By Philip Newman
Three members of Congress, including U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Astoria), said the federal government must hasten the start of high-speed train service, which she said should be introduced first in the Northeast.
“High-speed rail makes the most sense here in the Northeast corridor, which has the densest population, the most congested roads and air space and the most interconnected cities in the nation,” Maloney said.
Maloney, Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), chairman of the House Transportation Committee, and Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) spoke at an all-day Conference on High-Speed Rail in Manhattan Tuesday.
“We must move as quickly as possible to build high-speed rail between New York, Boston and Washington. The time for delay is long past,” Maloney said.
High-speed rail trains have operated in much of Europe and Asia for years, greatly diminishing airline patronage between some cities, such as the route between Madrid and Barcelona.
The Amtrak super-express Acela can attain a top speed of 150 mph, but can reach that speed for only 12 miles between New York and Washington, D.C., because of the tracks and roadbed, which would have to be upgraded to accommodate high-speed service.
New York state received $354 million in federal money recently after the state of Florida rejected it.
Reach contributing writer Philip Newman by e-mail at timesledgernews@cnglocal.com or phone at 718-260-4536.
