Reply #13: Other: Investment in national rail service / lightrail and a total rethinking of our housing policy [View All]

[liskddksil]

The reason people can tolereate even higher gas prices in Europe, for the most part, is that they are not dependent on automobiles to fulfill their every need as they live in neighborhoods and cities where you can walk places, which are in turn connected by rail to other areas. The opposite is true here, as we have totally disregarded train service, and pursued fifty years of policies that encourage highways, and sprawling subdivisions, strip malls, and office parks. Instead of widening more highways here, which only cause more outward development, and even create more traffic, that money should be invested in train service. In addition housing policies should be pursued intended to reward developers that use existing sights in cities, possibly brownfield industrial sights, where infrastructure already exists. Metro Portland Oregon pursued a policy that limited future development outside a certain radius of the city, to protect open space and reduce sprawl, which while at first was met with hesitation became overwhelmingly recieved by the public. When people live close enough to their work and recreation, to walk or bike, and won't be dependent on cars, it will be a huge relief for energy use, and greenspace, foster the revitilization of cities, create stronger communities.