[jfengel]

I think it would also help to increase the visibility of those costs. The impression I get is that a lot of people take for granted that roads just appear, for example, while the taxes for commuter rail and public transit are an imposition.

[wutbrodo]

I don't think this is ever going to happen, at least not to any appreciable degree. People are powerfully stupid enough on their own, especially when it comes to status quo bias, and especially especially when it's in their own interests. There's a stable equilibrium in which road travel and sparsity aren't heavily subsidized, but I don't see any path there that involves trying to convince people first.

[toomuchtodo]

Agree entirely! I am an ardent supporter of accountability and transparency in government (spending including).