Idea to the alleviate the nation's transportation woes/high gas prices.

[arcadian]

The interstates. Yes, the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, that "interstates". Most of the interstate routes have a rather sizable median. Why not lay down some track in those medians and create a real train system in this country? One that works. The infrastructure or at least the land is already owned by the federal government or state governments.

Then bring back an updated version of trolleys and trolley suburbs(which would include outlying rural area) to suburbia. Rural counties could use electric bus systems to get people to and from train nodes. Have DC Metro or BART like subways for all large cities. It would also put a lot of people to work. What do you think?

[phantom power]

1. That has actually been proposed. Use the interstates for their right-of-ways.

[arcadian]

2. And I thought I was a visionary

:cry: :rofl:

[madokie]

3. I'd love to have public transportation

I would say 80 percent or more of my trips to where ever could be done on a bus, train or trolley or whatever.

[RC]

4. You forgot about the over-passes.

They would all have to be rebuilt. What about when there is just a retaining wall between the two sides? And the median is used for drainage and snow removal.

[spinbaby]

5. How about an elevated monorail?

Like at Disney World. It's way up high, so could go right over the overpasses and it wouldn't interfere with drainage because the only things on the ground are pillars.

[TahitiNut]

6. I'm a big proponent of regional rail. But can you imagine ...

... the imbeciles who'd regard the train as something to race with? There are sections of the Interstate in this area that're already filled with tailgating dodge-and-weave NASCAR wannabes. I pale to imagine them racing with the train and having their attention distracted.

Oh well ... maybe they'll all kill themselves off in the first few months with 'acceptable' collateral damage.

[DemoTex]

7. Have trains that blow by them so fast that they will never want to drive again. Ever.

"Damn! That some-bitch musta been doin' two-seventy-five when he blowed by me. I wanna ride THAT some-bitch! That-there will git yer thar quick as greased lightnin'."

[TahitiNut]

8. I'd definitely want a TGV-like rail system ... or like Japan's bullet trains.

I quite frankly don't think rail travel can replace transcontinental air. Any rail trip that effectively requires the passenger to also bear the costs of 'room and board' in addition to the transport will only attract travelers when the trip itself is interesting or pleasant enough to warrant the time and expense. When an airplane can get a traveler to his destination in 7-8 hours at a cost of $300 and the same trip takes 20 hours by rail and costs $600-700 due to costs for food and a bed, most folks will continue to fly. BUT ... for travel of less than 600 miles rail has enormous potential, especially if the average speed is over 100mph and is smooooth.

I'd like to see a transportation system where trips of 100-600 miles were 20% auto, 60% rail, and 20% air ... and over 600 miles was 50% air, 40% rail and less than 10% car. (Gross approximations, of course, just to emphasize the intermediate distance potential for rail.)