Despite their costs, high-speed rail lines are expanding their reach across the globe -- the U.S. being the exception.
"Want to get from Paris to London in just over two hours? How about Barcelona to Madrid in two and a half?
Take the train.
As roads and airports get slower, trains are going ever faster. How fast? Think 125 mph (201.12 km/h) and up, according to the International Union of Railways. And more are on the way.
But the cost--say, $20 million a mile--makes adoption a pricey project.
Still, once they're in place, these trains exceed the speed of automobiles by two or three times. And while that can't compare with jet aircraft, the time spent traveling can be equal or less when you factor in the time going from city to city, especially when both are in the same region."
"The car-dominated United States is a clear laggard. The only operational near-high-speed train is Amtrak's Acela Express. And it is hardly high-speed. On paper, it can go 150 mph (241 km/h), but it normally averages less than 60 mph (96.5 km/h) due to track limitations. A trip from Washington to Boston takes about six-and-a-half hours. That's about the speed of the now-historical New York-to-Chicago 20th Century Limited."
FULL STORY: The World's Fastest Trains
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?
Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.
Understanding Road Diets
An explainer from Momentum highlights the advantages of reducing vehicle lanes in favor of more bike, transit, and pedestrian infrastructure.
New California Law Regulates Warehouse Pollution
A new law tightens building and emissions regulations for large distribution warehouses to mitigate air pollution and traffic in surrounding communities.
Phoenix Announces Opening Date for Light Rail Extension
The South Central extension will connect South Phoenix to downtown and other major hubs starting on June 7.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service