Most of the objections in the article (costs, environmental impact of tunneling, eminent domain) could be applied to any major infrastructure project. I'm particularly irked by the concerns about energy use - at 500 km/h, Linear would primarily compete with air travel, so that's where the comparison should be made.
On one hand, if you stop to appease every stakeholder, then you will end up in an eternal quagmire like the California HSR project. On the other hand though, if you make a practice of expedited construction, then you could end up copying the PRC and stomping on anyone that dares to dissent against national prestige projects.
On one hand, if you stop to appease every stakeholder, then you will end up in an eternal quagmire like the California HSR project. On the other hand though, if you make a practice of expedited construction, then you could end up copying the PRC and stomping on anyone that dares to dissent against national prestige projects.