I don't find this thesis to be true at all, at least from the perspective of someone living in the Seattle area, where we recently: - Hugely expanded the light

I don't find this thesis to be true at all, at least from the perspective of someone living in the Seattle area, where we recently: - Hugely expanded the light-rail system and should have a major east-side extension opening within 2 years. - Tore down an above-ground waterfront highway and replaced it with a tunnel underneath downtown Seattle. - Currently reconstructing the waterfront to connect to the historic pike place market. - At least one major new ferry terminal in the region in the last few years. - Major expansion of the bike-lane network to where it's now easy to bike pretty much anywhere downtown, largely on protected bike lanes. As far as I can see the only issue really is funding that pushes the timelines out on further expansions. The federal government seems to give peanuts for major transportation projects so the state/city/county pretty much has to fund it all themselves.