This presentation reviews the rapid progress of high-speed rail (HSR) construction and its successful competition with cars and air travel on distances between 100 and 1,200 km. More than 20 countries have built or are building HSR lines, but the United States is not among the leaders in HSR development.

Mutual cooperation among localities can promote economy of scale and scope in service delivery, and efficiency in resource utilization, among its other perceived benefits. More specifically, a governance-based type of inter-local mutual cooperation that can be realized through communication, compromise, and conflict resolution is needed.