I'm an advocate for trains

I think that in the mix of transportation, trains are under-utilized and cars and planes are over-utilized. I have no opinion at the moment on buses, ferries, or other boats. My sense comes from the costs to move a ton. We have confused the issue in two ways. First, we have built automobile cities, especially in the Western US, and then throw up our collective hands and say, we can't get around by any means but car. Second, we calculate the full costs of trains but ignore costs of air travel or highways.

According to Virginia Postrel,
"The White House proposed a $256 billion budget for roads, bridges and transit over the next six years. (The previous six-year measure, which expired last year, cost $218 billion.) The House passed a $284 billion version, while the Senate further upped the ante to $318 billion."

Postrel winds up her artical with a quote from Winston and Langer (read the whole thing) On average, they write, "one dollar of annual highway spending reduces the annual congestion costs to road users only 8 cents." This is not a return on a one-time investment but a continuing expense; we have to keep spending that dollar to get the 8 cents."

Google Missouri highway spending and the name Kit Bond comes up. I'm sure this is exactly as Senator Bond would have it. His job is at least in part to maximize Federal dollars comming to Missouri.

Two months ago, the Springfield News-Leader reported that "Missouri has seen a drop from $280 million in the budget year that ended June 30 to a projected $150 million during the current 12-month period." Add county and municipal spending, and that's quite a lot of money on roads. Add policing the roads, the cost of accidents, the cost to own and operate a vehicle, and other driving related costs, and its getting expensive.

Compare that to the data reported on the Missouri Public Transit Assoc website. "The State of Missouri provides $11.3 million annually for public transit." Busses obviously travel on the afore mentioned roads, so reclaim some of those costs, but my guess is that the cost per traveler is far lower. Consider light rail and inter-city high speed rail. "In fiscal year 2001 Missouri received nearly $60 million in federal capital funds, with an additional $9 million in operating assistance to small cities and rural areas." And, "Local funding sources provide the majority of transit financing, about $175 million." 175+69+11=255 million

Canada has already begun installing wifi in public transport. As this snipet in Converge! reveals. "The pilot program will provide free Wi-Fi for VIA 1 passengers traveling between Montreal and Toronto."

If more people were to use mass transit or alternatives to cars and planes, the benefits of economies of scale would begin to make financial costs and convenience costs even better.

As a final note, I have nothing against cars, I just don't think they are the most effecient way to move large numbers of people.