Wall Street Journal special report
May 2011
Move It!
Not only are we spending too little on transportation right now, but we're not spending it wisely. Here's the case for a new approach that puts transportation squarely in the service of the American economy.
The Little Engine Really Could
At last, technology is on the verge of transforming freight rail. The likely outcome: a digital network carrying greater volumes at faster speeds and lower costs.
The Future of Freight Railroads
Freight railroads have made a strong comeback in recent years. Can they stay on track? Four experts with long involvement in the rail industry offer their opinions.
Buses Catch On
Bus rapid transit, which combines the flexibility of buses with the speed, comfort and reliability of rail, is the hottest trend in urban mass transit in the developing world.
Don't Count Hydrogen Fuel Cells Out
Battery-powered electric cars have stolen the thunder of this once ballyhooed technology, but a growing number of auto executives still think it's the ultimate alternative fuel.
Charging Stations Could Use Subscriptions
As electric cars proliferate, the business of recharging them may look less like the filling-station model and more like the way consumers pay for cellphone service.
Map: Electric-Vehicle Charging Stations
Car Talk and Talk and...
Vehicles that constantly communicate with each other and with an information grid could save a lot of lives by preventing crashes—if drivers don't resist the technology because of privacy concerns.
Has the Monorail's Future Arrived?
Monorails are getting a fresh look as São Paulo and a handful of other big cities in emerging economies embrace the technology as a way to meet surging demand for
mass transit.
Airlines Promise: It Will Get Better
They say passengers can expect smoother check-ins and more comfortable flights. We'll have to see.
Air Travel's New Era of Self-Control
The FAA is pushing for a $20 billion overhaul of the nation's air-traffic-control system that would let pilots choose their routes, saving fuel, cutting emissions and reducing congestion.
Past Tomorrow's Transport Reports
Fossil Fuelled
Examining the various threats to the global motor industry and highlighting the steps that car makers are taking to overcome them.
Questions on Future of Air Travel Smolder
The closure of airspace amid a cloud of volcanic ash offered a painful reminder of the truths about jet travel: Modern society can't function without it, and the whole system is easily thrown into chaos.
The Roads Not Taken
People have imagined the future of transportation at least since Leonardo da Vinci sketched a flying machine. Here are some past ideas of future travel that never quite came to pass.
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