Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations
Watch Live

Study: High-Speed Rail Benefits San Diego

A new study says a high-speed train system in California would bring jobs to San Diego. The study also says it would ease freeway gridlock in the region. KPBS Environmental Reporter Ed Joyce has more.

Study: High-Speed Rail Benefits San Diego

A new study says a high-speed train system in California would bring jobs to San Diego. The study also says it would ease freeway gridlock in the region. KPBS Environmental Reporter Ed Joyce has more.

The study was conducted by the San Diego Institute for Policy Research for the California High-Speed Rail Authority.

Advertisement

Eric Bruvold is president of the Institute.

He says the study found that the high-speed train system would be less costly than expanding highways and airports to serve similar travel demands.

Bruvold:
It is more environmentally-friendly. It consumes less land and less greenhouse gases as a result of meeting our mobility needs through high-speed train as opposed to cars and planes.
      
The study also shows the high-speed rail system would lower demand for auto use in San Diego by 9 percent.

Proposition 1A is a $10-billion bond measure on the November ballot that would fund the project.

When completed the system would link major California cities from San Francisco to San Diego.
      
Opponents say the train would be too expensive and would be under-used by Californians.

Ed Joyce, KPBS News

Advertisement