The American High Speed Rail Alliance is dedicated to creating and sustaining a clean, energy efficient, advanced national high speed rail system for the United States. As a national non-profit membership organization, the Alliance advocates for a robust national high speed rail network financed through a broad range of grants, loans, public/private partnerships and other innovative investment strategies.

To achieve this goal, the Alliance supports the following policy agenda:

One
A national rail plan that identifies the ways and means to build in America the world’s premier high speed and regional passenger rail network by building new high speed rail corridors that will fundamentally expand and improve passenger transportation in the geographic regions they serve while upgrading existing intercity passenger rail services and laying the groundwork for future high speed passenger rail services through small projects and planning efforts.

Two
Authorization of at least $50 billion for high speed and improved intercity passenger rail service in the next surface transportation authorization bill. The American High Speed Rail Alliance advocates for House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar’s proposal to authorize $50 billion for high speed rail in his draft bill, the Surface Transportation Authorization Act (STAA).

Along with Chairman Oberstar, the Alliance supports this funding coming from outside the current gas tax revenues collected by the Highway Trust Fund.The Alliance also supports authorizing the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), acting in part through a proposed National Infrastructure Bank, to provide grants, loans, loan guarantees, lines of credit, private-activity bonds, tax-credit bonds and other funding and financing tools to allow investment in the design, planning and construction of these high speed rail corridors.

Three
A $4 billion annual appropriation for high speed rail and improved intercity passenger rail service and $2.6 billion for Amtrak. The Alliance advocates for annual appropriation funding for high speed of $4 billion per year, consistent with the intent of the US House of Representatives in FY2010. The Alliance believes this level of aggressive investment will be crucial to maintaining the existing momentum for the development of high speed rail in America.

Four
Sustainable funding sources adequate to build and operate the world’s premier high speed and regional passenger rail network. The Alliance supports ensuring eligibility for high speed rail projects in the various financing programs offered by the USDOT such as the Rail Line Relocation program, the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing program and the Build America Bonds program.

The Alliance is also working to develop a dedicated funding source for HSR to allow effective long-term planning and develop a predictable and sustainable market for HSR services.

Five
Workforce development initiatives that identify, train and support American workers to design, build operate and maintain America’s high speed and regional passenger rail network.

Six
National procurement and safety standards that assure the interoperability and safe operation of the world’s premier high speed and regional passenger rail network.

Seven
Support the USDOT in its efforts to develop clear and effective metrics that ensure comprehensive and transparent evaluation of all elements of proposals that seek to use government resources to design, build, operate and maintain high speed and regional passenger rail service.

Eight
Full funding of a comprehensive national transportation research program that includes metrics to measure the proposed and actual performance of America’s passenger rail industry.

Nine
Energy and environmental laws and regulations that promote the development and use of clean and renewable energy and other initiatives that reduce America’s dependence on fossil fuel and reduce green house gas emissions.

Ten
Support efforts of the Secretary of Transportation, the Federal Railroad Administration and the President to coordinate national priorities, especially in the areas of national security, economic renewal and redevelopment, and energy independence with the planning, construction, operation and maintenance of a national high speed passenger rail network.