Application of Postassessment of Kyushy Shinkansen Network to Proposed U.S. High-Speed Railway Project

Abstract

In April 2009 the Obama administration announced its strategic plan for high-speed rail in the United States. That plan stipulates the public benefits that are to be expected from a high-speed railway system. This paper describes a recently published report outlining the postassessment of the Kyushu Shinkansen project conducted by the Japan Railway Construction, Transport, and Technology Agency. The paper focuses on the effects of the implementation of the Kyushu Shinkansen project on passenger movements and changes in business and environmental aspects that are relevant to the U.S. strategic plan. This is the first analysis outside Japan of the postassessment of the Kyushu Shinkansen project. It first examines the postassessment analysis of changes in traffic volume. It then addresses the effects of the Kyushu Shinkansen project as they relate to the public benefits expected from the U.S. high-speed rail strategic plan, including the economic and social effects as well as the environmental benefits. The paper attempts to provide the Japanese case as a reference for the U.S. high-speed railway project. The postassessment of the Japanese case indicates that the new Kyushu Shinkansen route has an influence on travel behavior when people use rail for commuting and tourism. It also addresses the critical factor of how aviation demand can be shifted to rail to gain substantial benefits. Taking these points into consideration, the Obama administration's Vision for High-Speed Rail in America is just a starting point. A wider network of railways with more vigorous funding must be expected.