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 Dana- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps!- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to:[log in to unmask] out our Listserv Lists support site for more information:http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp