3 ms·

This is true of Japan as well and they have no trouble with significantly more ambitious projects. Don't buy into California's snowflake syndrome.

• magduf 7y ago
  Exactly. I just rode the Shinkansen in Japan from Tokyo to Kyoto. The train peaks at 185mph, and a significant portion of the route is straight through mountains, in tunnels. And don't forget just how prone to earthquakes Japan is. Finally, this line was first built in the 1960s! California is just pathetic if they can't build something that's much less ambitious than that in the 2010s/20s through terrain that's much easier. Oh, and that's just one Shinkansen line (and the most heavily-used one). They have them all across the country. I rode another one to the west coast, and saw yet another line under construction; that one was elevated. Finally, about Japan in general from what I saw there: there was lots of construction of all kinds going on. New buildings, renovated buildings, new train lines, construction on subway stations, etc. When they need something, they just seem to build it. Over here, we just argue about stuff and then never get any kind of public-works projects done.
  • 9nGQluzmnq3M 7y ago
    While I'm not going to dispute Japanese engineering prowess, I do have to note that a lot of the construction going on in Japan is pure pork-barrel politics. The Chuo Maglev under construction from Tokyo to Nagoya is never expected to recoup its exorbitant construction costs, and all new Shinkansen lines & expressways under construction or opened in the last 20 years are bleeding red ink.
    • magduf 7y ago
      >The Chuo Maglev under construction from Tokyo to Nagoya is never expected to recoup its exorbitant construction costs, and all new Shinkansen lines & expressways under construction or opened in the last 20 years are bleeding red ink. Exactly how profitable is the American Interstate highway system? How much money does America's highways earn per year in fares?