I see your point for true research programs. But, we see similar patterns all the way down to building subways stations - massive overruns and delays and the taxpayer stuck with the bill. Building an above-grade rail should be a mostly solved problem. Just now, in DC metro, we have the Silver line expansion to Dulles - crap concrete is causing massive delays, but instead of forcing the contractor to replace it, the solution is just "eh, we'll just inspect it more often and hope it doesn't fall on anybody's head." And that doesn't solve the delay - it's still years overdue.