The expense (and misery) of a car-centric Atlanta and America

Bankrate crowned Georgia the state with the highest "hidden" costs of car ownership, recently. Here in Atlanta, you have to add "time spent in the car" as one of those hidden costs, given the gridlock we deal with getting to and from work or running our personal errands. Then you have Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens ... who has a pivotal role in whether the city (and region) take a forward-facing approach to transit - giving us "yeah, but ..." answers when asked if he supports rail expansion just in his city. Actually, he answered questions with questions, and fortunately, the "Beltline Rail Now!" folks provided answers. Here's the thing: why is "cost" always the bucket of cold water dousing transit expansion but never employed when the Georgia DOT wants to add another "pay lane" to an expressway, or informs us of another geometric marvel of an interchange? Incidentally, the BRN folks are rallying Saturday morning. Thought you may want to know. Listen, the conversation today feels "Atlanta-centric," but really, it's one most of the top-100 metro areas of any size in this country should be having.