Date of Defense
12-15-2023
Date of Graduation
12-2024
Department
Economics
First Advisor
Susan Pozo
Second Advisor
Thomas Kostrzewa
Abstract
In today’s world where globalization is rapidly growing, the role of an effective transportation system is crucial for societal and economic advancement. Among the various modes of travel, high-speed rail has emerged as a transformative force, reshaping the landscape of intercity connectivity, economic progress, and environmental sustainability. You would expect that the United States, as one of the most developed countries in the world, would have huge advancements in their high-speed rail systems for better travel choices and improved mobility for their citizens. However, it is found that the United States only has two high-speed rails currently operating and two in-progress. The concept of high-speed rail in the United States is not as popular compared to other developed countries such as Japan, China, Korea, and the European countries. Therefore, this thesis aims to investigate the factors affecting the advancement of high-speed rail in the United States.
For this thesis, we will use the Supply and Demand Model in Economics as the foundation of our research. This is because the supply and demand model can help conceptualize the market of high-speed rail services in United States. It can also help us assess the probability of investing in the development of high-speed rail systems. To determine the supply of high-speed rail services, we will investigate the cost of building, operating, and maintaining a high-speed rail. To determine the demand for high-speed rail services, we will compare the population density of United States with different countries and the population density of the areas along the HSR lines in each country. We will also look at the competition between alternative transportation methods, and the automobile culture in the United States.
Recommended Citation
Tan, Shanice, "Clearing The Hurdles: Examining the Development of High-Speed Rail Systems in the United States of America" (2023). Honors Theses. 3891.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/honors_theses/3891
Access Setting
Honors Thesis-Open Access
Defense Presentation
Comments
Co-authored with Jessica Rumfaker