To me it seems that we are going to see a build out in both mass transit local traffic and rail inter-city travel.

For inter city transit of up to 500 to 700 miles, I believe we will, as part of the Obama plan, see the revival of rail transit and likely, high speed rail. Simply, under 500 to 700 miles air transportation does not make much sense. Air transportation will concentrate on the 700 mile plus market where they can achieve the cost advantages denied to the high fuel consumption inefficent short duration flights with their fuel inefficent many takeoffs and landings.

For sparsely populated sections of the country, fossil fueled (primarily gasoline and diesel) will continue to be the primary fuel due to the distances involved making electric cars and their limited range undesirable. In the high population density areas, I can see the two car family owning two vehicles. One a conventional gasoline fueled vehicle and the other an electric or hybrid.

However, the build out of such an integrated comprehensive transit system, will not be cheap, easily, or quickly accomplished. In realistic terms, I see this as a 30 to 40 year transiton. We will by such time be facing serious problems with shortages of petroleum based fuels.

The period encompassed will afford many investment opportunites across the options as the future progresses. Oil fueled transportation will slowly but inexorablly give way to alternative means. That is OK, as all of the above will offer investment opportunites. Only a few of us are likely to live long enough to witness the completion of this total change evolution. Unfotyunately, I at present age 60 will not.

Brian