north america is far behind on this - these systems already exist in europe and asia.

but, the americans are actually taking some positive steps.

yo've got this:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_High-Speed_Rail

...which is probably extendable to portland, eventually.

indeed, there's a system being built in the northwest:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Northwest_Corridor

they're building something from houston to dallas, with an extension to tulsa.

there's a boswash line being built, including extensions to pittsburgh and buffalo:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/Corridor_ne.PNG/300px-Corridor_ne.PNG

then a line from washington to jacksonville:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/Corridor_se.PNG/220px-Corridor_se.PNG

there's a line in florida that could be connected to jacksonville.

there's a midwest line:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Corridor_chi.PNG/300px-Corridor_chi.PNG

it's really canada that's kind of lagging, here, which is frustrating because our population transfers are so much less complicated - we would really just want a line from quebec city to detroit, with extensions to ottawa and sudbury, as well as a line from winnipeg to edmonton, although if we got the government to sit down and do this, they would no doubt want a "transcanada line" - and bore through the rockies if they had to.

this is the answer. it's halfway built. but, people have to use it.