Uploaded January 2025 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
In this episode, Bob and Seamus debate the practicality of a mass public transit and a national high-speed rail system with new guy, Zach.
While high-speed rail *could* be an environmentally friendly and superior alternative to cars and planes, America’s existing transportation infrastructure—highways and air travel—already provides effective and versatile options. High-speed rail, in our actual reality, comes with staggering costs, delays, and environmental impact of building such a system.
See also: California’s high-speed train -- which is now estimated to cost 3x its original budget after making virtually no progress on construction in 15 years.
Successful public transit also requires high social trust, which is undermined by a tolerance for antisocial behavior like aggression and vagrancy—issues which have become increasingly common in urban transit systems. Advocates on both sides of this issue clash between idealistic visions of mass transit and the messy reality of human behavior, costs, and practicality.
______________________________
fee.org/articles/californias-high-speed-train-makes-solyndra-look-like-a-bargain
fee.org/articles/should-government-build-the-railroads
fee.org/articles/urban-mass-transit-out-of-suburban-sprawl
fee.org/articles/are-highways-subsidized
fee.org/articles/mass-transit-boondoggles-create-pollution-and-traffic-congestion
fee.org/articles/does-light-rail-worsen-congestion-and-air-quality
newsweek.com/how-california-high-speed-rail-line-will-advance-2025-2004792
youtube.com/watch?v=FgHSYHXFfwg
latimes.com/local/california/la-me-california-high-speed-rail-consultants-20190426-story.html
constructiondive.com/news/california-high-speed-rail-cost-jumps-to-128b/645269/#:~:text=The%20price%20tag%20for%20the%20rail%20system,$33%20billion%20cost%20voters%20approved%20in%202008
-- Public Transit and Crime --
transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/2024-01/Transit-Agency-Perspectives-on-Customer-Assault-Summary-Report-1-26-24.pdf
https://collected.jcu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=jep
sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352146517304362
ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/preventing-mass-transit-crime
https://manhattan.institute/event/turning-around-new-york-city-transit-crime
https://crim.sas.upenn.edu/working-papers/effect-rail-transit-crime-study-los-angeles-1988-2014
routledge.com/Transit-Crime-and-Sexual-Violence-in-Cities-International-Evidence-and-Prevention/Ceccato-Loukaitou-Sideris/p/book/9780367258627
nytimes.com/2022/04/25/us/public-transit-crime.html
usnews.com/news/best-states/new-york/articles/2024-03-07/transit-crime-is-back-as-a-top-concern-in-some-us-cities-and-political-leaders-have-taken-notice
abcnews.go.com/US/rise-mass-transit-crime-la-officials-searching-solutions/story?id=108745419
In this episode, Bob and Seamus debate the practicality of a mass public transit and a national high-speed rail system with new guy, Zach.
While high-speed rail *could* be an environmentally friendly and superior alternative to cars and planes, America’s existing transportation infrastructure—highways and air travel—already provides effective and versatile options. High-speed rail, in our actual reality, comes with staggering costs, delays, and environmental impact of building such a system.
See also: California’s high-speed train -- which is now estimated to cost 3x its original budget after making virtually no progress on construction in 15 years.
Successful public transit also requires high social trust, which is undermined by a tolerance for antisocial behavior like aggression and vagrancy—issues which have become increasingly common in urban transit systems. Advocates on both sides of this issue clash between idealistic visions of mass transit and the messy reality of human behavior, costs, and practicality.
______________________________
fee.org/articles/californias-high-speed-train-makes-solyndra-look-like-a-bargain
fee.org/articles/should-government-build-the-railroads
fee.org/articles/urban-mass-transit-out-of-suburban-sprawl
fee.org/articles/are-highways-subsidized
fee.org/articles/mass-transit-boondoggles-create-pollution-and-traffic-congestion
fee.org/articles/does-light-rail-worsen-congestion-and-air-quality
newsweek.com/how-california-high-speed-rail-line-will-advance-2025-2004792
youtube.com/watch?v=FgHSYHXFfwg
latimes.com/local/california/la-me-california-high-speed-rail-consultants-20190426-story.html
constructiondive.com/news/california-high-speed-rail-cost-jumps-to-128b/645269/#:~:text=The%20price%20tag%20for%20the%20rail%20system,$33%20billion%20cost%20voters%20approved%20in%202008
-- Public Transit and Crime --
transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/2024-01/Transit-Agency-Perspectives-on-Customer-Assault-Summary-Report-1-26-24.pdf
https://collected.jcu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=jep
sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352146517304362
ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/preventing-mass-transit-crime
https://manhattan.institute/event/turning-around-new-york-city-transit-crime
https://crim.sas.upenn.edu/working-papers/effect-rail-transit-crime-study-los-angeles-1988-2014
routledge.com/Transit-Crime-and-Sexual-Violence-in-Cities-International-Evidence-and-Prevention/Ceccato-Loukaitou-Sideris/p/book/9780367258627
nytimes.com/2022/04/25/us/public-transit-crime.html
usnews.com/news/best-states/new-york/articles/2024-03-07/transit-crime-is-back-as-a-top-concern-in-some-us-cities-and-political-leaders-have-taken-notice
abcnews.go.com/US/rise-mass-transit-crime-la-officials-searching-solutions/story?id=108745419
