MTI releases guide to evaluate high-speed rail investment

The Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) recently partnered with the American Public Transportation Association and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials to aid in the development of a guide for evaluating the return on investment (ROI) for proposed high-speed and intercity passenger-rail projects. 

Assessing the ROI business case for intercity passenger-rail corridor investments — along with the associated methodology and toolkit — provides guidance to cities, metropolitan agencies, state DOTs and federal agencies by providing a common methodology and utilizing best practices to measure public benefits, MTI officials said in a news release 

The guidance on evaluating high-speed and intercity passenger-rail projects includes:

• requirements for right of way, stations and station area access involving multiple communities, and broader areas that may span multiple states;
• requirements for rolling stock operated by a dedicated service franchise agreement;
• concentration of traveler activity at station stops in intermediate cities, as well as endpoints; and
• requirements for supporting feeder transportation services connecting with stations.