Part of the problem is that the Vision plan is overpriced. That Philadelphia tunnel needs to be thrown under the bus (Gateway must stand--a new tunnel under the Hudson
is needed). Each of those is singlehandedly 10% of total project cost.
Here's Alon Levy's take on it:
http://pedestrianobservations.wordpr...lan-b-for-hsr/
http://pedestrianobservations.wordpr...sr-90-cheaper/