I don't think anyone wants to solve the hard problems of mass transit, I think people are looking for cheap workarounds. Everyone wants to start the next Uber, and this is a major unsolved problem. However, the history of failed private transportation ideas is really interesting, and really detrimental to the stuff that actually works: walkable areas, biking, trains, buses, etc.

Hell, there's a suburb outside of Miami that just vetoed a rail project because "self driving cars are right around the corner!" which sure sounds like the flying car predictions of the 50s-70s.