” profitable even at the lowest ridership estimates and would not require public operating subsidies,....”
You have to read that closely. No “operating subsidies” required, (so they say). However, there’s no mention of ever actually paying off the capital grant. If you gave me a free railway, I might be able to operate it “profitably”. Just don’t expect to get your $100 billion back ... ever.
Yes, I guess if Boeing gave away its airplanes the airlines could be as “profitable” as this rail boondoggle.
Freeways pay back for themselves almost immediately. For half that money, California can build new freeways and upgrade existing ones. The infrastructure for future expansion already exists. California used to be the road-building state of the country.
Let’s flush billions down the drain of HSR!
Completion in 2033.
Everyone will be driving to work in their airplane cars by then.