Transportation Woe$: A Series.

Note to Feds: take out your pen and paper, China is makin some moves.

China:
While the US bickers over how much of the Stimulus will go to infrastructure needs, which at its peak was only 10% of the $890Billy, now $1.5Trilly, Stimulus package, China is choosing the light-rail-resolution. The emerging world power is spending $88 billion to create an intercity light-rail system, this year. Last year it spent over $44Billy, and has spent $12Billy on the project since 2004. Day-ummm!

With the case of China, it is important to note that when it comes to human rights concerns, well, they're aren't any. My professor noted in a past lecture, that if China decides it wants light rail it will do so, even if its through the middle of a village/town/community- its done. No debate, no community input, no need for this really, because the Chinese gov does what it wants, and thats final. So even though light-rail is amazing, and will have a positive environmental effect, the project will no doubt, displace hella families etc.

Also, when compared to the US Stimulus, infrastructure is an easy out and justification for the US government to invest in: its something people use everyday, it has the potential to provide jobs, it has the potential to evolve. Even so, infrastructure in this country still only applies to the automobile - i.e. roads/freeways, instead of public transportation, walking, and biking.

Even though with light-rail progressing, over 1,000 new cars join Chinese streets a day, and the country just surpassed the US in the number of cars purchased in a year. Maybe the light rail movement is too little too late.