Normally I would agree with you but our laws almost prevent private infrastructure work in cities this large. Even if a project like this would be profitable it still wouldn’t get done because of the massive issues related to buying properties, zoning, right of way issues, and environmental and various other regulatory studies. Even though they’re more efficient, projects like this (even if they could be done) would cost more then the government price tag because they could simply change the regulatory laws and use eminent domain (this is a transportation issue).
Now while I don’t know the details of this particular issue, I think ideas LIKE this are a vast improvement over plans to use high speed rail or maglev. Its generally local and compared to some other estimates I’ve seen, much much cheaper.
Yes, but it's the choice between losing tens of millions or billions.
NOWHERE in the USA is there a system like this that doesn't slurp up millions in taxpayer subsidies.
ALL of them are money losers. Some like our Toy Train here in Houston, are flat dangerous. Since it opened a couple years ago, the Toy Train has had over 100 wrecks.
The nearly empty Metro busses are bad enough. We could buy a new Mercedes every three years for EVERY bus rider for the subsidy paid to a bloated public transit employee union.
I wouldn't want to pay for a new Rolls-Royce for every train rider, and that's what it'll be. You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig.