[dilyevsky]

I think you've missed the point - that wasn't the reason at all. In a way he was right too - we'll have fully autonomous buses and private vehicles capable of making the full trip down the I-5 long before they complete even the middle of nowhere section they currently have planned.

[SwellJoe]

Autonomous buses and private vehicles don't solve any of the problems high speed rail solves.

[dilyevsky]

They're basically not building anything, and what they are building will be borderline unusable because of the route they chose so the car will be faster, cleaner and more convenient. If you want fast you can take the plane. So unless the problem is "how do we siphon as much tax dollars as possible banana republic-style?" I really can't agree here.