High Speed Rail as a Climate Strategy

Many commercial passenger flights in the United States consists of relatively short flights between 100 and 500 miles, distances that could easily be covered by the more environmentally friendly alternative of high-speed train service.

In 2006, CNT partnered with the Center for Clean Air Policy to release a study of the feasibility of high-speed rail service between major urban transit corridors in the United States, concluding that a full network of high-speed trains could save as much as 6 billion pounds of Carbon Dioxide per year. The result was a corridor-by-corridor estimate of the potential annual greenhouse gas benefits-from emissions reductions-of high speed rail systems in the U.S. based on current plans for high speed rail development in the federally designated high speed rail corridors.

Download “High Speed Rail and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the U.S.” here.

The report was funded by The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Atmospheric through a cooperative agreement.

Support CNT




Publications

Summary Report: Chicago’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions: An Inventory, Forecast and Mitigation Analysis for Chicago and the Metropolitan Region.

By CNT. September 18, 2008. (.pdf, 749.4kb)

Climate Factsheet

October 1, 2006. (.pdf, 419.4kb)

High Speed Rail and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the U.S.

By CNT, Center for Clean Air Policy. January 1, 2006. (.pdf, 899.3kb)

More Climate publications...

News

January 24th, 2008 U.S. State of Climate Delivered to White House

CNT contributed to the Presidential Climate Action Plan that contains more than 300 proposals for new federal policies and programs to address climate change.

December 4th, 2007 How Should the Next President of the United States Address Climate Change?

The Presidential Climate Action Plan is aimed to help the next President take bold action on global warming within the first 100 days.

October 23rd, 2007 The Chicago Region Needs Senate Bill 572

The November 4th deadline for when 39 bus routes will be completely eliminated while fares climb to $3 is a mere 2 weeks away.

CNT Update Mailing List:

 
Climate

Projects

Presidential Climate Action Plan

Developed by a broad group of leaders from around the nation, the PCAP is a comprehensive and detailed plan to help the next President of the United States take bold action on global warming within the first 100 days of the new administration.

Chicago Climate Report

CNT was the lead researcher for the climate change mitigation elements of Chicago’s Climate Action Plan, advising the city by developing an emissions inventory and forecast for Chicago and the metro region, as well as researching, modeling and evaluating 33 different mitigation strategies.

Clinton Foundation Partnership

In conjunction with the William J. Clinton Foundation, CNT has designed an online tool for measuring greenhouse gas emissions in the world’s 40 largest cities, thus providing critical data for use of urban resources.

High Speed Rail as a Climate Strategy

CNT, with the Center for Clean Air Policy, has documented the potential of high speed rail networks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as an alternative to short-haul airplane trips.

Tools

Airhead

Learn how much air pollution you create, and see how you compare to other people.

TravelMatters

Learn more about how travel habits and transportation choices affect global climate change, with interactive emissions calculators, on-line emissions maps, and a wealth of educational content.

I-GO Car Sharing

I-GO exists to provide economical and environmentally sound transportation choices, aiming to reduce car ownership rates, lower family transportation costs, reduce urban congestion and improve air quality in all neighborhoods.

Wet Cleaning