In 2008, voters gave the green light to a significant $10 billion bond for a project aimed at transporting passengers between San Francisco and Los Angeles in under three hours. The projected cost was $33 billion, with an expected completion date in 2020. However, the initiative has faced numerous obstacles related to financing, budget excesses, and setbacks in its timeline.
Currently, state officials are concentrating on a 171-mile (275-kilometer) segment linking the Central Valley cities of Bakersfield and Merced, anticipated to be operational by 2033. The projected cost to complete the line from San Francisco to Los Angeles has reached approximately $106 billion, with officials expressing optimism about finishing it within the next two decades, contingent on funding availability.
“I am instructing my team to assess and verify if the agency has upheld the promises it made to secure substantial federal funding.” “If not, I will have to think about reallocating those funds to worthy infrastructure initiatives in other parts of the United States,” stated Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy during a press briefing in Los Angeles.
In 2019, during his initial term, President Donald Trump put a halt to almost $1 billion in federal funding for the high-speed rail initiative. The Biden administration subsequently reinstated the funding and, in December 2023, designated an additional $3.3 billion.
Experiencing a financial setback would significantly impact the project’s progress. The latest business plan from the rail authority anticipates securing as much as $8 billion in federal funding to address a financial shortfall.
Ian Choudri, the head of California’s High-Speed Rail Authority, responsible for the project’s planning and funding, expressed his support for the investigation.
“Following the completion of several independent federal and state audits, we can confirm that every dollar is accounted for, and we are proud of the progress and impact of this project,” Choudri stated.
The project has generated close to 15,000 jobs, with over 50 significant structures already finished.
A number of Republican lawmakers have criticized the initiative due to its expenses. On Thursday, Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley, representing the 3rd Congressional District that runs along a significant portion of the state’s border with Nevada and encompasses Sacramento’s northeastern suburbs, labeled the California high-speed rail as “the worst public infrastructure failure in U.S. history.”
“It is impossible to find a reasonable situation in which the expenses for federal or state taxpayers can be defended.” Kiley emphasized the urgency of halting further investments in the project, stating, “It is past time to stop throwing good money after bad, and we must formally end this project.” Earlier this year, he introduced a bill aimed at making the project ineligible for additional federal funding.
Kiley accompanied Duffy at Union Station in Los Angeles to unveil the investigation. Attendees faced interruptions from the discontent of approximately 30 protesters who expressed their dissent through booing. The demonstrators passionately shouted for the construction of the rail, brandishing signs proclaiming “CA has no king” and “Don’t delay our train.”
Eli Lipmen, the executive director of Move LA, an organization dedicated to promoting efficient public transit systems, stated that the high-speed train initiative continues to enjoy considerable support from numerous Californians.
“They claim they’re initiating an investigation, but let’s be real, this is just a facade,” Lipmen, present at Union Station during the announcement, stated to KABC-TV.
Greg Regan and Shari Semelsberger, leaders of the coalition representing all rail unions in the nation, emphasized that the initiative stands as the most groundbreaking and visionary transportation endeavor in the country. They called on Trump to embrace the role of a transformative leader by introducing high-speed rail to the United States.
“Creating visionary initiatives demands courageous guidance and a dedication to achieving results.” Last year, the former president expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of high-speed rail systems in the U.S. compared to those in Japan. They expressed their agreement, stating that it is indeed overdue for the nation to implement modern, efficient, and high-capacity transportation systems.
