across America and sitting in traffic wasting time and energy.

We have the luxury of space (for the most part--except in large metropolitan areas like NYC and they have mass transit), so the suburban sprawl and very unsmart planning occurred. Now, with people living 30 mins or more from the hub and having to commute, we have lots of grid-lock and rising gas prices.

From an environmental stand-point, it makes a lot of sense to invest in HSR. The cost estimated for the train from tampa to orlando, walk on pass, was to be $30.00 (easily the cost of gas)... of course regular commuting pay pass would be much cheaper. The I-4 corridor would have been vastly eased. Companies from around the world were excited for a Southern city area that would be the feel size of Los Angelos, but the developing space and prices that would be affordable for newer "solar investment" companies, to just name one of the industries who would take advantage of a mass transit commuting train. In the meantime, the surrounding communities would have to come up with actual in-town transit that works to get people to the HSR in a practical manner.

Seeing that the transit people who run our bus seem to make it to their bus stop on time, I can also imagine that the engineers running these trains could also do their jobs as well... Individual people who work, are normally pretty decent at being capable... Its not as if congressional folks would be driving the train and they would probably only take it on its maiden voyage at the ribbon cutting ceremony, and for the rest of their lives use private jets to move around... the one's most of us cannot afford.

New York to Chicago would be a different story.

that would have tied Miami from the south and Atlanta to the north; very similar to the way urban subway systems grow and become viable.

It was chosen because the right of way (along I-4) was already in place and they could have started digging within months. Creating thousands of high paying jobs.

The viability of the line would have depended on a number of factors, including shifting more people through Orlando International airport (already the busiest in the state) and getting started on the rest of the rail network.

FL of all states should expand their mass transit. Have you seen who is driving in FL?

wait around for the train, shlep all his stuff onto it, and take another taxi from the other train station to his destination.

He's still going to just drive his Chevy.

doesn't mean it shouldn't be done now. Anyone who believes in the future of travel ought to support HSR infrastructure in ALL parts of the country.

Honestly, what's so bad about progress?

Coastal rail makes sense. Trains are already in heavy use in the northeast -- it's just not high speed yet.

this time, or really ever, now.

There have been a ton of things that America demanded, most notably single payer healthcare or at least the PO, and still didn't get it. What the people want out of government doesn't matter anymore. UNLESS it fits in with the capitalists' plans. Then it's fast tracked.

Apparently all we the People can decide on is how FAST we go to Hell in a handbasket. The destination stays the same.

We'll never get it together here.

Granted there needs to be better mass transportation in the cities that it would serve. This would give more options to job changers living in or near or that area, especially couples who both hold "professional" jobs. Commutes of 90 miles or so could be a lot quicker and less stressful.

New York to Washington is not too bad now, but New York to Boston has many places where the roadbed does not support high-speed operation. If you look at the Amtrak schedules, the Acela only beats the Regional by about half an hour on the Boston to NY section. Speeds are too slow to go from one city to the other, attend an all day meeting, and return in the evening.

Rail needs these speeds to compete with air, which provides for same day commuting among all the Boston Washington metros now.

Dallas, Houston, San Antonio/Austin

Hell, they were talking about that in the '80s. Did anything ever come of it?

But there's not much between Seguin and Katy. Haven't driven I-45, but is looks pretty empty between Huntsville and Corsicana.

I'd rather see the NE Corridor extended north to Portland ME and south via Richmond, St. Petersburg, Raleigh, Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Spartanburg, Greenville, Atlanta and Birmingham.

This would build on the only profitable existing intercity rail route to provide a connected system through much of the highest density population in the country. The only major population gap would be between Richmond and Raleigh, about 160 miles. It would connect 14 states with the capitol.

I've driven enough of 95 in my lifetime. Maine to Florida...

L.A to S.F. ~That maybe built by the time I am in my 70's.

After the recession, it's been quite crowded. Even so, it's always preferable to flying.

It was absolutely insane, and poor economics for the teabagger governors to give back money for high speed rail. This investment would have created jobs and economic opportunity.

Who knows? Accidents happen. Charlotte to Atlanta, sigh..

If Florida and Georgia want a HSR line run, cant Florida and Georgia (along with all the other neighboring States) just pool some resources, find a contractor that can do the job on time and on budget, and just go and build the damn thing?

If its done as a Regional project between States, doesn't it circumvent all that mucking about with the Federal Agencies, budgets, etc...

East Coast Line and wrap it west to New Orleans along the Gulf Coast, West Coast Line and wrap it southeast into Dallas or Houston, Central Line along I-29, with say, Chicago and Denver as the east-west boundary cities... It CAN'T be that much harder than the interstate Highway system, and really, that only took about 1 Presidential Term to get off the ground...

Thoughts?

Too many miles and too few people.

Also, running a rail line by the coast is expensive due to bridging, and it is exposed to hurricanes.

Better to go west from Atlanta to Birmingham, Memphis, Little Rock, to Dallas. Or Atlanta, Birmingham, Montgomery, Shreveport, Dallas -- this is the "Meridian Speedway". for freight.

one is the low population densities here versus europe which will make mass transit more expensive per person and the other is that once you get to your destination you're kinda screwed because there won't be a good bus/rail/etc system to get you around that town.

So if it's kinda close (like florida and georgia) you'd be better off just driving and then not having to rent a car once you get there.

Check out this youtube which shows how the track on the Amtrak line from Chicago to St. Louis is being upgraded for HSR.