Commuters like Amtrak plan for very rapid transit

Project to cut travel times in half along Northeast Corridor expected to take up to three decades and cost $117 billion.

Travelers are enthusiatic about Amtrak’s plan for a world-class high-speed rail line between Boston and Washington D-C. Amtrak says the new line will cut travel time in half for most of its destinations, and that’s welcome news for travelers such as Mary Ann Markazi.

“I think it’s terrific, they have it in Europe. It makes a lot of sense. It’s terrible traffic if you try to drive to New York or Washington,” says Markazi, who was waiting for a train to New York at Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station Wednesday. “So the train really makes the most sense. And it will give a lot of jobs to people.”

Amtrak anticipates the $117 billion project will take three decades to complete and create about 40,000 thousand jobs.

Some commuters have reservations about the very rapid transit, which Amtrak expects will reach speeds of up to 220 miles per hour.

Steve Pollack says his main concern is safety. “I think safety is an issue, and I mean, I want to be reassured that that’s not going to be a problem. I like to think it won’t be,” says Pollack.