Why is it so expensive and is there an alternative out there that won’t break so easily especially in the winter? My state is spending like a billion dollars a year on roads that they’ll probably have to fix in 5 years, it really seems like a huge waste of money.
Good Public transportation would fix a lot of these costs I know but what other road materials/solutions are out there?
Thank you for the answers and for putting up with my follow up questions. I’m learning a lot!
Train tracks
I’m pretty sure per mile, train tracks are more expensive than asphalt roads. Even per passenger the cost savings are a bit questionable. A single urban rail line typically runs hundreds of millions to billions to construct, and more to operate.
Let’s be real, there are many advantages to mass transit, including safety, easing congestion and reducing emissions. But cost? No. Just no. If that were true, a capitalist system would have already capitalized on the opportunity
Train tracks are more expensive to build than roadways, yes, but they last many times longer and usually require less maintenance.
This is so wrong. Obviously depends on many factors, but on a per km basis rail is similar, if not slightly less than a lane of highway. In Australia this was estimated to be around $6.5million per km for either.
Hong Kong and Japan are both infamously capitalistic societies, and have capitalized heavily on rail.
Figures don’t add up when it comes to rail versus road - https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/figures-dont-add-up-when-it-comes-to-rail-versus-road-20090625-cy58.html
They are actually using asphalt under the balast at least in some European countries. Also, some HSL have the balast replaced by a concrete slab. It’s also the case for tunnels.
The new metro lines are often using concrete slab as well. Trams actually too.