California cities anticipating the rewards of new high-speed rail (HSR) stations may fail to reap the full economic and environmental benefits without key land-use planning, according to SPUR's new study.

For the 26 cities designated as future HSR stops, the new statewide rail system presents a once-in-a-century opportunity to reshape their local economies and set the course for more compact, less automobile-dependent growth. SPUR's study, Beyond the Tracks, identifies specific land-use planning strategies that will contribute to the success of HSR and help cities, and ultimately California, realize the full potential of the multi-billion-dollar system.