“Or they wouldn’t build the projects at all”
Well OMG that would be their democratic choice, wouldn’t it.
That's fine. Then be prepared for the day when Montana, Wyoming and the Dakotas make a democratic choice to become Canadian provinces -- because it's easier for them to trade through Canadian ports like Halifax, Vancouver and Prince Rupert.
That's the whole point of having a national policy on transportation infrastructure ... to avoid that very scenario.