That would be slow and very expensive. I think the Swiss tunnel took about 15 years to tunnel about 35 miles and cost about $10 billion.

I was thinking of a non-tunnel rail system.

A tunnel system is an interesting idea though. Perhaps tunnels could be used where appropriate. Transporting freight may be something that can help defray the cost.

(mach 1/3 is about 250mph and mach 1/4 is about 190mph)

A high speed rail line (300mph+) from NYC to LA would be great IMHO.

It could cover the ~2800 mile trip could be covered in under 10 hours.

If they followed interstate routes, there could be stops at Las Vegas, Denver, Gary, IN (near Chicago), and Elyria OH (near Cleveland). The stop locations could be adjusted to where it makes more financial sense.

It would be expensive to build, but if done properly could be operated at a profit.

If a round trip ticket (NYC-LA) was about $400-$500 that would be competitive with air travel and car travel.
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Car @ 30mpg @ $3/gallon would cost about $280 in fuel costs alone. Tolls and hotel rooms extra.
travel time is about 40-46 hours minimum (driving in shifts) unless you really want to speed.
More likely 2-3 days minimum travel time.
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Currently Air travel >< NYC-LAX is at least $500.
travel time is about 5-6 hours air time plus 2-3 hours before fight and about 1 hour leaving plane getting luggage.
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Minneapolis-Miami,fl route ~1800 miles about 6 hour travel time @300mph+
Possible stops Nashville, Iowa city (would intersect NY-LA route), Orlando, fl, St. Louis, and
Atlanta

I would think a $300-$400 round trip ticket would be a competitive price. Minneapolis-Miami,fl route.

There is not much difference >< $250k insurance and $20k insurance in terms of premium cost from the insurance company. IIRC, it was only about $100 difference. (instead of about 90% less given the amount of coverage recvd.)

I do not necessarily think mandatory insurance is good. Since gov't deems mandatory insurance necessary, I think insurance minimums should be provided at cost by gov't. If someone is involved in at fault accident then their ins. rate would increase.

Other insurance would still be available to cover amounts above the mandated minimum insurance levels. Since it is not mandatory the companies would need to price their products appropriately or their products will not sell.
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@cover1
is the 1 million ins. part of an umbrella coverage?

Without knowing more data, it is difficult to form a valid conclusion.

From the information you provided:
"Apparently, the vehicle went across both oncoming lanes of traffic before over-correcting and coming back across the roadway."

It appears that the driver was careless and/or reckless in driving.
Speed probably contributed to the severity of the accident, but I do not think it was the primary cause of the accident.

If the driver drove in a safe manner, then this probably would not have happened.

@JimSamsung

"I would like to see the true statistics on this."

If you have valid data to present for others to review, then please present your valid data.

Please provide your source(s) for others to see.

RLCs can make mistakes. RLCs can not stop inattentive and/or stupid driving.
http://www.youtube.com/v/6d6lt1x5xnw

@All

Have a safe Labor Day Weekend. Beware the Revenue Bears. ;-)

RLCs can not stop innatentive and/or stupid driving.

[youtube 9tqTUfApB3s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tqTUfApB3s youtube]

Errors can be made with RLCs

[youtube 6d6lt1x5xnw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d6lt1x5xnw youtube]

What would happen if the local money from a red light camera was mandated by law to go to Education or some other use (i.e. not for the local municipality where the light resides)?

I know that one argument that I hear by some in favor of RLCs is that RLCs promote safety.

I suspect that if there was no money incentive for the local community, then the RLC would not be in operation for long.

@JimSamsung
I did not say anything about how the timing of the lights was done. You should improve your reading comprehension and actually read what I wrote.

Your response makes it appear to me that you think if someone drives at times over the PSL then people will automatically die and/or burst into flames.

I think that it is possible for people to drive safely, even at speeds that may be above the PSL, provided that people are driving attentively to their surroundings.

Regardless of safety issues, if one is traveling above the PSL, then one risks receiving a ticket from the police.

If you truly consider it worthless to speak to me, then please remain silent in your ignorance.