New IDEAs for High-Speed Rail: Annual Progress Report - January 2005

TRB’s Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) program has issued its New IDEAs for High-Speed Rail: Annual Progress Report, which summarizes recent investigations conducted under the High-Speed Rail IDEA program. The Federal Transit Administration, the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, and the member states of AASHTO sponsor four IDEA programs that promote innovation beyond the scope of traditional research programs in the areas of transit, safety, high-speed rail, and highways.

The High-Speed Rail IDEA program is designed to help foster innovative concepts and technologies that will help attain the goal of cost-effective upgrading of current rail infrastructure for high-speed passenger travel and lead to a viable high-speed rail transportation system in the United States. High-Speed Rail IDEA projects are selected based on their potential to support upgrading the existing U.S. rail system to accommodate operations of 125 mph and beyond. the High-Speed Rail IDEA program is funded by the Federal Railroad Administration in support of the next-generation high-speed rail technology development program.