Had the idiots in California and in Texas simply allowed the original private consortiums to build high speed rail with private funds then both projects would now be up and running and (GASP!) they’d probably also be profitable.
Instead both states have proven the Reagan Axiom that if it moves tax it, if it stops moving subsidize it.
“then both projects would now be up and running and (GASP!) they’d probably also be profitable.”
Florida allows citizens to submit ballot issues to include in the constitution. As a result we have in the constitution that the state must build high speed rail from Miami to Orlando. It has been about ten years and not one word has been said. The problem is, you need a car to get around either city. It does no good to arrive anywhere in either city and not be able to get around. Once you pay the ticket price and rent a car, any savings of getting there at 200 miles per hour is overcome by the cost of just moving around once you get there. This is because neither city has much of a people mover system to handle the traffic. Nor is going anywhere by bus in an American city a nice experience. Getting on and off and probably even on the bus you’d have to deal with the homeless, panhandlers and druggies. Then, there would be the odd “knockout” game player.
No one would ride from those two undesirable California locations, and, if they did, how would they get around once they arrived?
Except neither can afford fair price for farmlands.
In a politically-plagued state like California, what good is a high-speed rail system? If they ran it to the nearest border, they might save money & serve a purpose at the same time.