Rail investments offer real people moving capacity at a far lower financial, social and environmental cost than more highways. The RTA plan also offers vastly improved bus service, serving major regional centers and destinations and providing new direct connections between suburbs. The express routes will free up 300,000 hours of bus service provided by local transit agencies that can be redirected into improved local service. Transit critics claim that public transportation is not cost-effective and that the key to solving congestion problems is to build more roads and highways. But the real problem is that investing in more highways just doesn't solve the problem.
More highways mean more driving.
The irrefutable evidence of the last 20 years is that new lanes are filled by more cars, creating a vicious, terribly expensive cycle of more roads, more traffic jams and more pollution. Trying to cure congestion by building more roads is like trying to cure obesity by loosening your belt. Other solutions Improved public transportation will not solve our transportation problems single-handedly. Investments in bicycling and walking are also essential. Another important step is to begin reducing the hidden subsidies for driving.