It's so nice that our local leaders and state legislators are living in the mid-20th century. Perhaps we should invite them into the 21st century, where we have learned a few things. One of those things is that induced demand is very real. Build more travel lanes and you will increase congestion. It's now a proven fact. The peer-reviewed evidence is so solid that even car-loving CalTrans has accepted it and is revising its policies to stop widening roads.

Another thing we have learned is that an intercity rail system that offers only a couple of trains per day will not get anyone out of their cars, particularly when it doesn't align well with the public transit along the way. 

Then, of course, there's catastrophic climate change. Who cares that 2016 is on track to be the warmest year in recorded history, the third such in three years? Certainly not our ignorant transportation officials as they seek to do ever-more damage by promoting car travel.