Normally transportation projects seek to complement existing mode of transport. CA HSR was doomed to fail it was envision as an alternative to driving and flyin

Normally transportation projects seek to complement existing mode of transport. CA HSR was doomed to fail it was envision as an alternative to driving and flying. The lack of synergy means benefits would come at too high a cost and to too few people. If the money had been spent on a mag-lev line connecting SF and SJ instead, I imagine it'd be close to completion already.