Germany Sets the New Standard for Cheap, National Mass Transit

bloomberg.com

Is it a function of population density to make this economically feasible? Some US states could meet the criterion, but financing is difficult because rights-of-way are so expensive.

Europe: 87 people per sq mile

Germany: 623 ppsm

Italy: 532 ppsm

UK: 727 ppsm

United States 93

District of Columbia 10,984

New Jersey 1,260

Rhode Island 1,059

Massachusetts 895

Connecticut 744

Maryland 635

Delaware 514

New York 420

Florida 406

Pennsylvania 289

Ohio 288

California 251

why would it be? it is just a question of who (how many?) pays the infrastructure and not how much the infrastructure costs

I would expect most transport emissions (and costs to the individual) are local, within their city not within their country? Does this actually accomplish much beyond bragging rights and a slight bump for tourism within the country?

Edit: Not to suggest this is a bad thing, just wondering if it actually has a tangible effect.

It's not just about emissions. It's also about cities full of cars.

Even in the car-obsessed USA the cities with the best public transit are the cities that are the most prosperous.

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