Metromover (Score 1)

So maybe government is learning that gigantic mass-transit infrastructure projects are a complete waste. Need I cite Miami's Metromover? The projected ridership for Metromover was 240,000 daily passengers, though actual ridership is closer to 50,000. According to an old polysci textbook I have laying around, it would have been cheaper to buy each regular passenger a Rolls Royce instead of building Metromover.

For mass transit to work in the United States it needs to be affordable, comfortable, competitive in travel time, and include a network broad enough to supplant private auto transport.

As it stands I doubt the typical middle class commuter would pay a fare higher than their gas tab to ride the bus/monorail/whatever in tight quarters with others (savoring the body aromas, no doubt) and lengthening their commutes by a factor of 2 - not to mention they cannot travel to every destination they desire to go.

After all, why not use your car if you're already paying for depreciation, insurance, maintenance, & cetra? Driving a car has a high monthly overhead cost and a low marginal cost per mile driven, which encourages use of private transport.