Why U.S. Needs Passenger Rail

Despite our reliance on autos and airlines, the the need for a high-quality passenger rail system will grow in the future. New highways only create new congestion. Choked and unpleasant air service makes rail competitive and appealing between many large cities. Meanwhile, the likelihood of sustained high oil prices and the certainty of climate change caused by our ubiquitous burning of fossil fuels only make the rail option more essential.No public transportation system pays for itself from the farebox, and Amtrak's subsidies are much smaller than those for highways.