Energy
Two of America's greater needs are a reduction in our dependency on oil and a WPA type jobs program. Both can be accomplished by automating the highways. Automating the highways will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, reduce green house gas emissions, reduce the stress of the daily commute, make us more productive, and create thousands, if not millions, of jobs right here in America.
One way to do this would be to first start with the commuter rail. Create an elevated, automated, electrified, individualized commuter rail above the existing commuter rail. From what we learn by doing this we can then automate the subway system and finally the highways themselves.
Automating the highways should be this generations Apollo program.