We Need to Rethink America's Transportation Infrastructure, A Rebuild is Off the Table...

[Junkdrawer]

Because we neglected our transportation infrastructure for so long, I think we are going to be forced to rethink how goods and people move around the country.

See:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002578139


The days of Seeing the USA in Your Chevrolet are over. In practice, when you travel more than, say 500 miles, most people drive their car to the airport and rent a car when they reach their destination.

High speed trains between cities, mass transit in cities, and small cars/scooters designed for 5 to 20 mile end-of-destination travel is much more sane and ecologically sustainable. We need to build this future instead of throwing good money after bad trying to repair the unsustainable past.

Here's the problem: How do you get people to give up the idea of taking their living room everywhere they go? Who will break the news that this American Dream is dead?

[Junkdrawer]

1. The Irony of all this:

The higher up the economic ladder, the larger the PERSONAL commitment to a private auto based transportation network (think Lexus et al), but the more the reluctance to MAINTAIN a private auto based transportation network (think taxes, jobs programs et al).

A big push for better mass transit is an easy sell to poor people.