(NAPSA)—A majority of U.S. travelers report they are on track with the idea of using high-speed rail. That’s the word from experts whosay a recent large-scale study shows that nearly two-thirds of adults (62 percent) said they would definitely or probably use high-speed rail service for leisure or business travel if it were an option. Travel time and cost are key Convenience and saving mon- ey were key factors for whether travelers would choose high- speed rail service over other modesof transportation. For example, when asked which factors would likely influence their decision to choose highspeed rail service, survey respondents mentioned: Shorter travel times compared to driving (91 percent); Less expensive than flying (91 percent); Less expensive than driving (89 percent); and Integration with local public transit so I can avoid use of rental cars, cabs and parking fees (85 percent). Timeandthe environment Other factors survey respon- dents ranked as important included shorter travel times compared to flying (80 percent) and environmen- tal concerns (75 percent). Providing jobs and options American Public Transportation Association (APTA) President William Millar said, “We strongly In a recent survey, many people said they would use high-speed rail because they thought it would be faster than driving and cheaperthanflying. support the government’s commit- ment to implementing high-speed rail. It will provide more options for travelers, as well as create jobs and be a strong boost for the local economy.” Investment proposed APTAproposes that Congress invest $50 billion over the next six years in high-speed rail. The association says the investment dur- ing that time frame, along with $123 billion in public transportation investment, will help support and create 6.2 million jobs. The survey of 24,711 adults, was conducted for APTA by Syno- vate, a leading market research firm. APTAis a nonprofit international association of more than 1,500 public and private member organizations engaged in the areas of bus, paratransit, light rail, commuter rail, subways, waterborne passenger services and high-speed rail. To learn more, visit www. apta.com or call (202) 496-4800.
