How Will High Speed Rail Benefit the Community?

Fast, frequent, and affordable trains improve our communities—big and small—in three critical ways.

They Create Smart and Sustainable Growth

High-speed trains promote density by transforming land-development patterns.

Federal policies prioritize road building, which encourages more driving and spurs ever-more spending on road construction and repairs. This cycle generates sprawl and hollows out city centers. Trains break the cycle and create healthy, walkable and thriving city centers.

outdoor cafe
Pontiac, Illinois train station exterior

They Multiply Opportunities in Small and Mid-Sized Communities

Long drives are a normal part of daily life in rural areas—for work, shopping, and the trips to the nearest city.

Trains make life better by making many trips easier and more affordable. They can connect workers to jobs; make family outings fun; and establish links to markets and customers for businesses of all sizes.

Amtrak’s inter-regional trains are currently the foundation of the rural network. Upgrading them with high-performance trains will be game-changing.

They Improve Local Transit Options

High-speed trains boost and build on existing bus and rail systems.

Travelers use local transit to reach high-speed trains, for starters. And when they are well-coordinated and easily accessible, ridership increases on both high-speed rail and local transit systems. That builds political will and funding for the entire transportation network.

San Diego light rail
Two people about to hug on a train platform

Help Strengthen Your Community

Tell the United States Congress: It’s time to reconnect the country with high-speed and regional rail!

Sign the Petition

The Latest from HSRA

Our Latest Blog Posts

Check out the latest news, updates, and high speed rail insights from our blog!

Announcing High Speed Rail Talk

Announcing High Speed Rail Talk

The High Speed Rail Alliance Podcast We are excited to announce the launch of our podcast High Speed Rail Talk. This new format builds upon our celebrated webinar series to bring you news and discussion about fast, frequent trains and the future of transportation in...

The Math Ain’t Mathin’

The Math Ain’t Mathin’

A closer look at the “golden age of rail" Under the headline “GOLDEN AGE OF RAIL,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently announced $5.3 billion for railroad projects, via the recently renamed National Railroad Partnership Program. The funding includes roughly...

A New History of High-Speed Rail Takes on a Familiar Question

A New History of High-Speed Rail Takes on a Familiar Question

Why not here? In 1962, two years before Japan began running its Shinkansen high-speed trains and launched the modern era of high-speed rail, the science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke predicted that railways were in their “final chapter.” The runaway success of...