More than 60 percent of Americans would use high-speed rail, APTA study finds

Sixty-three percent of Americans responding to an American Public Transportation Association (APTA) survey say they would use high-speed trains if they were available in the U.S., the organization announced yesterday.

When respondents were informed of the potential costs and time-saving benefits of utilizing high-speed rail, that number increased to 67 percent, APTA officials said in a press release.

Conducted by market research firm TechnoMetrica on APTA's behalf, the "High-Speed Rail in America 2015" survey gauged opinions on high-speed rail based on 1,005 random digit-dial phone interviews.

"People want high-speed rail in America and we are seeing support among various ages and in different regions of the country regardless of political party," said APTA President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Melaniphy. "In addition, the millennial generation and younger adults will lead the way with their preferences to have a multimodal transportation system that supports their lifestyle."

The survey further found that 71 percent of respondents aged 18 to 44 would use a high-speed rail system.

Additionally, researchers found that 58 percent of respondents identifying as Republicans would likely use high-speed rail, while 61 percent of independents and 73 percent of Democrats said they'd utilize such a system.

Those figures increased across each group after respondents were informed of the potential benefits of high-speed rail. After being told these benefits, 65 percent of Republicans, 67 percent of independents and 75 percent of Democrats said they'd use high-speed trains.

Nearly three-quarters of all respondents support reducing regulations so that amenities can be built near high-speed rail stations, APTA officials noted.