On a road to nowhere

On a road to nowhere
February 17, 2006
ANN McFEATTERS
Block News Alliance
Capitol Hill Blue

If there is one thing that unites Americans, besides a reluctance to hunt with Dick Cheney, it's frustration over the nation's worsening traffic congestion.

Everywhere you go, people want to know how long it took you to get there.

That is followed by the inevitable sigh, a commiserating nod of the head and, "That's bad, but that's nothing compared with what I went through. Let me tell you. ..."

A peek into President Bush's proposed budget will not reassure you that the situation will improve. He wants to cut spending by the Department of Transportation.

The nation's infrastructure is crumbling, but outmoded highways and bridges are not slated for dramatic repairs or rebuilding. Mass transit simply is not on the White House radar screen.

The budget for Amtrak whacks $394 million out of rail spending and would wipe out a loan program aimed at fixing deteriorating rails.....