Use of Existing Highway Right-of-Way for High Speed Rail Transportation

Details

• Creators:
  Peterson, Richard L. ; Petersen, Harry C. ; Brackett, Robert Q. ; Bonilla, Carlos
• Corporate Creators:
  Texas Transportation Institute. Texas A&M University
• Corporate Contributors:
  Texas State Department of Highways and Public Transportation ; United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  AMTRAK Car Pooling (Railroads) High Speed Rail Intercity Transportation Intermodal Facilities Mode Change Facilities Park-and-Pool Park And Ride Passenger Trains Public Transit Railroads Right Of Way (Traffic) Traffic By Mode Transportation Planning

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• Publication/ Report Number:
  FHWA/RD-85/14+418-lF
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Texas ; United States
• Edition:
  Final Report: September 1983 - February 1985
• Corporate Publisher:
  Texas Transportation Institute. Texas A&M University
• Abstract:
  This study investigates the feasibility of using Interstate freeway rights-of-way for High-Speed Rail (HRS) passenger service in the State of Texas. The Texas Triangle project is a proposed HSR system connecting the urbanized areas of San Antonio, Fort Worth/Dallas and Houston; a total distance of some 750 miles. The primary data bases used in the study consisted of: 1) a survey of U. S. and foreign HSR systems and proposals; 2) an inventory of the Interstate freeway characteristics serving the Texas Triangle; and, 3) performance and operating characteristics of a range of HSR technologies. Given the freeway geometrics and the operating capabilities of the different HSR systems, the various technologies were superimposed upon the highway rights of- way to determine travel speeds and times achievable by the trains. Results of the study indicate that, in general it is physically possible to construct and operate HSR service within the existing Interstate right-of-way. Travel I times between the downtown areas of the involved urban areas for certain HSR technologies are less than for airline travel. To determine the financial feasibility of HSR in the Texas Triangle, ridership estimates would need to be determined. Ridership projections, however; were not included as part of this feasibility study.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  2-10-84-418
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:bd245b1fb3a8281b0901871c3bd815719b9f031d5935870136d1b5e598742f0c9f51752001be41d122dafc979e163b7c4c5f2feb5d1b286cc734268adb2e1598
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/84960/dot_84960_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 8.96 MB ]