Originally Posted by
beachmouse
End of the day, unless you're in one of a relatively small number of high density urban areas like NYC, Washington D.C., and San Francisco, mass transit is always going to be a hard sell in the states because of that lack of density- typical urban sprawl America is going to give you longer distances between stops, and fewer people using each stop, and it's impossible to make the numbers work without massive government subsidy. Even in areas with what are seen as successful public transit systems, rider fares will cover maybe a third of the cost of service, and for many systems, that number is far less.
There have been studies that show that medium to long haul high speed rail in certain parts of the US could break even or show a small profit without that level of government subsidy once it's established, but it's hard for a private company to get the kind of start-up money such a project would involve without having to pay borrowing costs high enough to kill the project.
The other reason, of course, is that Americaqns have been blessed (or cursed depending on your viewpoint) with low gasoline prices, lots of toll free highways, sprawling malls and industrial parks with oodles of low cost or free parking. As some of these givens have becdome less a given, first the cries mount to throw the bums out of office who don't see this is the American way of life and Americans are entitled to these things but slowly when the realization begins slipping in that the 12 mile round trip to the mall or work costs a gall of gas, $4 or so, may include $8 or so for parking, may include a toll on the highway, public transport becomes a better alternative.
That's the American way, of course. (don't read into the reply anything more than I am sayhing.)