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SRen I did not say that rerouting buses was smoke and mirrors.  It is one of several tactics to get more people to ride the light rail trains and, therefore, help justify the cost.  But many people, because they don't understand how the system works, are led to believe that the increase in public transit ridership, following the opening of a light rail line, is attributable solely to the light rail line, when this is not the case.  Interestingly, when the first two DART lines were opened, some people, who rode the bus from their neighborhood to downtown, found their commute time was increased because of the rerouting of the bus and the required transfer to the train.DART's light rail ridership has been increasing steadily.  May 2008 saw an increase of nine per cent over May 2007.  But system wide ridership in 2007 was less than ridership in 2006.  The use of words like bizarre, ridiculous, etc. do little to promote discussion.  Moreover, email and forum etiquette equates the use of bold letters, all caps, and color, especially red, with shouting.  Clearly, maintaining our roadways in Texas, as well as building new ones, is challenging.  To say that they are falling apart is a stretch.  Actually, except for those in the center of some of our cities, they are in pretty good shape.Since we don't know what alternative fuels may be developed over the next decade or two, it is impossible to say how expensive they will be.  They could be very expensive, or they could be relatively inexpensive.  The pattern of cities in Texas does not lend itself to wide spread use of rail for public transit.  The populations density is too low.  Our cities were built around the automobile. This is why, except in a few instances, buses, as well as improveed auto and highway technology, is the wave of the future in Texas.  However, where existing rail facilities can be used, I support rail, especially commuter rail, which is what is happening in Austin and Houston.There is a big difference between funding highway improvements and building light or heavy rail systems.  Most of the drivers in Texas pay user taxes, as well as the federal and state taxes, that are used to build and maintain the federal and state highways in Texas.  Most of the cost of the light rail systems in Dallas and Houston were or are borne by non-users.  Whether Texas spends an appropriate amount for social services has nothing to do with a discussion of transport solutions.  Numbers, however, can be deceiving.  Many of the social services that are delivered by government agencies in other states are delivered by community organizations and churches in Texas.  Unless I am quoting from a national document, i.e. Amtrak's Monthly Reports, FAA Annual Report, etc. I confine my remarks to what I know best, which is Texas.  The United States is the third largest country in the world with the third largest population.  It is the largest multi-cultural society in the world.  It is diverse.  I would not have the nerve to comment on conditions in a part of the country with which I am not familiar.  That includes most areas outside of Texas, although I have lived in seven states as well as D.C.  But times have changed, so I confine my comments to Texas.
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