The benefits of such a network, which the President envisioned being accessible to 80% of Americans within 25 years are far-reaching: "A national high-speed rail network would not only support tens of thousands of construction and manufacturing jobs, but it would get Americans out of their cars, revitalize struggling downtowns, and spare the environment millions of tons of carbon emissions and travelers untold hours wasted in traffic or in airport terminals waiting out delays."
But according to Michael A. Fletcher, writing in the Washington Post, Obama's plans have been derailed by determined opponents, high costs, and a dubious public. "Virtually none of the projects has gotten off the ground, and the one that has is in trouble...So far, Obama has wagered more than $10 billion in federal money on high-speed rail, only to see his plans diminished, one after another. "
