will create only 500,000 jobs this year (a cost of $300,000 per job).

Via Matt Yglesias.