California will spend $68 billion to build 520 miles of railroad by the year 2029, while China will spend $300 billion to build 16,000 miles of railroad by the year 2020. In other words, it costs **California $131 million per mile**, over 15 years, while it costs **China $19 million per mile**, over 5 years.
Via [Philip Greenspun](http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2014/01/06/high-speed-rail-in-california-versus-china/)
The difference being if the US one goes over budget and is delayed, a director will get a HUGE bonus and no accountability, but in China the director will most likely take his/her own life from the shame. ‘MURICA!!