No, that's totally wrong. The United States use to have more passenger rail than Europe did today. It happened over a very short period of time and it can be made better in a short period of time. Seattle's ST3 project could prove this if it moves the suburban areas close together around rail stations.

There's a great Wendover video one this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cjfTG8DbwA

Transportation is the single greatest factor in reducing the number of people in poverty in a city. This isn't just opinion, there are a number of studies that suggest this. American can greatly reduce poverty, pollution and gridlock if we got over our apprehension to rails.

Do you mean it's wrong that it's too late? I hope so, it is just hard to see the incumbent attitude and industries that support it going away quite so easily.

I think we might be in agreeance, and I am all for more rail and public transport. My little prediction was just musing about a possible outcome should we follow the autonomous car route, which I think would be the wrong choice.

I am happy to see that there are some projects working on alternatives (or I guess in some ways, bringing back what used to work).

With extensive rail comes easier cycling infrastructure as well, as it just follows the rail and is separated from the car traffic. It's a much more positive outcome for many reasons.