Federal plans for high-speed rail would cost Oregonians big bucks, says one study.
This just in from the Cascade Policy Institute: President Obama’s plans for high-speed rail will cost $1,000 per taxpayer. Are there other drawbacks?
The federal government is proposing to build true high-speed rail lines, with trains going faster than 120 miles per hour, only in California and Florida. In Oregon it is merely proposing to upgrade existing freight tracks to boost top Amtrak speeds from 79 to 110 mph.
Trains with a top speed of 110 mph will have average speeds of just 55 to 75 mph. Not only will that attract few people out of their cars, but such trains actually will be less energy efficient and more polluting than driving.
Read the full blog at OregonCatalyst.com.
