Getting There: The Epic Struggle Between Road and Rail in the American Century

Getting There chronicles the competition between railroad and automobile transportation in 20th century America. The book tracks the rise of both industries and their battle for dominance over the nation's transportation system. Through historical records and detailed research, Goddard examines the roles of key figures in both the rail and automotive sectors, including Henry Ford and Alfred P. Sloan. The narrative covers policy decisions, business strategies, and technological developments that shaped America's transportation infrastructure. The book documents how various interest groups - from oil companies to labor unions - influenced the trajectory of American mobility. It presents previously unexplored aspects of familiar historical events and lesser-known turning points in transportation policy. This transportation history serves as a lens for understanding broader themes of American economic development, corporate power, and the relationship between private enterprise and public policy. The story reveals how infrastructure choices made decades ago continue to impact modern American life.

Readers describe this as a balanced account of how automobiles came to dominate American transportation, with thorough research on the political and business forces involved. Positives from reviews: - Clear explanation of complex policy decisions and corporate maneuvering - Strong documentation and historical detail - Presents both sides without obvious bias - Makes dry policy topics engaging through storytelling Common criticisms: - Can be dense and academic in tone - Some sections drag with excessive detail - A few readers found the anti-car perspective too subtle Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (21 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (8 ratings) Notable reader comments: "Enlightening look at how we ended up with our current transportation system" - Goodreads reviewer "Well-researched but sometimes dry reading" - Amazon reviewer "Should be required reading for urban planners" - LibraryThing review The book receives limited reviews online but maintains consistent ratings around 4/5 stars across platforms.

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🚂 The book reveals how General Motors actively worked to dismantle electric streetcar systems in over 40 American cities through a holding company called National City Lines, contributing to the decline of public transit. 🛣️ Author Stephen B. Goddard spent five years researching transportation history and conducted over 100 interviews with industry experts, government officials, and transportation pioneers to write this comprehensive account. 🚗 The rise of America's interstate highway system, detailed in the book, required the demolition of approximately 1 million homes and displaced nearly 4 million people between 1957 and 1977. 🚅 Despite fierce opposition from railroad companies, President Eisenhower pushed for the Interstate Highway Act after being impressed by Germany's autobahn system during World War II. 📈 The book explains how the U.S. government invested $119 billion in highways between 1956-1989, while railroads received just $1 billion in government support during the same period.