Japanese Maglev L-Zero reaches 310 MPH, Due to open in 2027

[PolarEventide]

[QUOTE=fishyfish777;42120488]However, this particular project cost $52 billion for [i]177 miles[/i]. That's less than the distance between Detroit and Chicago.

Ferrying anything more than that distance would result in an immensely costly project that would exceed things like the damn education budget ($71 billion dollars) and also be that much more expensive to maintain.[/QUOTE]
The United States spent $492 billion (in 2013 dollars) on the Interstate Highway System. Additionally, this project in Japan is being completed over a period of 14 years. That's $3.7 billion/year, which is more than possible with the US government's budget.