Reply #10: I will lead you to salvation.

[dcfirefighter]

sure I will.

I'm sure this would work:

www.carfree.com
surrounded by parkland and largely organic smallhold farming communities.
Pay for transit by capturing the real-estate value it creates, through a land value tax.
Encourage employment and productivity by reducing taxes on employment and productivity.

I see surface trams run along existing roadways, I particularly like Ultra-light rail running on shallow footers. I also think that, in urban areas, there should be no fare for tram-use, just like elevators in buildings. Again, pay for the operating costs by recapturing the value it creates - pretty much the same way they pay for it in buildings.

A more direct - and expensive - transit option would be available for a fare: Personal Rapid Transit. I've heard this described as packet switching for people, it involves a network of slim elevated trackways, small 3 person cars, and direct express service from every station to any station. The promoters calculate the operating cost at about $0.22/mi, and the energy use at 1/5th that of an automobile (less than a metro subway).