GLASS HALF-FULL, OR HALF-EMPTY?

摘要

In March 2010, the Amtrak Board of Directors authorized the creation of a Department of High Speed Rail reporting to the CEO. Its charge was to advance a vision of next-generation high-speed rail (HSR) for the Amtrak Boston-to-Washington corridor and also advance other high-priority corridors such as Orlando-to-Tampa. It felt that we were finally on the cusp of a new era or renaissance in passenger rail. It seemed that the stars had finally aligned with a uniform national government in place and critically important authorizing and funding legislation in place to facilitate a meaningful national program. In fact, the Federal Railroad Administration was busy preparing a national rail plan to identify corridors and routes for implementation.