We've heard them all. "America is too big." "It's too expensive." "Nobody would ride it." These arguments against high-speed rail sound reasonable on the surface—but they don't hold up to scrutiny.
Click any myth below to see the facts.
"America is too big"
HSR doesn't cross continents—it connects nearby cities. The US has more city pairs in the ideal 100-400 mile range than almost any country.
See the facts → Costs & Funding"It's too expensive"
We subsidize highways and airports by hundreds of billions. HSR costs are comparable—and it pays for itself through economic growth.
See the facts → Alternatives"Just build more airports"
Short-haul flights are the least efficient. HSR frees up airport capacity for long-haul routes while serving regional trips better.
See the facts → Ridership & Demand"Nobody would ride it"
Everywhere HSR is built, it exceeds ridership projections. The Acela is Amtrak's most profitable route. Demand exists—supply doesn't.
See the facts →