While architects in general are quite good at lamenting the insignificance of their role in any design project (see all that 75 percent anxiety), it's good to see someone else thinking of HSR as an architectural opportunity.

Last month, [Joseph] Bellomo sent a letter to the rail authority, the state agency charged with building the $45 billion rail line, proposing a two-tiered international competition in which architects and designers from around the world would send in proposed designs for the entire line. The proposals would be narrowed to three finalists whose ideas would be further developed.

"The only way to get good design, holistic design, is through competition," Bellomo said.

I'm not entirely sold, however, on his idea to tackle the whole 800 mile route at once, as a single project. How does one even begin to design a cohesive plan for that kind of a site? Or would you just have a very general scheme for different types of corridors? Over 800 miles, the exceptions and specifics would add up very fast. Still, the idea of a consistent design idea is an admirable enough goal. Read the whole competition proposal here.