With grand visions of a high-speed rail crossing our state to allow cheaper transport for our Atlanta and Charlotte commuters, the South East High Speed Rail (SEHSR) sounds great years down the road, but it’d be even better if we could get a smaller “pilot” project on the ground right now: commuter rail here in the Golden Strip.
Active rail lines in South Carolina
Credit: SCDOT
Which one do you think will come to the Upstate first – if ever?
Connecting Fountain Inn, Mauldin, and Simpsonville with one rail line will not only provide cheaper costs for those eager to use a commuter train, but it will also lower carbon emissions and traffic from POV’s and bring in much-needed revenue to the State over time.
With all the tracks laid across South Carolina (click image), the hope for many is that a commuter rail option here will become a reality soon.
Here are some bullet-points from the latest SEHSR study conducted by the Volpe Center for officials to consider first:
- • Additional rail planning should probably focus on the 125 mph and 150 mph diesel technologies as these have the best chance of financial viability within this corridor, and are most compatible with the proposed rail enhancements north of Charlotte.
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• The States in the corridor need to develop a political consensus concerning innovative approaches to pay for capital costs and initial operating deficits. This study indicates that there would not be sufficient operating surpluses to finance capital cost bond payments, and a dedicated funding source, e.g., a sales tax
increment, might be considered. - • Even though the initial concept was to have a new independent rail operator, it might be prudent to consider the plusses and minuses of partnering with Amtrak to upgrade their existing corridor services. This approach could lead to synergies that might lower some costs, e.g., for marketing, reservations, etc.
- • Since networked systems would likely result in significant additional corridor ridership and might make higher speed alternatives feasible, the States in the SEHSR corridor should pursue closer ties with nearby States planning potential rail expansions.
- • Freight railroads are potential supporters of passenger rail expansion if new and existing passenger rail service were shifted to separate (parallel) track easing freight congestion.
True, we may not be on par with China’s new $300 billion high-speed train system – it will be the world’s largest, fastest, and most technologically sophisticated high-speed rail system when completed – but as Rod Diridon, executive director of the Mineta Transportation Institute said, “All of a sudden the funding is there”. Thanks to Obama’s Vision for ‘High Speed Rail for America, monies are starting to be dolled out this month.
If things work out as planned – hopefully before 2025 – we may all be commuting on rail lines – whether from Charlotte through Greenville to Atlanta, or right here in the Golden Strip, from Fountain Inn to Mauldin and Simpsonville.
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