Infrastructure in the News: August 18, 2010

DC Streetsblog reported that Siemens took a campaign for U.S. high-speed rail straight to the customer, and according to Live Science more ocean-spanning cable lines are needed in order not to experience traffic jams. More in this Infrastructure in the News.

National News

CNN: Is the U.S. turning a corner on high-speed rail?
... For generations, much of the nation has been forced to use cars, buses or pricey aircraft to travel to nearby cities. But this year, Washington opened the door to what may be a historic turning point in regional travel.

DC Streetsblog: Siemens Takes Campaign for U.S. High-Speed Rail Straight to the Customer
What's the fastest way to travel between Los Angeles and the Bay Area? How about Tampa and Miami? Or Chicago and St. Louis? Any American would tell you to head for the airport. But in many airports, once you get through the check-in lines and metal detectors and put your shoes back on, you're now met by a billboard with a picture of the Siemens Velaro, a 230-mph train that one day might offer a faster, more reliable and energy efficient option for trips under 400 miles.

Live Science: Traffic Jams Ahead Unless More Cables Laid
As the internet rapidly expands with ever more videos, web pages and posts, more ocean-spanning cable lines will be needed to string together this essential global computer network. In five to seven years, for example, the transatlantic fiber optic cables linking the United States to Europe will run out of capacity.