That is exactly the sort of thing I'd like to see in Tulsa for the closer in parts of town. Areas farther out should be served by park and ride off-street rail. (Perhaps with some trolleys to feed the stops eventually)
A large part of the impediment is just getting people to realize that the government is subsidizing their transportation choice regardless of what mode they are using. Car, bicycle, pedestrian, bus, trolley, light rail, heavy rail, whatever. It's all subsidized. Until that happens, all we'll get is a bunch of noise about socialism.
Every time the conversation turns to,,, we need to; build a new road here, widen this road, build that bridge, widen this intersection, re-pave, etc. etc. Let out the conservative battle cry "Keep government out of the transportation business!" "Let the free market do it, its the TRUE conservative way!" Post that on every TW article related to roads and rail. Next time your at a conservative political event, shout that out, bring placards, etc.
Be a REAL conservative, more conservative than the usual pretenders, and that might "key" them in on a few things.
(same thing with medicare and medicade,,, Keep the Goverment out of Health Care!)
Frankly I think it would be a brilliant idea regardless. I doubt very much that if all the roads were built and maintained by free market forces, developers, retailers, etc. that we would see the sprawl we do today and I bet we would see a LOT more density and rail looking very competitive.