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Yes, the train and its supporting infrastructure is discouraging because it is not a priority in this country as so it is the train equivalent of a Ford Pinto, not a Honda, certainly not a Mercedes. Look, I realize that cars are SEUCTIVE, that's part of the problem, people LIKE that 30-90 minutes alone in their comfy little car bubble, except when they have to sit in L.A./D.C./Atlanta-style traffic jams. But everything has its costs. Alcoholics love alcohol too and in moderation there is nothing wrong with alcohol. At some point it becomes dysfunctional. As far as anticipating demand 30 years ago, demand has proven in recent years to be elastic to supply, build the roads and they will come, and then you build again, and again, and again.... The idea of anticipating and encouraging demand and building more and wider roads is actually a nightmare. At some point you have to start mentioning that dreaded word: limits. At some point you have to limit the kudzu like growth of the car and suburban sprawl it has fostered, or suffer the consequences, as they already do in Atlanta, D.C., L.A., etc., etc. At some point you have to ask, is there a better way, are there any new ideas? These are real choices Americans have to make sooner or later. |
