HSR isn’t a bad idea, it’s just being badly mismanaged by the state of CA.
Here’s how it should be done:
(1) Solicit bids from existing, experienced contractors (SNCF, cough, ahem) for fixed-price contracts.
(2) Convince the Feds to allow a waiver to allow use of world-market trains, not US regulatory-specific overweight junque. Should actually be EASIER under Trump.
(3) Start building north from San Diego and south from San Francisco.
(4) Use existing routes when possible that can be bought out, electrified, and elevated if needed.
