On Sept. 9, a hearing of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, chaired by U.S. Rep. Tom Petri, was held to review ways to shorten the long federal environmental review and permitting process for surface transportation infrastructure projects.
Testimony was provided by Carlos Braceras, executive director, Utah DOT; Lynn Peterson, secretary of Washington State DOT; Carlos Swonke, director of environmental affairs division at TxDOT; and Michael Kraman, acting chief executive officer, The Transportation Corridor Agencies.
All the witnesses stated that the approval process for surface transportation projects is far too long and convoluted and needs to be streamlined. "USHSR has long advocated for a streamlined, businesslike approval process to get rail projects built," said Joe Shelhorse, vice president, who participated in the hearing.
With the strong consensus on the need for major reform, the Committee recommended further hearings on how to simplify the environmental review and will be working on legislation to simplify the approval process. Mr. Shelhorse added, "We look forward to working with the committee to simplify and accelerate high speed rail projects across America."
The US High Speed Rail Association is putting on a conference about high speed rail in America and around the world in Los Angeles from Dec. 2-4, which will cover these issues, along with the rapid development of the high speed rail industry.
Daniel Krause is director of policy and operations for the US High Speed Rail Association.
