Our vision
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The High Speed Rail Alliance is a grassroots nonprofit working to connect North America with great trains.
We know that fast trains make traveling a joy instead of a headache.
We see that trains revitalize cities and build thriving economies. We love how they slash pollution and make traveling safer, faster, and more affordable.
We want trains to transform communities — all across the continent.
Our Role
Building this grassroots movement.
We help people understand what American trains could be, why we should build them–and how to make it happen.
- Our research simplifies complex issues, sparks innovative ideas, and fosters policy proposals.
- Our educational programs inform individuals, civic leaders, elected officials, and the media.
- Our organizing infrastructure gives people the tools and motivation they need to support champions, connect allies, and take action.
Core Principle
Bringing fast trains to North America is more urgent than ever.
Our communities need to adapt quickly—and wisely—in a rapidly changing world.
That means changing how we move around. Because travel shapes everything. How we live and work. How often we see friends and loved ones. Where we find jobs. Business costs, city finances, air quality, stress levels, general health—all of it.
High-speed and regional trains are a catalyst for real progress on every major health, economic, environmental, and energy challenge we face.
Our Philosophy
An integrated approach
Connecting entire regions—not just major cities.
People often think of high-speed trains mainly as a way to connect two major metro areas. But that’s only a small part of their value.
HSR creates a virtuous cycle of sustainable transportation modes. When people take trains more often, they also walk, bike, and use transit more often. And vice versa.
The result is a growing, integrated network that includes not only high-speed trains and conventional trains but transit, intercity buses, bike paths, and more.
Big-picture plans
A great transportation network doesn’t just happen. It starts with a vision. States and the federal government need to plan for how all the parts—trains of all kinds, intercity bus routes, bike trails—can work together and support each other.
Planning agencies should set the bar high and be clear about goals. For example, they should aim to shift at least 20 percent of car trips to passenger rail.
Steady, short-term improvements
Building a great transportation network requires a both/and mentality, with both long-term and short-term plans.
High-speed lines usually take at least a decade to plan and build. In the meantime, conventional passenger-rail lines can be upgraded. Intercity bus routes can be added. Transit systems can be expanded.
This both/and approach makes the network steadily stronger and more useful to travelers. It also creates a stronger business case and a broad, robust political base for the network.
The HSR dividend: prosperity
High-speed lines let people travel long distances quickly without the stress and expense of getting in a car. That’s obvious.
But HSR is critically important for two less-obvious reasons.
First, more people using high-speed rail means more people using transit (or walking and biking) in the cities served by the line.
Second, communities not directly served by the high-speed line need an easy, affordable way to access it. Which leads to a dense, flourishing network of connecting trains and buses.
And when people don’t have to drive everywhere, true wealth builds. Communities grow stronger, healthier, and more connected.
In a word, they prosper. That’s the true payoff and purpose of high-speed rail.
Get Involved
How do we make it happen?
By joining together, amplifying our voices, and building our power as a movement.
Projects are in initial stages all across the country. You can get engaged to ensure those projects are the best they can be.
Become a member to help accelerate the progress.
Not ready to join? Sign up for our weekly newsletter to stay in touch.
The Latest from HSRA
Our Latest Blog Posts
Check out the latest news, updates, and high speed rail insights from our blog!
