Public Benefits of Rail
Freight transportation choices have major implications for the economy, highway congestion, fuel use, air pollution, and highway safety. With freight volumes expected to increase nearly 70% from 2000-2020 and many highways already gridlocked, it is essential that we develop realistic, non-highway alternatives to carry this increased quantity of goods.
A recent report by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the national organization of state DOT officials, recommended investing in freight rail infrastructure as the most effective way to relieve pressure on the highways. AASHTO found that relatively small investments in new rail capacity would yield huge public benefits.
Freight Rail Improves Quality of Life
Rail intermodal (putting truck trailers or shipping containers on rail flatcars) is the fastest-growing segment of the freight railroad industry.It combines the long-haul efficiency of rail with the door-to-door convenience of trucks. When truck trailers move by rail, quality of life improves:
Rail Relieves Highway Gridlock
- One intermodal train can carry 280 truck trailers – the equivalent of more than 1,000 automobiles in terms of highway congestion. Other types of trains carry as much as 500 trucks.
Rail Enhances Public Safety
- State transportation officials call rail a “preferred mode” for hauling hazardous materials because of fewer spills and accidents.
Rail is More Fuel Efficient and Better for the Environment
- Rail moves a ton of freight more than 400 miles on just one gallon of fuel.
- Rail emits 6 to 12 times fewer pollutants than other modes of transportation.
Rail Yields Financial Benefits
- America’s railroads save money for manufacturers and consumers.
- Investments in freight rail are an efficient use of our tax dollars. So long as public monies are directed to the public benefits that rail can provide, and railroads pay for private benefits, investments in freight rail yield an impressive return.
- Investing in freight rail creates jobs.
AASHTO concluded that relatively modest investments in our nation’s freight rail infrastructure would yield impressive benefits to the public: an $83 billion investment over 20 years would generate over $1 trillion in public benefit.
- Savings to taxpayers = $635 billion
Travel time, fuel and operating costs, and accident costs
- Savings to taxpayers = $27 billion
Not including the costs for bridges and interchanges
- Savings to businesses = $401 billion
Shipping costs, which could be passed on to consumers |