yes, more density and better options inside cities would help, would be great, but you have to start somewhere! you need both, and I guarantee that a strong, clear investment in intercity HSR would bring about investment in those cities it’s connecting as well..

Rail works well in China, because they have a high concentration of people, and good bus service and cheap cab service once you arrive in a city. In China the trains are nearly always full, and you often have to buy a ticket days in advance, and have a relative or friend by you a return ticket, because you cannot buy a round trip ticket.

Would I go from Tampa to Washington DC or New York via high speed rail? Yes. But, so far there is no proposal for such lines. But, Tampa to just Orlando or Miami, it seems like a big expense for something I feel few people would really use.