Get a bunch of American transportation infrastructure enthusiasts in a room together, and it won’t be long before conversation turns to lamentations of the country’s stunted passenger rail . While it’s true that in comparison to European and Asian networks, Amtrak lags decades behind in terms of speed, reliability and amenities, what’s rarely mentioned is how poorly the United States maximizes the use of one of its strongest national resources: the interstate highway system. There are 46,876 miles of asphalt currently crisscrossing the country, more than double the steel rails available to Amtrak. And yet, a failure of imagination has allowed mass transit along these roads — which, unlike passenger rail’s 500 or so available stations, lead to every conceivable destination — to fall into the depths of a low-buck nightmare. Despite moving twice as many passengers as Amtrak on an annual basis, the intercity bus market is viewed as a bargain basement penalty box at best, particularly … [Read more...] about Regional Air Travel Sucks. Why Aren’t There More Luxury Buses?