Highways and Railroads: Detours and Delays

As Memorial Day kicks off another travel season, millions of Americans will find that transportation infrastructure is on the decline. Roads and bridges are crumbing, while Congress, mired in long-running disagreements over funding for the Highway Trust Fund and railroad safety, passes short-term funding that delays long-term repairs and construction. New technology to increase the safety of passenger trains is likely to be postponed, despite last week's deadly derailment. As the US falls behind the rest of the world, conservatives blame government incompetence, while progressives insist there's just not enough money.