In a 315-page compliance review released Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Railroad Administration detailed the cost overruns and missed deadlines that have plagued the state's plans to build a high-speed rail link from the San Francisco Bay Area to Los Angeles, which was approved by voters in 2008.
Feeley said the FRA would not continue to commit taxpayer dollars to a "Sisyphean endeavor" that currently is a fraction of what was promised in 2008.
Rendering of a California high-speed rail train California High-Speed Rail Authority"What started as a proposed 800-mile system was first reduced to 500 miles, then became a 171-mile segment, and is now very likely ended as a 119-mile track to nowhere," said Feeley. "In essence, CHSRA has conned the taxpayer out of its $4 billion investment, with no viable plan to deliver even that partial segment on time."
Mr. Trump also targeted the project in his first term, halting about $1 billion in federal funding that was later restored and increased by the Biden administration.
"CHSRA is on notice — If they can't deliver on their end of the deal, it could soon be time for these funds to flow to other projects that can achieve President Trump's vision of building great, big, beautiful things again," said Duffy.
"While continued federal partnership is important to the project, the majority of our funding has been provided by the state," said the spokesperson. "To that end, the Governor's budget proposal, which is currently before the Legislature, extends at least $1 billion per year in funding for the next 20 years, providing the necessary resources to complete the project's initial operating segment."
In a statement Wednesday, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) called Duffy's remarks about the high-speed rail project "a rejection of the future."
Rep. Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) called the Trump administration's move to cut CHSRA funding "partisan theatrics" that seek to derail clean transportation.
But state Sen. Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) commended Duffy for issuing the notice to end CHSRA's federal funding.
An Emerson poll published in February showed 54% of Californians still support high-speed rail, despite the cost overruns. California's Senate Transportation Committee has said federal funding is only a small fraction of the project's budget.
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