详情

Effects of Foreign Participation on U.S. High Speed Rail Projects

项目名称：	Effects of Foreign Participation on U.S. High Speed Rail Projects
摘要：	After the end of World War 2, American passenger railroads declined when they were unable to compete profitably with automobile and airline transport. In 1971, the federal government nationalized passenger service, and eliminated over half of existing passenger lines. Meanwhile, during this same period, many foreign countries were developing and building new high speed train lines: Japan, in 1964; France, in 1981; followed by other Asian, European, and Scandinavian countries. Thus, when rail promoters were planning new high speed lines in the United States (U.S.), starting in the 1980�s, they were obliged to rely on foreign technology, expertise, and to some extent, financial support. In reviewing the existing literature, the principal investigator (PI) finds no studies specifically concerning foreign participation in American high speed rail projects. The PI's preliminary interviews with representatives of foreign banks, train manufacturers, and rail operating companies reveals that they bring differing assumptions about, and organizational frameworks for financing construction and operation of high speed lines in the U.S. This leads the PI to hypothesize that foreign and American companies face difficulties working together, which could interfere with the desired outcome of implementing new lines. The PI proposes to study the issues, problems, and obstacles that foreign rail promoters confront when working with their American partners, particularly with regard to project finance. The PI will focus on France as a representative foreign nation because the French rail industry has been closely involved with American high speed rail projects over many decades. The study objective is to develop policy recommendations for ameliorating the problems associated with foreign participation in American rail project finance. Initial research questions include the following: how do approaches to project finance differ between foreign/French firms and the U.S.? Do French and American companies diverge in their views of the best ways to structure plans for financing new high speed rail lines? How well do French companies understand the U.S. context in which they work? How well do American companies understand the different financing approaches of their foreign partners/counterparts? These questions shape the interviews to be conducted with representatives of French and American companies that bid to construct new lines. They also suggest the relevant documents to be collected and analyzed, such as business and financial plans; bid proposals; correspondence between French companies and their American counterparts; news/business media reports; legislative debates and reports. Information will be collected in 3 states�Florida, Texas, and California�for the period, 1980 to present. These are States where foreign and domestic firms and public authorities worked together to develop high speed rail projects, and where they continue to interact on plans currently under consideration. The comparative, longitudinal approach will generate rich information for understanding interactions between French companies and their American partners/counterparts.
状态：	Completed
资金：	41589
资助组织：	Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
管理组织：	University Transportation Research Center
项目负责人：	Eickemeyer, Penny
执行机构：	John Jay College of Criminal Justice - CUNY
主要研究人员：	Cohen, James
开始时间：	20160901
预计完成日期：	20171130
实际结束时间：	0