If we constantly say things are too expensive, then nothing will ever get done. People in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties thought that BART was too expensive. Now that people see the value of having more BART lines, the cost is 10 times or more higher than it would have been if done originally.

The same is true of high speed rail lines. How much did it cost to run the Japan Shinkansen from the center of Tokyo through Tokyo suburbs like Yokohama? But it was done and now people cannot imagine not having it.

It is a matter of priorities.