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Truly interesting times we live in when Libertarians openly express admiration for Japan and Switzerland. Very interesting discussion going on here. Thought I'd through in my own two cents. I see public/private sector partnerships as the only viable way to make major infrastructure improvements nowadays(We can debate ideology till we're all blue in the face,but,contrary to what habitual talk radio listeners may think,this doesn't play nearly as big a role in the "big decisions"). The idea is to try for the "best of both world's"(although sometime you'll get the opposite). Keep in mind also that many other countries in the "developed world" have a different transportation infrastructure mix than the US,but this is largely due to a combination of smaller size and government mandate. Technical ideas which may be germaine to the light railcar concept:Superconducting Flywheel Energy Storage System-charge it up overnight when electricity is cheapest. Prototypes exist. Methane to burn in fuel cells and or turbines-extract it from municipal waste and then burn the remaining solids using the heat to power generators(Wow,I've just ticked off both the enviromentalists(incinerators!) and the hardcore conservatives(alternate energy!))for Flywheel power. How about also adapting some of this technology for lightweight,self propelled intermodal freight equipment(where's John Kneiling when you need him). Go after shorthaul,small load business dominated by trucking,should interface nicely with conventional heavy rail intermodal for long distance/heavy hauls. I agree that a good vision of an advanced personal transportation system would be private car/van/truck for short trips which runs on a rail carrier/powered guideway/monorail/maglev for long distances, Although I'm still waiting for my "flying car"(given the way people operate their vehicles here in New England I'd like an ejection seat and a couple of sidewinders on mine,please).
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