Yes, actually building a link, as part of a state rail system, serving Merced does make a lot more sense, than much of the other nonsense we've seen with CHSRA. This is because the passenger numbers are actually there, because of things like the University that generate trips to a from our major urban centers. So this segment might eventually work, as part of a sensible redesign of HSR, unlike other CHSRA proposals to avoid other major traffic generators in the Valley, because of the flawed assumptions about LAX-SFO being the target demand for such a system.

So in case I missed it, how much should the "millions of unwashed" have to pay for their freeways or airports?

As Rosanna Rosannadanna used to say, "it's always something".