3 ms·
Why does it need to be economically viable? Is the US interstate system economically viable? We don't charge for the use of the interstate system at all. In an
by ryan_lane 4y ago
Why does it need to be economically viable? Is the US interstate system economically viable? We don't charge for the use of the interstate system at all. In an ideal world we'd run all train/bus infrastructure free of use as well. Transportation is a common good.
- Symbiote 4y agoIt would be interesting to know what fares would be if construction and maintenance of the track and signalling system were 100% subsidised, so passengers only paid for electricity, train construction and maintenance, and staff. That would be a fair comparison to a long distance bus.
- ryan_lane 4y agoIt would be more interesting to know what the impact would be to society if the trains were fully subsidized like the interstate system, and they were free for use.
- rs999gti 4y ago> Is the US interstate system economically viable? Yes, absolutely, in fact the US government did their own study on this question https://highways.dot.gov/public-roads/spring-1996/economic-importance-national-highway-system https://highways.dot.gov/public-roads/spring-1996/economic-i...
- ryan_lane 4y agoYou're referencing the economic output of the interstate, but there's roughly the same studies with the same conclusions made about the train system. The folks I was responding to were discussing the direct economics of maintaining and operating the trains, and not their economic benefits. No one pays money to use the interstate, why should they need to pay money to use the train?