Michael Melaniphy

High-speed rail provides the answer to many of the challenges we face today in America. It creates jobs, expands mobility, reduces congestion and decreases our dependence on foreign oil. Today, traffic congestion costs $140 billion in lost time and productivity. On the other hand, every $1 we invest in high-speed rail creates $4 in economic benefits, in addition to providing transportation relief to a tight area. The funding bill signed by Gov. Brown today is expected to create 600,000 full-time construction jobs over the course of building the project and 450,000 permanent new jobs from economic growth over the next 25 years.

By creating a high-speed rail option, we will keep billions of dollars in the US economy through decreased oil consumption and provide an energy efficient solution for generations to come. Implementation of high-speed rail will make the entire transportation system – air, road and rail – work better as an interconnected system. This program will connect major cities that currently do not have significant air service. It will conne

There is no better time than now to recommit ourselves to the goal of developing a modern, 21st century high-speed rail system. The prompt asks if it makes sense for the country to “take a break” on high-speed rail projects. Can you imagine where we would be today if President Eisenhower had waited for a ‘better time’ to begin building the nation’s interstate highway system?

The Administration’s high-speed rail initiative is a forward-looking undertaking that recognizes that building this system will take decades. In that time-frame the American population is expected to grow by at least 100 million, roadway congestion will increase, fossil fuels will become scarcer, and environmental concerns will require the use of greener, more energy efficient modes of transportation. High-speed rail fits that bill.

An important point for policymakers to understand is that this is not an either/or debate, despite the naysayers’ attempts to position it this way. This is a debate about developing a modern transportation network –

If Congress fails to act, there will be a financial bias in the federal tax code against public transit use. We are seeking to maintain parity with the parking benefit to ensure that there isn’t a disincentive to take public transportation. Inaction by Congress will result in the parking benefit ($240 per month) increasing to almost twice the public transit benefit ($125 per month).

In fact, a 2005 Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) study found transit ridership increases between 10 percent to more than 40 percent at participating worksites.

Another important point is that people who have the longest commutes will be the most adversely affected. This benefit helps keep those who would otherwise drive long distances off the road. Not only does the benefit improve the quality of life for these working citizens, but by encouraging greater use of public transportation and other shared commuter services, it supports important congestion reduction strategies.

Access to quality public transportation, vanpool and commuter services also keeps