South Carolina southeast high speed rail corridor improvement study

PDFResearch PaperRailroad transportationPassenger transportationRegional planningTransportation planningHigh speed railPilot studiesSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina. Dept. of TransportationWilbur Smith AssociatesNTL-RAIL TRANSPORTATION-High Speed Ground TransportationUS Transportation CollectionThe Southeast Rail Corridor was originally designated as a high-speed corridor in Section 1010 of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991. More specifically, it involved the high-speed grade-crossing improvement program of the Act to reduce or eliminate the hazards of at-grade rail-highway crossings in the designated corridors. It was to connect the southern end of the Northeast Corridor to Charlotte, North Carolina. The high-speed rail grade crossing improvement program was carried over into the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) as Section 1103(c). Subsequently, the Southeast High-Speed Rail Corridor (SEHSR) was extended in December 1998 south from Charlotte to Atlanta and Macon, Georgia running through the Upstate of South Carolina. Another branch was added running through Columbia to Savannah, Georgia and Jacksonville, Florida from Raleigh, North Carolina. The Corridor was further extended in October 2000 from Macon to Jessup, Georgia, tying the two branches together. Planning and development of the Corridor is being guided by a four-state coalition - Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. The goal of the four-state consortium in developing the SEHSR is a top speed of 110 mph. This study and plan is South Carolina's initial examination of the physical feasibility of high-speed passenger rail service in the state. Tables, 94p