[timroman]

IMHO they're the same thing. Automate all cars to get around the right of way and high construction costs that limit rail development. I think the upgrades needed to roads are minimal in comparison. Maybe some sensors and signals but it may be just perfecting signage, lines, etc.

[sidewndr46]

Upgrading or retrofitting existing infrastructure to accommodate $60,000 luxury vehicles is not the same thing as building infrastructure that removes the need for car ownership.

[jazzyjackson]

Pavement holds up a lot better in rain and snow than electronics, and still needs to be replaced every few years. Agreed that it should be a bare minimum expectation to have the roads painted clearly, but there are plenty of roads in eg Chicago where I don’t think there is an official number of lanes, it’s just kind of a free for all. Just going through the whole system and deciding where the boundaries are is a gargantuan task. American railroads haven’t even managed to upgrade their signals for PTC without failures left and right - if riding Amtrak or NYC metro is any indication the cars will have to coast at 5mph whenever there are signal problems.

[sidewndr46]

Yeah, I was visiting Tucson recently and discovered they have lots of roads with no lines at all. Surprisingly, it may have actually made traffic substantially more relaxed as I think everyone was paying more attention.