Final Report | High Speed Rail Seminar
What Would It Take to Fully Invest in the Northeast Corridor? « The Transport Politic
I believe theres a 70% chance , that sometime over the next 3 decades this will be built or something similar. Because even when we finish the 52 Billion $$$ in improvements , that won't be enough. Amtrak's current plan is will just bring us up to higher capacity's and faster averages speeds. But we do need to bypass some areas like Southern CT / NYC , Philly , Baltimore and Wilmington for higher speeds and True HSR 160+. The plans call for 180mph tops , with Averages of 155mph, although most of us in the Rail Community think it will be higher. With averages of 200mph and tops 240mph. The money for this would probably come form the Govt and Private companies. A Project this huge would generate 100,000s of jobs and relieve the over congested Bos-Wash Corridor interstates.
Some of the plans with make use of Interstate median and but the Majority of the plans calls for long tunnels. Like under Baltimore , Philly , NYC , and the Long Island Sound. Some of the plans call for 2 dedicated tracks for THSR , to be built next to the current alignment , except in the bypass areas.
By 2030 if everything goes smoothly in the Region , which for the most part it has , we should have a European type Rail system , with Asian style Main lines. What does that mean , Streetcars / Light Rail in most cities , currently 50 cities have plans for them. Regional / Intercity linking most medium and Large cities. High Speed Rail would link the Mega / Powerhouse Cities of the region like Philly or Pittsburgh or Boston. The Northeast Region will have the first large Railway network before any other region. And with the Majority of the population starting to move but towards are into the cities , the networks will be used alot. By 2030 the Northeast Corridor should be used by an estimated 2.7 million ppl daily , its current used by 450,000+. Most Feeder / Regional / Intercity lines would be used by 40-50,000 daily , some are at the level of usage now.
I think True HSR outside the Northeast will have a tough battle on the Political and public front. But here in the Northeast theres not alot of that. Most Republicans and Democrats are for more Rail / Transit to a certain degree. The Public has reached the point , in where they want a nicer faster alt like Rail / Transit to shuttle them around congested Freeways and cities.....
Other plans for the Northeast that would tie into this and the Other Amtrak plan
Current usage of systems > multiply that by 2-3x by 2030
Light Rail
Boston > 237,700 (green line) & 6,684 (Ashmont–Mattapan High Speed Line)
Philadelphia > 94,800
NJ Gold Coast > 60,000+
Newark > 16,000+
Buffalo > 23,200
Baltimore > 34,700
Pittsburgh > 25,200
Trenton > 9,000 (NJT Riverline)
Streetcar systems
Philadelphia > 7,000
Heavy Rail (subway , Elevated , Metrorail)
New York > 5,225,675
Washington DC > 801,400
Boston > 280,000+
Philadelphia > 270,000
Baltimore > 58,000
Commuter Rail systems
Lower Hudson Valley > 278,700
New Jersey > 350,000+
Southeastern Pennsylvania > 207,000 +
Eastern Massachusetts > 250,000
Southern Connecticut 160,000
Long Island > 347,600+
Maryland > 32,000
Future Systems or Networks
Future Planned / Proposed Light Rail lines or networks
Washington DC
Boston
Northern Jersey
Central Jersey
Southern Jersey
Baltimore
Pittsburgh
Philadelphia
Binghamton
Rochester
Syracuse
Worcester
Springfield
Hartford
Manchester
Future Planned / Proposed Streetcars systems or lines
Providence
New Haven
Philadelphia
Baltimore
Boston
Portland,ME
Stamford
Washington DC
Harrisburg
Reading,PA
Lancaster
Future Planned / Proposed Heavy Rail lines
Boston
New York City
Washington DC
Baltimore
Philly
Parts of Urban Jersey
Future Planned / Proposed Commuter Rail / Intercity Networks or Systems
More in Eastern Massachusetts
Western Massachusetts
70% of Connecticut - will have access to CR by 2030
Harrisburg Area
90% of New Jersey
More in the Lower Hudson Valley of NY
More in Providence Metro
More in Maryland
Southeastern PA
Northeastern PA
Maine
Vermont
New Hampshire
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