Interstate High Speed Rail Alternatives

Interstate High Speed Rail Alternatives exist. But they fall well short of lowering highway congestion, smog, greenhouse gases, and delivering other benefits obtained from Interstate High-Speed Rail, Regional Rail, Metro Rail & Bus Rapid Transit.

To divert millions of Americans using Airplanes for regional travel over to High-Speed Rail (HSR) and Amtrak Regional Rail, and using Automobiles for commutes over to Commuter Rail, Metro Rail & Bus Rapid Transit, America must generate and efficiently transmit more electricity.

If you’d like to know more about the symbiotic relationship between HSR, Regional Rail, Commuter Rail, Metro Rail, Bus Rapid Transit, and the Electric Energy sector, visit Interstate High-Speed Rail Energy Sources.

More Efficient, Longer Distance Aviation Good But …

Most oil used by airlines is consumed by the worst polluting and least fuel-efficient segment of the Transportation sector — regional flights that travel under 600 miles overland. But according to the Regional Airline Association, regional airlines in the U.S. account for 41% of commercial flights. The association also claims that regional flights declined from a peak of 5.14 million in 2007 to 3.86 million in 2018 due to pilot shortages, high operational costs, and small inefficient 50-seat jets.

Most regional flights go from midsize airports to Hub Airports where crews string together flights ranging from 150 to 3000 miles per shift. 150-600 mile regional flights generate the 2nd most Greenhouse Gases (GHG) and Smog Per Mile from Transportation, just behind Freight Trucks. They only achieve 5-25 minutes at fuel-efficient cruising altitude.

In 2001, fuel costs were 10% of airline operating costs. Today, jet fuel is the largest operating cost of airlines, followed by labor costs. Airlines typically burn 15-20% of fuel at take-off and landing. When jets are parked on the ground, they are not generating costs not revenue.

If an airline of midsize jets only strung together 150-600 mile flights, it would burn more fuel, spend more labor cost per mile, and probably lose money. Aware of that math, airlines are cutting short flights and increasing ticket prices of remaining short flights to offset higher fuel & labor costs per mile. Since airlines make more profit the longer jets are airborne, 600+ mile flights better fit their business models.

New Boeing and Airbus midsize and large jets are 22-23% more fuel-efficient for lower GHG and smog emissions per mile. To reduce nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide emissions aircraft manufacturers and airlines are making large R&D investments to make Sustainable Aviation Fuel the dominant form of jet fuel by 2030 or so.

Airlines look forward to the completion of the NextGen Air Traffic Control by 2025 expected to shorten flight times with quicker takeoffs and landings. For example, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) projects that NYC-LA flight time will be reduced by 30 minutes, thereby cutting GHG & Smog emissions each flight. 7 of the 10 busiest flights in America are slated to receive 7-30 minute flight time reductions.

In 2019, American air travel was growing 5% per year. In 2024, the economy has rebounded from the pandemic shutdown. Air travel and population growth have resumed. More travelers are driving to airports increasing highway congestion in our large metro areas. GHG and smog emissions are increasing again.

Electric Vehicles Will Cut Air Pollutants, Not Highway Congestion

To reduce GHG & Smog emissions and drive Risky Oil consumption in the U.S. Transportation sector below 10% by 2050, we have to ramp up Electric Vehicle (EV) sales. In 2021, U.S. automakers advanced towards that goal by committing to 40-50% EV sales in 2030. California will stop selling oil-powered cars and small trucks by 2035. With volume ramp-up, EVs from more manufacturers are becoming more affordable.

At present, EVs have a 260-405-mile fully-charged range, depending on the model. Mileage-per-charge reduces when you crank up the air conditioner or gun the accelerator.

Tesla introduced thousands of Supercharger Stations across America that give a 175-mile range boost in 15 minutes. Engineering advancements by 2025-26 should make new EVs capable of a 400-mile range. Batteries will recharge faster too. By 2035, more conversions to EVs should lower roadway smog and GHG emissions.

The popularity of EVs also brings some bad news. First, EVs greatly increase battery demand and the need to mine minerals to make batteries. Substantially increased mining activity emits more GHG into the atmosphere. If America is not careful, we could also become reliant on battery materials from China or another conflict country.

Second, EVs will not solve highway congestion. Estimates indicated that 76% of pre-pandemic commuters were solo drivers. National Vehicle Miles Traveled also increased after 2015 end of the Great Recession enabling more people to get jobs and buy cars.

About 60 million Americans will be added to our population between 2020 and 2050. More of them will buy cars & small trucks. As solo driving increases and more freight trucks use highways for online shopping distribution, highway traffic congestion increases.

One of the biggest hoaxes foisted on commuters is that more highway lanes reduce traffic congestion. Believing that hoax, too many people fall for the false promise of “Highway Widening for Congestion Relief.” If we continue adding highway lanes under that false choice, 12-26 lane highways will create more frequent traffic jams.

I-80 Freeway, Interstate High Speed Rail

Excessive highway widening does NOT solve traffic congestion. Queuing mathematics proves that average speed decreases because more autos traveling at different speeds and changing lanes increases erratic driver behavior that reduces average highway speed.

Queuing math applied to non-stop highway lanes indicates that the most efficient, highways have only 2 lanes per side. Though lane efficiency drops a bit with 3 standard lanes-per-side highway, it adds significant capacity to justify. A 4th standard lane-per-side highway only carries about 65% more capacity than a 2-lane-per-side Interstate Highway. We can boost that capacity a little by making the 4th lane HOV.

Lane efficiency, however, quickly goes downhill with more lanes per side. Equally bad, added lanes induce more automotive traffic. The remaining oil-powered cars, small trucks, and freight trucks will slog through highway congestion, prolonging high GHG and smog emissions.

A wise traffic engineer summarized the conundrum perfectly. Widening highways to solve traffic congestion is like loosening your belt to treat obesity.

Intercity Buses Increase Mobility Options, With Limitations

Intercity Buses do not have the speed, capacity, frequency, and zero emissions of HSR & Regional Rail. They also get stuck in highway congestion which reduces schedule reliability. There are many proof points in Europe, however, to demonstrate how they coexist with HSR & Regional Rail for 25-200 mile travel.

Europe’s HSR & Regional Rail dominate many corridors with time-saving travel and affordable fares. So Intercity Bus Operators similar to Greyhound, Flixbus, and MegaBus have adapted. Meeting outside train stations with vehicles that have AC, WiFi, and restrooms, Europe’s Intercity Buses offer rock-bottom fares in many corridors. A healthy slice of the travel market appreciates that.

Similar to LuxBus in America, some Intercity Bus Operators have gone upscale with very comfortable seats and cushy suspensions. Those are best for luxury group charters to museums, performing art centers, heritage sites, and national parks.

Intercity Buses and many Freight Trucks in America are switching to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to modestly lower Smog & GHG emissions. But in Europe, Intercity Buses and Freight Trucks are switching to Biofuels to significantly cut Smog & GHG emissions — 55% by 2030.

By 2040, the European Union anticipates zero-emission Hydrogen Fuel Cells being ready for prime time. By regulation, they plan on making hydrogen-powered buses and freight trucks commonplace in Europe by 2050.

Part 5 focuses on electric Rapid Transit to mitigate urban highway congestion and cut Smog & GHG emissions.

Part 5: Interstate High Speed Rail & Rapid Transit

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