High-Speed Rail in America: An Evaluation of the Regulatory, Real Property, and Environmental Obstacles a Project Will Encounter

In 2009, President Barack Obama allocated $8 billion in stimulus funding for high-speed rail projects across the United States. One year later, in 2010, an additional $2.5 billion was distributed to corridors with High-Speed Rail Projects. Even though the most recent congressional budget eliminated high-speed rail funding, many corridors are working diligently to break ground by the end of 2012. Before a high-speed rail project can be fully implemented there are many legal and environmental issues and regulations to examine. This paper conducts a complete analysis of those issues and regulations and suggests how to apply them to a successful high-speed rail project.