February’s economic stimulus bill contained money for weatherizing houses, the expansion of rural broadband, improving the grid and upgrading the U.S. transportation infrastructure. For this last category, some money for highway and bridge construction has been spent, but what of the money for rail? The bill set aside $1.3 billion specifically for Amtrak and $8 billion for high-speed rail, with $5 billion more in the President’s proposed budget. Rail is energy-efficient, environmentally sound and, if properly implemented, cheap. There are many ways to improve the country’s passenger-rail network—from new high-speed designs to simple commuter efficiencies, investing in pricey maglev technology or improving signals on old lines. With $14 billion plus in hand, experts agree that to get more people off the roads and onto trains, the government must pick and choose projects wisely.
By S.E. Kramer
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