The American Prospect: Sick Transit

[marmar]

Sick Transit
The president's new budget is predictably bad for mass transit. Alas, the Democrats aren't all that much better on the issue.
By Ben Adler
Web Exclusive: 02.14.07

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As Jim Webb noted in his response to the 2007 State of the Union Address, "this is the seventh time the president has mentioned energy independence in his State of the Union message, but for the first time this exchange is taking place in a Congress led by the Democratic Party. We are looking for affirmative solutions that will strengthen our nation by freeing us from our dependence on foreign oil." To be nitpicky, the actual number is technically six times, but the point stands. President Bush, and, for that matter, Democrats in Congress, have repeatedly emphasized the need to reduce our oil consumption for reasons of national security, economic health, and environmental protection.

But actions speak louder than words. And the president's actions, as proposed in the budget he released last week, are sorely disappointing. Alas, on one key plank the Democrats' are only marginally better. With all the focus on, in Webb's words, "alternate energy programs," too many are ignoring a long-existing technology that, unlike, say, ethanol, already has the power to radically reduce our oil consumption. I'm speaking, of course, of mass transit.

Americans drive more than any other society, using automobiles for 88 percent of all trips. This is a major reason why we contribute 30 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, which cause global warming.

Meanwhile, America has taken almost all of its trolley systems out of use. Subway and light rail services struggle to cope with budget shortfalls, while Amtrak constantly raises prices and while providing passengers with sub-par service. As anti-sprawl author James Howard Kunstler says, "We have a railroad system in America that the Bolivians would be ashamed of. There isn't one thing we could do in this country that would have a greater impact on our oil use than restoring the American rail system to something like a European level of service." ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=12457

[Rydz777]

1. Railroads

There is something civilized and civilizing about a good railroad system - even romantic, and the great old train stations were attractive in a way that airports have never been or will be. Perhaps energy realities will force us to return to the rails, and if so there will be many positive consequences.