Five projects are moving the United States forward on so-called “higher-speed” rail.

While the United States lags considerably behind other developed and developing countries on the construction of high-speed rail, several recent projects, in Florida and between Illinois and Missouri, have made progress on “higher-speed” rail—trains that goes fast, just not quite fast enough to fit the industry’s definition of high-speed rail. (For the record, the Congressional Research Service defines “Higher Speed Rail” as rail services with speeds up to 150 mph.)
A paywalled article by Luz Lazo for the Washington Post updates the progress on five projects underway around the United States to bring new speeds and new routes to the United States’ intercity rail offerings.
The five projects included in the article, with notable facts, funding details, remaining challenges, and timelines provided for each of the projects:
- Amtrak’s Acela high(er)-speed trains will reach 160 mph at various points between Boston and Washington, D.C.
- Brightline West is an electrified rail line that would reach speeds of 186 mph between Rancho Cucamonga, in California, and Las Vegas, in Nevada. Brightline West gained a key federal approval in July 2023.
- California High-Speed Rail is under construction and attracting constant controversy. When and if the project is completed, electrified trains would reach planned speeds of 220 mph between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Later extensions would reach to Sacramento and San Diego.
- Texas High-Speed Rail is battling legal controversy over eminent domain, rising costs, and political opposition, but recently gained new momentum with the possibility of a public-private partnership between Amtrak and Texas Central. The rail line is planned for 200 mph speeds between Dallas and Houston.
- Cascadia High-Speed Rail is actually an international proposition—potentially linking cities in the Pacific Northwest beyond the U.S. Canadian border in Vancouver, British Columbia. According to Luz, project planners aim for Cascadia High-Speed Rail trains to reach 250 mph.
FULL STORY: The 5 higher-speed rail projects taking shape in the U.S.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

Detroit Says Problems With Property Tax Assessments are Fixed. Advocates Disagree.
With higher-valued properties under assessed and lower-valued properties over assessed, advocates say there's still a problem with Detroit's property tax system.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower
A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”
The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont