Olivers wrote:
1. MAG-LEVving along at 1K mph far beneath the waves might be fun, but
intensely claustrophobic.

Why more claustrophobic than on a plane ?

2. A minor mechanical failure of the Lucas Electrics somewhere out about
"Ocean Midpoint" provides the prospect of "relief trains" and Hollywoodian
scenarios far beyond "The Poseidon Adventure" or "Airplane", depending on
how long the battery back-up lights function.

It was "Airport '77" that had the sunken 747, not "Airplane !!!". "Airplane"
had the inflatable auto-pilot.

3. Only Halliburton's well-connected enough to provide the tunneling
machines.

Nop. It is the ennemy of the USA: France which has tunneling technology.
(Remember the Chunnel ?)

But in reality, such a tunnel is more likely to be above ocean floor, with
positive bouyancy and cables keeping it firmly near the ocean floor. This
would be a prefabricated tunnel, laid in sections.

6. Project seems likely to draw low priority, somewhere below the R&D to
develop big clamps to firmly attach California to the rest of the
Continent.

Well, then perhaps they should forego those clamps and start the tunnel at Las
Vegas ?