High Speed Rubber

If Yglesias likes steel, I like asphalt.

Here is my invention, the diesel electric 100 person high speed bus. It is a four or five car articulated configuration. The engine runs the fixed speed diesel/electric, the cars have electric drive, all steering is microprocessor assisted. It can move 100 people over 140 MPH, and then drive into town.

My High Speed Busways would be asphalt, protected lanes with full traffic control and digital signal assist. These busways would run up and down main traffic corridors using re-purposed roads. Off the busway they mix with traffic if they have signal assist. Busways also support microprocessor assisted high speed freight. Every busway has human traffic control.

I anticipate my bus speedways will cost 1/4 the cost of high speed rail (per mile) , and 1/10 the platform costs. Because high speed buses can mix with traffic, there is less intermodal process. High Speed Busways can be built in short lines, 35 mile or greater, allowing incremental growth. Busways would be unique to America given our vast array of asphalt roads.

Then we add high speed freight carriers in the same configuration. We get 1/2 reduction in fuel from engine management alone. Busways pull heavy traffic off of automobile roads by virtue if efficiency. Less heavy traffic mixing with the auto means smaller cars sooner.

I have to mention rolling resistance. Steel wheel on track has better rolling resistance than rubber tire. But if the Busways have good pavement, slow turns, and microprocessor controlled car steering with advanced tires; then the rolling resistance will be a mere double that of steel wheel.