Would New Service Impact Airline Traffic?
This next item isn't an aviation story, per se... but it could
pose significant ramifications for the nation's airline industry,
and even to a much lesser-extent general aviation.
On Thursday, President Barack Obama, along with Vice President
Joe Biden and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, announced a new
US push to create high-speed rail lines from city to city, reducing
dependence on cars and planes and spurring economic
development.
Obama released a "strategic plan" -- available at the FMI link
below -- identifying $8 billion provided in the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act and $1 billion a year for five years requested
in the federal budget as a down payment to jump-start "a potential
world-class passenger rail system." It also sets the direction of
transportation policy for the future.
By late summer, the Federal Railroad Administration will begin
awarding the first round of grants. Additional funding for
long-term planning and development is expected from legislation
authorizing federal surface transportation programs.
Of course, this isn't the first time a national rail system has
been touted -- Amtrak, anyone? (No?) -- but it does mark a
significantly ramped-up effort by the federal government to
essentially force such a system into existence. That should cause
concern for the nation's airlines... especially carriers serving
high-traffic routes like transcontinental service (California/New
York, for one) and, in particular, shuttle service along the
Northeastern corridor.
The report issued Thursday "formalizes" 10 potential high-speed
rail corridors as potential recipients of federal funding. Those
lines are: California, Pacific Northwest, South Central, Gulf
Coast, Chicago Hub Network, Florida, Southeast, Keystone, Empire
and Northern New England. "Also, opportunities exist for the Northeast Corridor from Washington to
Boston to compete for funds to improve the
nation’s only existing high-speed rail service," the report
adds.
"My high-speed rail proposal will lead to innovations that
change the way we travel in America," President Obama said. "We
must start developing clean, energy-efficient transportation that
will define our regions for centuries to come. A major new
high-speed rail line will generate many thousands of construction
jobs over several years, as well as permanent jobs for rail
employees and increased economic activity in the destinations these
trains serve.
"High-speed rail is long-overdue, and this plan lets American
travelers know that they are not doomed to a future of long lines
at the airports or jammed cars on the highways," he added.