This is an awesome list of reasons to support high-speed rail (HSR).

Comments:
1. It's encouraging in this age of throw-away everything to note that HSR in
many instances will use existing rail rights-of-way and railbeds, many of
which date back to the great age of railroad building in this country, the
middle to late 19th century. Thus, unlike highway and airport construction,
HSR will in most cases not require the destruction of more land.

2. Not mentioned is the fact that in the near future we can expect electric
HSR powered by hydrogen fuel cells; the hydrogen being produced from
renewable energy sources.

Tom Mathews,
Transportation Issue Chair,
Sierra Club, Iowa Chapter

Subj:    Reasons to support high speed rail
Date:   03-02-07 10:00:32 EST
From:   [log in to unmask] (Kenyon Karl)
Sender: [log in to unmask] (Sierra Club Forum on
Transportation Issues)
Reply-to:   [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]

I have re-worked the following list of 'reasons' and posted them to the
Home Page of the Production Web Site. A 'disclaimer' allows our membership
some freedom to suggest necessary changes to these 'reasons'  while still
effectively serving our ordinary SC members and other site visitors.

Kenyon F. Karl
[log in to unmask]
Webmaster - Sierra Club - NERCC - High Speed Rail Task Force
http://www.sierraclub.org/rcc/northeast/transit/hsr/index.htm



> [Excerpt of Original Message]
> From: Kenyon Karl <[log in to unmask]>
> To: Phil Shyu <[log in to unmask]>; Blossom Hoag
<[log in to unmask]>
> Cc: Nancy Reed/MA <[log in to unmask]>; <[log in to unmask]>;
Kenyon Karl <[log in to unmask]>; <[log in to unmask]>; David
Baar <[log in to unmask]>; Paula Boutis <[log in to unmask]>; Rhea Jezer
<[log in to unmask]>; Helen Lofgren <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: 1/30/03 1:13:31 AM
> Subject: Re: high speed rail task force
>
> Blossom Hoag completely failed to mention the uniquely 'Sierra Club'
reasons to support High Speed Rail:
> * HSR requires one-sixth of the energy per seat-mile of equivalent
airline travel
> * HSR requires one-third of the energy per seat mile of equivalent
automobile travel
> * The sheer energy efficiency of HSR suggests that it is far more
'earth-friendly' in numerous other important respects
> * HSR usually maintains (or restores) the use of strategically placed
railroad beds that are often 150 years old
> * For historic reasons, railroad beds usually utilize the most
energy-efficient routes available
> * HSR usually shares downtown terminals with Commuter Rail thus extending
its earth-friendly 'reach' into numerous suburban areas.
> * HSR is often equally well-connected with urban transit systems to
likewise extend its earth-friendly 'reach'
> * HSR helps to support the redevelopment of pedestrian and transit
friendly downtown business districts
> * Electric HSR uses electric power from the national grid and can thus
use a variety of domestic 'renewable' energy sources
> * Electric HSR utilizes whatever efficiency and pollution control
technologies are available to very large power plants
> * Electric HSR can regenerate usable electric power during deceleration
and on long descending grades
>

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