In this article, the author defends his point of view that the United States can do better in developing the potential of a nationwide intercity passenger rail network. He points out that, with the air travel crisis after the attacks of September 11, the general public would welcome a coordinated effort to improve surface transit alternatives. The discussion covers intramodal connections as an important attribute of a successful intercity rail network, multimodal interfaces to extend the reach of intercity rail, the need for cooperation between local transit agencies and intercity rail planners, and the importance of urban rail transit links to intercity rail in order to extend the air-rail interface. The author proposes that the Congress must determine what kind of nationwide passenger rail service is in the public interest, calculate the amount of money needed to provide the service, and then appropriate the resources.
Abstract