Editorial: Super speed train may reduce tie-ups

Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2000 | 9:57 a.m.

Nevada is one of seven finalists to build a magnetic levitation train, which can reach speeds up to 300 mph. By the end of this year it is expected that the U.S. Department of Transportation will winnow the list of hopefuls even further; ultimately just one project will be chosen to get federal construction funding to build a high speed train.

The California-Nevada Super Speed Train Commission is proposing a demonstration project that would run between Las Vegas and Primm, a 42-mile trip that would take just 12 minutes to make. Ultimately, if funding can be obtained, the goal is to extend the route -- the track would be located alongside the Interstate 15 corridor -- to Anaheim, Calif., a 269-mile trip that would take about 1 1/2 hours. The estimated cost to build the track between Las Vegas and Anaheim is $6.8 billion.

A super speed train would be a relief for both Californians and Nevadans. I-15 is the major route that Southern California tourists take when visiting Las Vegas. Unfortunately on weekends that critical link to Las Vegas is clogged by motorists on Fridays when they arrive and jammed on Sundays when they leave. This congestion also adds to our air pollution woes, which is a serious problem in the Las Vegas Valley. Super speed train advocates believe enough passengers would use an Anaheim-Las Vegas link to significantly reduce the number of vehicles on I-15, which not only would reduce the frustration of gridlock but also mean less pollution.

It's not always popular to support public funding of mass transportation, but a super speed train is exactly the type of project where the federal government should provide some financial assistance. Rather than thinking small, policymakers should create more public-private partnerships such as this that benefit motorists, the economy and the environment.