Amazing that the Japanese can extend the Shinkansen from Morioka to Hakodate, 93 miles, for $4.7 billion.  It's in the country, true, but a large % of it is in tunnels, culverts, elevated guideways, etc since it is completely isolated.  A private company in Texas is also considering a Shinkansen from Houston to Dallas and they estimate $12 billion for that 239 mile segment.  Something is very wrong here.