The present study attempts to serve high-speed rail interests in Pennsylvania by addressing three specific high speed rail (HSR)-related issues: (1) changes in HSR technology since approximately the mid-1980s, (2) advancements in intercity passenger demand forecasting since the mid-1980s, and (3) capital financing alternatives for HSR systems. A fourth issue, recent developments in HSR technology on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) of the United States, is also briefly addressed. With respect to financing alternatives for HSR systems, the present study examines financial options grouped by financing sources for capital costs, funding sources for capital costs, and revenue sources for operating costs. There is a brief discussion of the TEA 21 Innovative Financing provisions. There is also a discussion of issues surrounding private sources of financing, including options for using a mixture of private and public-sector financing that varies by stage of project development. Regarding passenger demand forecasting for HSR, the discussion is concerned with advances that have been made in intercity travel demand forecasting since the mid-1980s. The discussion focuses on three topics: theoretical understanding of trip-making behavior; modeling techniques; and data availability, collection, and presentation.

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