I am someone soon graduating high school, and I do not want to have to buy a car to get around America. I heard that there are many high speed rail projects, but these are facing funding issues. Maybe it's a better idea to change the way passenger rail and freight rail operate together on the same lines, or building new tracks on freight rail lines to accommodate passenger rail, etc.
I am not familiar with much about regulations in the US railroad system, however, what I find strange is that there are lots of freight rail lines and only a few passenger rail lines. I also once read that US commuter trains need to be big and heavy when used on passenger railroads according to regulations. Whatever it takes to change this, it would be nice if existing track could accomodate passenger rail.