Part of the problem with city planners is that much of their job is just alleviating car traffic. And if they were successful at doing (like making good public transport and walkable cities) they would have far less work, and be put out of a job.

That being said, I think they would realistically just start working on other city issues, but I think that’s the mindset that keeps them building this kind of stuff.

I bet there’s also a factor of that things are already going in this direction, and it’s far more difficult to go against the grain.