Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, and former White House Infrastructure Coordinator Mitch Landrieu were among the prominent figures advocating for high-speed rail at the U.S. High-Speed Rail annual conference in Washington, D.C., on May 14-15.
Over 200 industry, labor, political, and academic leaders gathered to discuss strategies and policies for establishing a nationwide bullet train network in the United States.
The conference highlighted America’s transition into a new era of progress in high-speed rail, driven by unprecedented investments from the Biden Administration, groundbreaking projects like Brightline West’s Las Vegas to Southern California bullet train, significant labor agreements, and federal designation of seven high-speed rail corridors nationwide.
Discussions at the conference centered on plans to elevate high-speed rail as a major transportation mode in the U.S.
Panelists explored strategies to launch new high-speed rail initiatives across major regions, expedite construction timelines, and ensure that ongoing projects effectively demonstrate the broad benefits of high-speed rail.
Key remarks from conference speakers included:
- Nancy Pelosi highlighted high-speed rail’s potential to address housing challenges, create jobs, and promote environmental sustainability.
- Pete Buttigieg emphasized the transformative impact of high-speed rail on future generations.
- Senator Alex Padilla underscored the importance of high-speed rail as part of a broader national network.
- Mitch Landrieu emphasized the significance of investing in the American people and infrastructure.
- Former Governor Jerry Brown emphasized the bipartisan effort behind California’s high-speed rail project.
- Ray LaHood stressed the role of national leadership in driving high-speed rail development.
- Brightline CEO Mike Reininger highlighted the industry’s growth potential and the importance of ongoing projects.
- Amtrak HSR SVP Andy Byford discussed Amtrak’s strategic role in the national high-speed rail strategy.
- U.S. High Speed Rail CEO Andy Kunz outlined the challenges and opportunities for American high-speed rail development.
The conference also featured insights from other notable speakers, including Rod Diridon, U.S. Representatives Jim Costa, Seth Moulton, Suzan DelBene, and Rick Larsen, as well as industry experts from the Federal Railroad Administration, Washington State Transportation Department, and international organizations.
SOURCE : US High Speed Rail Association, via PRNewswire
For more conference information, go to https://hsr2024.com/. Zoom recordings of conference sessions can be accessed via these links: Attend by Zoom
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