I think this is a very interesting idea. I've thought the same about railroads and the USA. The federal government largely subsidized the rapid expansion into

I think this is a very interesting idea. I've thought the same about railroads and the USA. The federal government largely subsidized the rapid expansion into the west with railroads that meant that expansion was haphazard and unsustainable. The poor way railroads developed has left impacts on how society works today. If they'd expanded more slowly, we'd have had a more adapted and sustainable infrastructure today. Maybe we'd even have high speed rail everywhere.