For the US Conference of Mayors, EDR Group conducted a study of the local economic development impacts and opportunities associated with development of high speed rail (HSR) service to selected American cities.
This new research, by assessing city and metropolitan area effects, identified issues not covered by past studies focusing on state or multi-state travel patterns. It focused on four cities representing a range of different locations and sizes: Los Angeles, Chicago, Orlando and Albany, NY.
For each city, EDR Group surveyed local business, community and government leaders, profiled local development efforts affected by HSR, and identified initiatives to develop local ground transportation feeder networks and airport connections to integrate HSR. The study then identified ways in which local tourism patterns, connections between technology clusters and business relationships may be affected by HSR. The study concluded with discussion of supporting policy and planning steps that communities must implement to fully realize the potential economic opportunities.
View the US Conference of Mayors Web Page on High Speed Rail
View the Conference Presentation (Annual Meeting of the US Conference of Mayors)