High Speed Rail Is Still On Track

After last week’s conference on high speed rail (HSR) in Washington D.C., along with Vice President Biden’s announcement about dedicated monies to the project, one can understand the surprise when Florida governor Rick Scott stated yesterday that he was turning down the proposed Orlando-Tampa route. Even Florida Republican John Mica expressed dismay at this decision and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand immediately wrote to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood urging him to redirect the funding toward for New York’s Empire and Northeast Corridors.

Scott joins other Republican governors recently elected in saying no to HSR. Is this project now in danger after President Obama stated the goal of 80% of the American population in 2025 having access to HSR?

It is fair to note that the fiscal situation in the U.S. has hit dramatic proportions with the deficit at around 10% of GDP and the debt ceiling of $14.5 trillion about to be reached in a month or so. Governor Christie of New Jersey set the tone when he cancelled the tunnel project between New Jersey and New York a few months ago. This is clearly conditioning the negative response of some governors.

The simplistic interpretation is to point to partisanship where Republicans say no to anything Obama proposes. In some quarters, it may be so. But the financial concerns are beginning to be felt irrespective of party affiliation. The Obama vision of HSR will take time for it to be achieved as most major infrastructure projects do and it would be a mistake to think it is over.

These kinds of ambitious projects take time and money. The fact that a President is behind such a project is not a passing fancy and has historical precedent to back its potential success. The Eisenhower Interstate vision was not accomplished overnight but I will concede that the circumstances were far more favourable: post war boom, love affair with automobile and America’s economic strength unchallenged in the world.

The key thing to remember however is that resolve requires education, persistence and focus. According to transport officials, the U.S. is a first world country on freight rail but close to a developing country in regard to passenger rail. This can no longer be ignored if we hear the Obama administration and its goal for ‘winning the future.‘

While Asia and Europe are reaping the benefits of HSR, North Americans and that includes Canadians have settled into accepting the more conventional modes of transportation . This will have to change if we are to remain competitive and face new challenges regarding economics and the environment.

Announcing 13 corridors for HSR was exciting but it was susceptible to criticism and challenge by eventual opponents. The one corridor that needed to be prioritized is the North East Corridor including the Mid-Atlantic States, New York and New England. It represent one fifth of the U.S. population and includes New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Washington.

Republican John Mica, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, supports wholeheartedly this route because of air and road congestion. We in Québec have expressed our intent to bring HSR from Boston to Montréal (one of the original 13 corridors) and New York to Montréal (a route being examined by DOT, following a meeting between Secretary Lahood and Premier Charest).

The appointment of Ambassador Raymond Chrétien is evidence of Québec’s firm engagement. Ambassador Chrétien and this office have also received a positive reception by U.S transport officials to this initiative. Monies refused elsewhere will be in all likelihood channelled to areas that want HSR. California and the North East seem to be the most promising projects at the moment. So, despite yesterday’s news, it is fair to say that HSR is still on track.