I was about to make my own top level post but you pretty much summed up what were going to be my main points. It's shiny it's new it's "bold" plan but $105bn is A LOT of money and despite what we think out of NYS commuting into NYC is far more niche and will likely be until Midtown gets wildly rezoned which likely won't happen, we've pretty much seen the daily workforce maximum population of Mid Town and the Financial District/Battery just before the pandemic and that's about 2.5-3.5million people influx from out of Manhattan.

For much less money the FRA and state's could:

• Fix the old swing bridges.
• Ensure that the new Avelia Trainsets are the correct width that can handle the 6-8degree lean and not strike other trains.
• Fix all the fouled ballasts
• Rip out and replace the already out of date Positrak systems in CT, RI, and MA and get them certified quickly
• Improving the existing Freight lines to upgrade and double track where feasible
• Bribe the board of the MBTA so they quit, fuck off, and never touch transit systems again
• Electrification of Hartford Line, Waterbury Line, and Boston/Worchester/Springfield, Providence/the Falls
• On that point, more regional rail east west in RI, CT, and MA
• Increase regional rail frequency
• Light Rail in the regional centres and inner ring suburbs
• Capital and operational upgrades to the bus system (gimme that sweet sweet signal prioritisation)

Only like, two, of those are "sexy" and none help with the LI issue but it would be a far better use than a high speed vaporware solution. And while a HSR project through central New England would be great, it just shows you how out of touch the people in charge are that they don't understand (or think that flashy and new is the way to get the feds to notice) how the people actually use the rail network in New England and that's as a regional people mover, not just a commuter service.