How High‑Speed Rail Strengthens Communities

United by Speed. Connected by Community.

Downtown Limburg

Fostering Smart and Sustainable Growth

High-speed rail isn’t just about faster travel—it transforms how our communities grow and thrive:

  • Revitalizes Urban Centers
    High-speed rail stations anchor investment in city cores, breathing new life into downtowns and attracting new businesses, residents, and amenities.
  • Reduces Sprawl
    By offering a reliable alternative to car-based commuting, high-speed rail helps limit the need for endless highway expansion and low-density suburban development.
  • Promotes Walkable Communities
    Rail-connected neighborhoods are built around people, not cars—making it easier to walk and bike to local businesses and services.
  • Encourages Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)
    High-speed rail supports mixed-use development near stations, combining housing, retail, and office space in a compact, efficient footprint.
  • Supports Greener Infrastructure
    Concentrated growth reduces the strain on natural resources, limits emissions, and helps preserve open space and farmland.

Connecting Rural and Mid‑Size Communities

In regions where long drives are the norm, high-speed rail offers a lifeline:

  • Expands Access to Jobs
    Residents in rural and mid-size communities gain fast, affordable access to employment opportunities in nearby metropolitan areas—without needing to relocate.

  • Makes Family Travel Affordable and Easy
    Weekend getaways and family visits become more accessible and less stressful, with reliable train service replacing long, tiring drives.

  • Opens New Markets for Local Businesses
    Small businesses can reach broader customer bases by connecting to regional hubs, enabling easier shipping and more foot traffic.

  • Upgrades Existing Rail for Real Impact
    Enhancements to existing intercity services like Amtrak—especially when upgraded to true high-speed standards—make rail a viable, attractive option across entire regions.

By enhancing at-grade intercity services, the upgrade to true high-speed makes a real difference.

A passegner has just gotten off a bus.

Bolstering Local Transit Networks

High-speed rail works hand-in-hand with local transit—strengthening systems and expanding access for everyone:

  • Boosts Ridership Across the Network
    Seamless connections between high-speed rail and local buses, trains, and subways increase ridership for all transit services.

  • Creates a Virtuous Cycle of Investment
    Higher usage drives demand for better service, attracting more public investment and enabling continuous improvements to local systems.

  • Enhances First- and Last-Mile Connectivity
    Integrated planning ensures passengers can easily get from their home to the station—and from the station to their final destination—without relying on a car.

  • Encourages Multimodal Travel
    High-speed hubs become anchors for multimodal transit, supporting walkability, bike infrastructure, rideshares, and more.

  • Strengthens Regional Mobility
    Together, local and long-distance rail systems create a seamless web of mobility that benefits communities of all sizes.

Case Studies

Read about real-life examples of cities and regions revitalized by rail.

Fresno, California – Reviving a Downtown Core

Project: California High-Speed Rail (CHSR)

Impact:

  • The City of Fresno is directing over $300 million toward revitalizing its downtown, focusing on infrastructure, affordable housing, and green spaces within walking distance of the future high-speed rail station. It aims to align land use and transportation planning to encourage sustainable density.

  • Fresno’s leadership credits the CHSR project with creating renewed momentum for reversing decades of disinvestment and suburban sprawl. This has sparked interest from private developers and brought new life to the urban core.

  • Community stakeholders have cited the project as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine Fresno’s economic future.

Lesson:
Even before the first train arrives, the vision of high-speed rail can catalyze urban regeneration—attracting investment, reshaping land use, and restoring confidence in the downtown’s potential.

References:

  • California High-Speed Rail Authority. “Fresno Station Area Master Plan.” Link

  • Fresno Bee. “Downtown Fresno Is Booming—And High-Speed Rail Is a Big Reason Why.” Link

Le Mans, France – A Regional Boomtown

Project: LGV Atlantique – High-Speed Rail Link to Paris

Impact:

  • After the launch of TGV service between Paris and Le Mans, which cut travel time to just 54 minutes, Le Mans experienced a dramatic rise in commuter traffic and business relocations from the capital.

  • The city responded by expanding public transit infrastructure, including local tram lines, and increasing housing development to accommodate growing demand.

  • Today, over 5,000 Parisians commute daily from Le Mans, drawn by the combination of affordable real estate and easy access to Paris’s economic opportunities.

  • The city has also seen growth in the tech and service sectors, with companies capitalizing on Le Mans’ lower costs while staying connected to Paris’s markets.

Lesson:
When high-speed rail unlocks rapid access to major metros, smaller cities can become dynamic growth hubs—offering residents a high quality of life and businesses a strategic edge.

References:

  • Mineta Transportation Institute. “Planning for Complementarity: An Examination of the Role and Opportunities of First-Tier and Second-Tier Cities Along the High-Speed Rail Network in California.” Link

  • SNCF Réseau. “LGV Atlantique: bilan et perspectives.” [PDF summary, available on SNCF site]

  • International Transport Forum. “The Wider Economic Impacts of High-Speed Rail” (OECD/ITF, 2018) – includes case analysis of Le Mans.

Toyama, Japan – Rail-Centered Revitalization

Project: Shinkansen + Light Rail Integration

Impact:

  • Toyama leveraged its connection to the Hokuriku Shinkansen to spur a broader urban transformation. High-speed rail is the backbone for downtown revitalization and strategic growth.

  • In response to aging demographics and declining population, the city implemented a bold vision to become a “compact city”, centered around public transit, walkable neighborhoods, and mixed-use development.

  • The introduction of the Toyama Light Rail—Japan’s first full-scale modern streetcar system—reconnected residents to the city center and helped reduce car dependence.

  • The city has become a destination for students, retirees, and young families, attracted by its affordability, accessibility, and high quality of life.

  • Toyama’s success is now internationally recognized as a model of transit-integrated planning and climate-conscious urban policy.

Lesson:
By pairing high-speed rail with robust local transit, small cities can become more livable, resilient, and appealing—even reversing trends of population decline.

References:

  • World Bank. “Compact City Policies: Toyama City Case Study.” Link

  • World Bank. “Compact City Development with an LRT Network as the Backbone.” Link

Köln–Frankfurt, Germany – Building a Super-Regional Economy

Project: ICE High-Speed Rail Corridor (Cologne–Frankfurt)

Impact:

  • The completion of the Cologne–Frankfurt high-speed line reduced travel times from over 2 hours to just under 1 hour, transforming how people live, work, and do business between the two cities.

  • The line introduced frequent and reliable ICE service, encouraging a surge in business travel and enabling daily commutes that previously weren’t practical.

  • Major corporations, including Deutsche Bank, PwC, and others, established offices near newly connected stations like Cologne Messe/Deutz and Frankfurt Airport to capitalize on improved accessibility.

  • Small towns along the corridor, such as Siegburg and Montabaur, also experienced new visibility, investment, and population growth thanks to their high-speed connections.

  • The corridor now functions as a super-regional economic zone, blurring the boundaries between metro areas and linking labor markets, business centers, and housing.

Lesson:
When high-speed rail delivers both speed and frequency, it unlocks a new kind of connectivity—one that powers super-regional economies where cities and towns function as a single, integrated system.

References:

  • London School of Economics. “The economic benefits of high speed rail…” Link

  • Nation Bureau of Economic Research. “The Effect of Infrastructure on Worker Mobility: Evidence from High-Speed Rail Expansion in Germany.” Link

Raleigh, North Carolina – Transit-Led Growth

Project: Amtrak & Future Southeast High-Speed Rail (SEHSR) Corridor

Impact:

  • The opening of Raleigh Union Station in 2018 transformed a former warehouse district into a vibrant hub, serving both Amtrak and future high-speed rail planning efforts.

  • Coordinated city and state planning around the station led to a wave of mixed-use development, including housing, restaurants, and tech offices—especially in the Warehouse District.

  • Raleigh Union Station has become a model of how strategic intercity rail investments can support walkable, transit-oriented growth and serve as a foundation for future expansion.

  • The city is actively preparing for future high-speed service along the Raleigh–Richmond–Washington, D.C. corridor.  The efforts are part of the broader Southeast High-Speed Rail initiative, which has received federal planning support and environmental approvals.

  • By pairing intercity rail upgrades with local transit investment—including Raleigh’s planned Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system—the city is positioning itself as a regional mobility hub.

Lesson:
When cities integrate intercity and local transit planning, they not only improve current service—they also create a ready-made environment for future high-speed rail success.

References:

  • North Carolina Department of Transportation. “S-Line Raleigh to Richmond Project.” Link

  • Railway Technology. “Raleigh Union Station, North Carolina.” Link

  • Co-Star. “This Raleigh, North Carolina Amtrak Station Could Provide Model for Other Cities.” Link

  • Downtown Raleigh Alliance. “Raleigh Union Station.” Link
Two people about to hug on a train platform

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