Quote Originally Posted by ghettopalmetto View Post
You assume a paradigm that is static and permanent. What if:

"Detroit is already built out. We aren't starting from scratch. The question is whether, in a region completely reliant on the streetcars, a municipality would have any economic interest in increasing auto access." --1940s Detroit
That is a ridiculous analogy, because auto usage and demand was soaring in the 1940's, like no time in history. In contrast, current transit usage and demand has essentially never been lower.

If Detroit never built freeways back then, I would guess that the region would be even more screwed up than now. It would be the only U.S. city without widespread auto-based mobility, and the auto and logistics industry would have to relocate.