USHSR - bringing 21st century transportation to America!
 
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High Speed Rail Will Deliver National Security to America   
As America debates national security programs, the US High Speed Rail Association recommends high speed rail be an integral part of the discussion.

The nation's oil dependency is a central source of America's weakness and vulnerability because we import 2/3 of the oil we consume daily, the majority of which is for transportation.  Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recognized big trouble back in 2006 in the midst of multiple international conflicts saying:

"The quicker we get about the business of reducing our reliance on oil, the better we're going to be."
-Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State (May, 2006)

President Bush reiterated the same important point 2 years later saying:

"We gotta get off oil, America has got to change its habits"
-President George W. Bush, 2008
  
High speed rail significantly reduces the need for so much foreign oil, directly confronting our foreign oil dependence, and therefore delivering new levels of national security.  A new national high speed rail system will be the 21st century version of the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act of 1956.  This visionary act authorized the building of our national highway system while also addressing national security issues of the day. 

High speed rail is today's version of this - delivering national security while also providing a whole new fast and efficient form of transportation that will save Americans time, energy, and money every day.  High speed rail will make our entire country run more efficiently, enabling our businesses to be more competitive in the global marketplace.
 
 
High speed rail is the smart investment for America addressing all these issues:
  • National Security
  • International Competitiveness
  • Creating Millions of Jobs 
  • Heavy Construction Projects 
  • Fast Mobility and New Capacity
  • Economic Development
  • National Real Estate Development Catalyst
  • National Tourism Promotion
  • Energy Efficiency
  • Carbon Reduction
  • Highway and Airport Congestion Relief 
There is no better investment America can make in protecting and advancing our national interests than building a national high speed rail network.  This national project is the heart of making America prosperous once again, with smooth sailing into the 21st century!  
A new direction for America - national high speed rail network
New transportation policy for America
HIGH SPEED RAIL is the nation-building project we need for America right now.  All our industries can come together to participate in the transformation of the nation.

This national project will create millions of jobs across all sectors while stimulating every industry with a flood of new business.  In addition, HSR delivers the largest, most comprehensive solution to many of the serious problems we face as a nation including our crumbling outdated infrastructure, major congestion in every region, rising energy costs, dependence on foreign oil,
climate change, our shaky economy, declining second-tier cities, and loss of manufacturing jobs.  

High speed rail is proven successful and profitable everywhere its built, and has nearly a 50 year track record of safe, efficient operations moving billions of people.  High speed rail is currently in operation in more than 20 countries, under construction in more than 10 countries, and in development in another 14 countries.  It's time for America to be part of this winner's list!  More info 
High speed rail is a reality all over the world!
It's time to join the global high speed rail club!
CONGRESSIONAL HEARING - INNOVATIVE FINANCING
Congressional Hearing on Innovative Financing
"High speed rail has a future in the U.S." -Congressman Jeff Denham
Congressman Denham interview
"We need passenger rail in this country."
-Congressman Bill Shuster
Congressman Nadler interview
 TRANSBAY HSR STATION RECORD LAND DEALS - TOD
Transbay property sales setting records!
High speed rail is quickly proving itself to be enormously profitable, even before its built!

The massive $4 billion Transbay Transit Center is on schedule to open by 2017, and once completed will connect eight counties through 11 transit systems, including a terminus for the future high speed rail line to Los Angeles.  Record property sales are propelling the project forward.

The project, years in the making, hit a few major milestones this year. In March, the Transbay Joint Powers Authority closed a record deal: the $192 million sale to developers Hines and Boston Properties of the site where the team will build the Transbay Tower, a 61-story office building with 1.6 million square feet of space.

"The station is increasing the property value of the whole area," said Maria Ayerdi-Kaplan, director of the project. "This area is now the hottest real estate in the Bay Area because of the transit center."  Mike Grisso, project manager for the agency said "We have 3,000 residential units that are going up.  We can't put them out all at once. We have to phase them in every few months given how many new housing units the market can absorb in a year."  More info  |  Transbay Transit Center  |  T O D   
 USHSR MEMBER CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
Balfour Beatty building Denver P3 commuter rail project

USHSR member Balfour Beatty is proud to announce great progress on the multi-billion dollar Eagle P3 commuter rail project in Denver.  

 

Balfour Beatty Rail, Inc., an industry-leading rail infrastructure contractor, is a member of the Denver Transit Partners (DTP) team constructing the historic project.  The team will design, build, operate, maintain and finance the Eagle P3 Project for the Denver Regional Transportation District. It's the first public-private partnership for a US rail system.


Balfour Beatty plc, the parent company of Balfour Beatty Rail, is a global engineering, construction, services and investment organization headquartered in London.

      

The Eagle P3 Project, which began in 2010, is part of RTD's FasTracks Plan, a 12-year multi-billion dollar transit expansion. It entails the construction and operation of commuter and light rail services in the eight-county Denver area. Balfour Beatty Rail's roles on the project include a 50 percent share of the engineering, procurement and construction contract as well as a 33 percent share in the operations and maintenance contract.

Included in the project are several commuter rail lines, one of them nearly 24 miles long, 50 new electric-powered cars and a new maintenance facility.  

In 2013, the team completed 22 of 37 major bridge structures. Workers are currently building a 4,400-foot flyover on Interstate 70 south and east of the Airport Boulevard interchange in Aurora, CO. The longest bridge on the project, it spans nearly a mile.
More info  |  Balfour Beatty   

 ONE MILLION MILES!  NY CITY BIKESHARE SOARS
ONE MILLION MILES IN 4 WEEKS!!
The New York Citi Bike Share announced riders of the new system have pedaled more than 1 million miles in less than four weeks since the program began!


Citi Bike has over 45,000 annual members and over 55,000 casual members who have used 24-Hour or 7-Day passes to try out Citi Bike. Of the more than 385,000 Citi Bike rides taken since the May 27 system launch, more than 161,000 rides occurred in just 7 days. A new one-day ridership record was set with more than 30,000 rides in a single day.  


NYC DOT Commission Janette Sadik-Khan said, "Seeing this surge in riding throughout a work week is a sign that Citi Bike is as solidly in the transportation mix for daily commuters as it is for recreational riders."


And as one Citi Bike rider put it last week "Even when I'm going to a meeting, if I hop on Citi Bike, all of a sudden it feels like I'm just out for a bike ride for a few minutes and everything feels more fun."  More info  |  Real Estate Benefits  |  Citi Bike  |  Last Mile 

 CALIFORNIA HIGH SPEED RAIL EVENT - LOS ANGELES
California HSR Event in Los Angeles
CA HSR EVENT & AWARDS CEREMONY

Join Californians For High Speed Rail, Move LA, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, and Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority for an Award Ceremony and Panel Discussion about the future of high-speed rail in Southern California, July 29th, Los Angeles.  More info 
High speed rail = high tech jobs + big construction + real estate development + manufacturing + tourism + speedy efficient transportation for all
 AMERICANS WANT CHANGE... THEY ARE NOT HAPPY!
Rethinking Transportation Policy... the people are NOT happy
As we move into the 21st century, it's becoming quite clear we need major changes to the nation's transportation systems, and how they're funded.  Our current modes are struggling with crumbling infrastructure, skyrocketing fuel costs, overloaded systems, dwindling revenues, and tight budgets... and very unhappy people.  Time for change
New direction for transportation in America
High speed rail delivers happiness!
"High speed rail is coming to America!" 
-Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood 
JOIN USHSR TODAY!
 In Case You Missed It...
 FUTURE OF AMERICAN LEADERSHIP - RAY LAHOOD
Secretary Ray LaHood
SECRETARY LAHOOD CALLS ON LEADERS 

Outgoing Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood has proven to be a great bipartisan leader with vision and persistence.  "We commend Secretary LaHood for his leadership on high speed rail and taking the nation in this exciting new direction," said Andy Kunz, USHSR President.  "He will long be remembered as the national champion of high speed rail!"  

As the Secretary moves on to the next chapter of his life, he shares some thoughts on American leadership at this critical time in our history:

"Over the course of my career - 17 years as a Capitol Hill aide, 14 years as a congressman, 4 1/2 years as the U.S. Secretary of Transportation - I've seen my mentors, my colleagues and even my rivals come together and solve big problems. Time and time again, the quality they've all shared is leadership. The funny thing about leadership is that while it's hard to define, it's very easy to identify. People know a leader when they see one.  

H
ere are a few key qualities I've observed in strong leaders:

  

Leaders listen. These days, it may seem as though our politicians are more interested in being the loudest person in the room than hearing the other side.

Leaders judge honestly. In politics we are required to make judgments on what people say or do, but we can do that without passing judgment on their character or motivation.
 
Leaders are prudent. They are practical and use common sense. Prudence is a quiet quality and demands long periods of considered judgment rather than catchy speeches 
 
Leaders conduct themselves with civility. - in victory or defeat. They create an atmosphere in which problems can be solved.

Leaders take responsibility for how they conduct themselves and for the decisions they make. People want leaders who answer for their actions.

Successful public service in a democracy does not mean the destruction of one's enemies.  If, in the midst of secession and strife, President Abraham Lincoln could say to his countrymen, "We are not enemies, but friends," then surely we can do the same today.  

 

Solving the difficult problems that face our nation has always been hard. It was hard for Lincoln to keep the union together during the Civil War. It was hard for Congress to pass a civil rights bill that ensured equal rights for all Americans. And it was hard for us to balance the budget in the 1990s. But we did it. And we did it together. We certainly can do it again.

  

The qualities I've laid out may seem less valued in today's Washington, but that is precisely why they are most important. The next generation is counting on us to do more. Let's start by being better leaders, being bipartisan and being willing to compromise." -Secretary Ray LaHood, July 2013.  More info 

 
 DAN RATHER ON HIGH SPEED RAIL
Dan Rather on High Speed Rail
 NEW REPORT - CHANGING TRANSPORT PREFERENCES
A new direction in transportation
The Driving Boom-a six decade-long period of steady increases in per-capita driving in the U.S.-is over.

 

Americans drive fewer total miles today than we did eight years ago. The unique combina�tion of conditions that fueled the Driving Boom-from cheap gas prices to the rapid expansion of the workforce during the Baby Boom generation-no longer exists. Meanwhile, a new generation-the Mil�lennials-is demanding a new American Dream less dependent on driving.


Transportation policy in the United States, however, remains stuck in the past. Official forecasts of future vehicle travel continue to assume steady increases in driving, despite the experience of the past decade. Those forecasts are used to justify spending vast sums on new and expanded highways, even as existing roads and bridges are neglected.  

 

Elements of a more balanced transportation system-from transit systems to bike lanes-lack crucial investment as powerful interests battle to maintain their piece of a shrinking trans�portation funding pie. The time has come for America to hit the "reset" button on transportation policy.  More info   

 COMEDY CENTRAL DOES NEW YORK CITI BIKE SHARE
Comedy Central Does NY Bike Share
"Dollars spent that get Americans out of cars will ease traffic, save money, reduce pollution, slow global warming, and make us less vulnerable to volatile oil oligarchs." -Bloomberg
FRA: 150 RAIL PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD
The US Rail Revolution is Underway!
The Federal Railroad Administration, along with its 33 state partners and the District of Columbia, is laying the foundation for a 21st century passenger rail network.  With $10.1 billion in federal funding available through the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program, they are moving forward with 150 planning and construction projects.

To date, 50 construction projects in 19 states and the District of Columbia worth more than $3.2 billion are either complete, under construction, or set to begin construction within 6 months.

 

The new state-of-the-art high speed rail system in California is part of this - set to begin construction this summer on the first phase in the Central Valley after years of planning, design, and engineering.  Following phases will complete the direct connection between Los Angeles and San Francisco, expected to become one of the busiest high speed rail lines in America, and the world.  More information

High Speed Rail is Coming to California
JOIN USHSR TODAY!
 
USHSR membership puts you at the forefront of a new revolution in 21st century, sustainable transportation in America. Be out in front of the trends and play a leading role in America's next industrial revolution, and real estate boom!  Join today
Check out the photos from the conference!
Click to watch Summit wrap-up video

"There's no reason why Europe or China should have the fastest trains!"
-President Obama    
View conference videos!
"Thanks to hard work by the folks here at DOT and by our partners--like those in the
US High Speed Rail Association--the future of passenger rail in America has never been brighter." -Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood
21st Century Transportation for America!

Our mission is to build widespread public, business, and political support for a major investment in a national high speed rail network.

US High Speed Rail Association