Great Nations Build
March 16, 2006 -- China announced this week that it is moving forward with two high-speed rail projects totaling $22 billion. In the U.S., the Senate yesterday rejected two amendments to a budget resolution that would have increased Amtrak's budget above the meager and unworkable $900 million proposed by the White House.
As widely expected, China will extend the mag-lev train that currently connects Shanghai's main airport and center city to the city of Hangzhou, a distance of 110 miles. When completed in 2010, the $4.3 billion train will reach speeds of 260 miles per hour and reduce travel time from two hours to just 27 minutes. According to CCTV, China's international television news network, "After the line is completed, Shanghai, Hangzhou and their neighboring town Jiaxing will form a new economic circle with only half-hour's ride away from one another."
The second project that was given the go-ahead is an 820-mile line from Beijing to Shanghai. Using traditional steel wheels-on-rails technology, new high-speed trains will whisk passengers between the two cities at speeds up to 220 miles per hour. Travel time will be cut from 13 hours to just five.
China has made significant investments in its rail network in recent years. The country benefits not only from improvements in its transportation system, but also from the development of technologies and expertise that will lead to a high-value, home-grown rail supplier industry.
Overall, growth in fixed-asset investment in China -- infrastructure -- has exceeded 25 percent in each of the last three years, CCTV reports.
Great nations build. The United States, through a combination of public and private investment, for 200 years built waterways, railroads, highways, bridges, dams and airports. But, in recent years, we have neglected our infrastructure. The last large civil engineering project was the Interstate highway system, which began construction 50 years ago. If we want to remain a great nation, it is time for new vision and new investment.
