Can High Speed Rail Really Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions?
In a report released today, CNT and the Center for Clean Air Policy show the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions likely to result if current plans for high speed rail development in the federally designated high speed rail corridors come to fruition. On a corridor by corridor basis, the authors calculated the net carbon dioxide CO2 emissions savings from passengers switching to high speed rail from other modes, based on corridor-specific passenger projections and diversion rates and typical emissions rates for each mode of travel.
The authors estimated a total emissions savings of 6 billion pounds of CO2 per year nationally, largely from cancelled automobile and airplane trips. Between corridors, however, total emissions savings and the source of those savings varied greatly by corridor. In some regions, such as the Midwest, the authors estimated that total emissions savings was likely to be modest, while in California it was likely to be significant.
Read the full report, High Speed Rail and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the U.S.
