The need for massive improvements, including dedicated truck lanes and expensive tolls, could be avoided if only truck traffic were diverted off the highways and onto the railroads, chants the rising chorus of rail enthusiasts.
Of course the Rail enthusiasts will go for this. They want the additional revenues from increased business. I would like to hear their explanations of how a train is going to stop at the local mall to offload its goods. Trucks will still be needed on the roads.
As far as tolls are concerned, I'd like to know what is becoming of the billions in fuel taxes which were supposed to be slated for roadways.
Freight rail may be good for long-distance transport, but it will never replace trucks for more local distances.
Some of the revenues have probably been wasted on pork. Another portion gets spent on mass transit. Other portions are diverted for other purposes. For example, in your state, Texas, a Constitutional amendment was approved which diverts 1/4 of your gasoline taxes to education.
Even if all fuel tax revenues and licensing and registration fees were diverted to roads, however, I'm not sure that would solve the present crisis. Road-building seems to be getting mighty expensive, in part, I conclude, because of trade restrictions and/or tariffs on Mexican cement, foreign steel, and Canadian lumber (the last can be used for guardrail posts and signposts).