USE OF EXISTING HIGHWAY RIGHT-OF-WAY FOR HIGH SPEED RAIL TRANSPORTATION

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 Sn 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 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.

• Corporate Authors:

  Texas Transportation Institute

  Texas A&M University System, 1600 E Lamar Boulevard
  Arlington, TX  United States  76011

  Texas State Department of Highways & Public Transportation

  Transportation Planning Division, P.O. Box 5051
  Austin, TX  United States  78763

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Peterson, R L
  • PETERSEN, H
  • Brackett, Q
  • Bonilla, C
• Publication Date: 1985-2

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 318 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Data collection; Feasibility analysis; High speed ground transportation; Highways; Operations; Performance; Railroad transportation; Ridership; Speed; Surveys; Travel time
• Uncontrolled Terms: Right of way
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Design; Highways; Law; Planning and Forecasting; Railroads; I10: Economics and Administration;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00393981
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-RD-85-14+418-1FFinal Rpt., Study N 2-10-84-418
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jul 31 1985 12:00AM