The promise of high-speed rail has generated excitement in many corners of the Empire State. Reduced travel times would make New York "smaller" and greatly enhance the mobility of residents and visitors alike. The current plan, however, is disappointing.

What high-speed rail advocates propose to do with federal stimulus dollars is to build an archaic system that will be even more technologically outmoded by the time it is completed. It is made up of moderately faster diesel trains running on existing CSX lines and achieving speeds of 110 miles per hour, lagging far behind world standards for high-speed rail.

Japan's Tokaido Shinkansen, which connects Osaka to Tokyo, averages 170 miles per hour. China's Shanghai Maglev train reaches top speeds of 267 mph. New York needs a first-class system that will place us in the public transportation vanguard nationally and internationally. Anything less is a waste of our resources.

Metropolis magazine columnist Karrie Jacobs has encouraged the "adaptive reuse" of the 47,000 mile Eisenhower Interstate system to accommodate rail as one component in remaking the nation's infrastructure. The New York State Thruway already connects most of the state's major cities, and a creative reuse of this existing infrastructure could shrink the timetable for completing this project, lessen the need to utilize eminent domain or further encroach on the state's precious landscape, and bring about economic benefits.

For those who worry about running automobiles and trains alongside one another, high-speed rail service can be incredibly safe. Separated-grade intersections and dedicated pathways would allow high-speed rail, highway traffic, and slower local traffic to co-exist with minimal risks of intermodal collisions. Japan's Shinkansen system has experienced only one derailment in more than 50 years of operation - and it was precipitated by an earthquake.

Transportation has been central to the economic development of this state, from the construction of the Erie Canal during the early 19th century to the mid 20th century development of the interstate system. The integration of high-speed rail into the thruway system would simply be the most logical next step. The presence of an efficient, affordable transportation system could spur tourism, foster greater regional connectivity among upstate cities, and more tightly integrate upstate economies with nearby megacities like New York City and Toronto.

The growing cost of fossil fuels and grim environmental realities of our times necessitate a creative makeover of existing infrastructure. We need a high-speed rail program based on visionary leadership, not political expediency, if this state is to take the lead and provide its citizens with high-quality, affordable transportation options.

CEDRIC JOHNSON, ROCHESTER

Johnson is an associate professor of political science at Hobart and William Smith Colleges.