Comment Re:Of course! It's all so simple! (Score 1) 897
Laugh all you want, but I think an interstate monorail system is exactly what we could use.
A monorail could be built with pre-fabricated components along existing interstate highway right-of-ways with minimal traffic disruption. Limiting stations to every ~500 miles or so reduces need for real estate, and allows the trains to get up to some speeds.
Having a workable interstate train system would reduce airport congestion, save fuel, and be _relatively_ immune to terrorists (if you crash a train, you only crash one train. Track and pylons can be rebuilt). It would also be a hell of a lot faster for medium distances than air travel these days when you factor in all the crap you fo through at the airport. If you offered trains with auto-carriers, you could drive on here, and drive off 1,000 miles later.
If you worry about unfair competition to airlines, let them invest in the system.
Obama is looking for a way to spark the economy, this could be ideal.
A monorail could be built with pre-fabricated components along existing interstate highway right-of-ways with minimal traffic disruption. Limiting stations to every ~500 miles or so reduces need for real estate, and allows the trains to get up to some speeds.
Having a workable interstate train system would reduce airport congestion, save fuel, and be _relatively_ immune to terrorists (if you crash a train, you only crash one train. Track and pylons can be rebuilt). It would also be a hell of a lot faster for medium distances than air travel these days when you factor in all the crap you fo through at the airport. If you offered trains with auto-carriers, you could drive on here, and drive off 1,000 miles later.
If you worry about unfair competition to airlines, let them invest in the system.
Obama is looking for a way to spark the economy, this could be ideal.
