Went to England - very good transport - buses ran every 10 minutes in the city of Super Mare but it is a rather small and compact country - dynamics are a lot different. Take a rail to from Ames to Des Moines and when you get there what happens?
  -------------- Original message from Thomas Mathews <[log in to unmask]>: --------------



Awesome letter, Dana! 
 
It's true, we had a better, safer, more energy-efficient transportation system in 1920 than we do today. The early 20th century system, as you note, was based on rail, not automobiles.
 
The absurdity of our highway-based transport is obvious during a snow or ice storm which would not affect railroad operations, but which sends cars and trucks off the road or into multi-vehicle pileups. 
 
All progress is change, but not all change is progress.
 
Tom Mathews
 
In a message dated 2/16/2009 7:02:51 P.M. Central Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes:  
What do we need for   transportation?  
Deborah Fink, Ames Feb. 12, 2009  
   
Regarding David Swenson's Feb. 5 Iowa View: He's is absolutely right in   his criteria for ranking stimulus projects. Infrastructure and schools are   urgent and practical targets.

What I missed was any movement beyond the   status quo. We need a certain infrastructure of roads and bridges because we   drive cars almost everywhere we go. Should we maintain this infrastructure?     
   
For more on this article go to http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009902120342  
   
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