Getting close to very high speed bus rapid transit.

This BRT is close, having lane guidance and hybrid diesel electric drive.  It needs two more articulated cars to carry large numbers of passengers.  One of these can be souped up to run 120 MPH, good enough for high speed cross county travel.   Versions of this will currently carry 180 passengers.Electric all wheel drive distributes tire friction and avoids tearing up the Fast Lane.  It is called Phileas, developed by the Dutch.

The idea I am interested in is running these at constant 120 MPH  speed from Los Angeles to Vegas,  using a narrow curbed and paved lane along highway 15.  So passengers make the trip in 2 hours, by bus!

What does it cost to take a half lane in the meridian of 15 and curb it?  They have machines that roll along and curb and pave.  Keep costs down to 2 million /mile excluding boarding stations.  Sell tickets at $100, and sell the same carrying capacity to cargo movers.    The Fast Lane should generate $1,000 in road fees per trip.

Compare the efficiency of paving vs track laying, the ability to also use existing roads.  Ultimately, the rubber tire and asphalt road will outperform steel track itself in speed.

Putting these fast BRT on existing interstates will be a proven bond deal, backed by road fees.  Our Congress needs to deregulate the road fee system we have and begin to lease out lane capacity to value added transport companies.  UPS, FedEx, Greyhound will be the greatest supporters, as well as the tourist industry.  This bus makes Las Vegas a potential bedroom city to LA.

The Fast Lane is controlled traffic, and most speeds, even for local jaunts are 100 MPH and digitally controlled.  Traffic control can move these rubber wheeled trams into and out of the Fast Lane with no disruption to expresses service.

The enormous utility of moving  large loads at such high speeds would also make Las Vegas the warehouse for LA, and likely drive Utah to cooperate in finishing a leg up to the Salt lake.  I can see  tolls close to a billion a year on Route 15 from LA to Salt Lake.