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tweet by amtrak ben: i think we should build high speed rail next to freeways only because it would make drivers feel like complete losers all the time
edit: fixed alt text
tweet by amtrak ben: i think we should build high speed rail next to freeways only because it would make drivers feel like complete losers all the time
edit: fixed alt text
This is what infuriates me on every interstate freeway drive is that Eisenhower didn’t just lay tracks along the median of every intestate. If we had done it then, we’d have an entire network for the most heavily utilized corridors with natural station locations.
It isn’t even about being stuck in traffic, it’s also about the mind-numbing expanse that would be much more enjoyable if I didn’t have to pay attention.
As a California native who has commuted 2hrs a day to work for decades, but got to live in the UK for a year: I was way more productive when I commuted by light rail/subway.
Instead of looking out for aholes looking to break check, cut you off, deny you changing lanes; I was able to respond to emails, make some calls and even have a descent breakfast off the morning truck while sitting in a wifi available seat traveling into London from Gatwick each day. Way less stressful overall.
I’m in Montréal, my commute by subway is slower than by car most of the time.
But I get 20 minutes of walking and fresh air and either watch an episode of TV or read a couple chapters of a book. It’s also consistently the same time every time by subway. Feels much better.
The median would probably be dangerous because of the tendency of automobiles to deroad
They essentially would need to expand the median, which would add even more cost to the system I think it would have been worth it, but they would need barriers on both sides of the rail it wouldn’t just be road rail road, it would be road | rail | road
My city has had these since 1989-90. In all that time, I have never heard of a car crashing into the tracks.