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[quote user="henry6"] [quote user="Samantha"] The U.S. could fund NARP's and the Passenger Rail Working Group's vision for a passenger rail network in the U.S.  It could build high speed rail between every significant metropolitan area in the country.  But given its other priorities, along with the aforesaid financial constraints, it could only do so with a hefty increase in taxes.  And most Americans will not support going there. [/quote] I follow you up to this paragraph.  I agree that high speed rail is not the panacea for rail travel and is highly overated by most porponents who vary in defining it.  But, "with a hefty increase in taxes" is applicable to the entire transportation system's future at this moment no matter what the mode.  And I have not heard a word from anyone here about privitizing airports like in Europe.  Are publicly owned and operated airports in our country sacred cows?  (Oh, I know there are some small private airports, and some public airports, where the fixed base operator is designated or charged with or acts as management by agreement. But I am talking about a Kennedy or a O'Hare or LAX.)[/quote]Improvements in many transport modes may or may not require a signficant tax increase.  It depends on how we want to pay for them.    More highways are being built as toll roads, at least in Texas, and planners are considering turning so-called free access highways into toll roads to pay for improvements.  Even the expansion of I-35 north of Dallas, according to the planners, will include toll lanes.  Tolls are direct user fees designed to pay for the roadway.Approximately 85 per cent of the cost of America's airways, including the airports, are paid for by landing fees, vendor rentals, etc. and are reflected in ticket prices.  Fees are direct user charges.
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