[merpnderp]

"119 mile under active construction" does not disagree with "the state has not laid a single mile of track."

Under active construction could simply mean the land is being graded and prepped, or with modern weasel wording it could mean a dozen different surveys are under review. But given there was a time with rail was laid at a mile per day, 119 miles being "under construction" for the last 4 years does seem to make the author's point.

[secabeen]

Rail was laid at about a mile a day, and a worker on said project died every two-four days (up to 1,000 deaths across 7 years). We could probably build rail faster if we threw safety out the window too.

Yes, that's not the only difference between now and then, but it is an important factor to include in your analysis.

[InCityDreams]

We discussing safety, or track laid?