[UncleDick]

Rapid rail (not necessarily "light") systems are the best solution for our urban-suburban traffic congestion problems,

Rail sucks. Too many points of failure, fixed (i.e. inconvenient) routes, and slow as molasses. If you're talking public transit, buses are the best way to go.

The real solution to the problem is, of course, privatization, but the government (and their loyal private contractors) will never give up on the lucrative transportation racket.

[ROLF of the HILL COUNTRY]

"...fixed (i.e. inconvenient) routes, and slow as molasses."

Whaa...?
Where have you been the for the last half century? MODERN rail systems are NOT slow! Most of the new systems halve the commute time, even with their numerous stops. As for inconvenient routes or stations; now, that all depends on how well the thing is planned. The ones in Europe are great, and the Metro in DC is wonderful. I grew up in NoVa and believe me, driving into DC was always a hassle, and now it's ridiculous! I wouldn't think of driving into DC anymore; the Metro is fast, clean, cheap, and convenient. I will say NoVa got shortchanged on the number routes and stations, but I believe our local governments were to blame for that (a lack of vision thing, ya know.)

[lentulusgracchus]

The real solution to the problem is, of course, privatization

Privatization just intensifies the profit motive and drives the grid toward maximization of revenues, and away from maximizing utility to the public.

Remember, the toll road operator's dream is bumper-to-bumper traffic and no alternative routes. As far as mobility is concerned, the revenue maximizer's optimum outcome looks like total mission failure. That's because the the transportation agenda of a profit enterprise is radically different from that of a mobility enterprise like a state highway department.