Linking Cities by High-Speed Rail: What the Future Holds

Lecture by former Massachusetts Governor Michael S. Dukakis on Nov. 19, 2008 at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. America’s rail infrastructure has long lagged behind Europe and Asia, but with soaring energy prices, a renewed focus on investing in infrastructure, and a new administration, the moment for high-speed connections between American cities may have finally arrived. Any new planning framework will likely be radically different from the experiences of Amtrak over the last several years, and transportation policy will be inextricably tied to land use. In this lecture, Michael S. Dukakis, former governor of Massachusetts and former vice chair of the board member of Amtrak, will analyze the post-election results and discuss what it will take for an invigorated, well-functioning new system.