Brightline, the groundbreaking passenger rail service, is set to embark on its inaugural high-speed journey between Miami and Orlando on September 22nd. This significant milestone represents a major step forward for the United States’ high-speed rail network, which has been lagging behind countries like China, Japan, and Spain. Despite facing numerous setbacks due to funding constraints in the past decade, progress is finally on the horizon.
Brightline is a notable example of private funders contributing to the advancement of high-speed transit. Backed by the Fortress Investment Group, this $5 billion project in Florida has garnered significant attention. The private equity firm has also supported another similar venture, Brightline West, in California and Nevada, which is scheduled to commence construction later this year. The completion of this project is estimated to take four years, subject to the availability of federal grant funds.
Another exciting venture, Texas Central Railway, is currently underway in Texas. With $75 million in private backing secured from in-state funders in 2015, this project aims to connect Houston and Dallas in under 90 minutes. However, due to challenges in obtaining permission to build on private lands, the project is still awaiting federal funding, making it lag behind other initiatives. Notably, even tech giants like Microsoft are joining the effort. Microsoft has allocated approximately $1 million to support research for Cascadia Rail, a proposed train line running through major cities in the Pacific Northwest. The company’s involvement stems from its desire to enhance transit and attract talented individuals to the region, given its headquarters’ proximity to Seattle.
As high-speed rail projects heavily rely on public funding, the recent Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), passed during the Biden administration, plays a pivotal role in providing the necessary financial support. This act, signed into law in November 2021, earmarked a historic $66 billion for rail projects, signifying the largest commitment to train infrastructure since the establishment of the federal government-owned Amtrak in 1971.
One significant outcome of this policy is the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program (FSP). This program seeks to finance projects that can address the state of good repair backlog, improve performance, expand existing services, or establish new intercity passenger rail services, including privately operated ones. For instance, Brightline West has already received a $25 million grant through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program. It has also applied for an additional $3.75 billion from the FSP fund allocated to national projects, with a specific fund available for initiatives in the Northeast corridor. Similarly, Texas Central, in collaboration with Amtrak, has applied for FSP funding to explore the feasibility of its project and is actively pursuing $12 billion in federal loans to cover the overall $30 billion cost. Washington state has also submitted a funding request of $198.1 million for the Cascadia Rail project through the FSP and the Corridor Identification and Development program.
Additionally, it is worth mentioning that high-speed rail networks have gained immense popularity among the younger generation, especially Gen Z. Growing up with limited public transportation options, this generation has a strong desire for an interconnected high-speed rail network that can facilitate sustainable mobility. In fact, an image of a conceptual high-speed rail map went viral on social media, capturing the enthusiasm and aspirations of Gen Z for improved national transit. As various high-speed rail projects are expected to be completed by the end of this decade, there is a real possibility that Gen Z’s dream of a connected rail network could become a reality.
In conclusion, while the pace of high-speed rail development in the US has been slower compared to other countries, the current projects’ timelines indicate promising progress. The implementation of these initiatives, combined with the widespread support from Gen Z and significant public funding through the IIJA, paves the way for a brighter future for high-speed rail in the United States.
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