• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
‘Obviously In Trouble’: 17 Years Later, California High-Speed Rail Leaders Sound Alarm Over Project Funding

‘Obviously In Trouble’: 17 Years Later, California High-Speed Rail Leaders Sound Alarm Over Project Funding

May 4, 2025
STEVE CORTES: Who Are Trump Voters And What Do They Want?

STEVE CORTES: Who Are Trump Voters And What Do They Want?

June 2, 2025
Suspect In ‘Targeted Terror Attack’ Yelled ‘End Zionists’

Suspect In ‘Targeted Terror Attack’ Yelled ‘End Zionists’

June 1, 2025
VANESSA BATTAGLIA: Hegseth Is Right To Demand Afghanistan Withdrawal Accountability

VANESSA BATTAGLIA: Hegseth Is Right To Demand Afghanistan Withdrawal Accountability

June 1, 2025
LEIF LARSON: We Can’t Let Microsoft Unfairly Dominate The Tech Marketplace

LEIF LARSON: We Can’t Let Microsoft Unfairly Dominate The Tech Marketplace

June 1, 2025
STEVE MILLOY: Trump To Revive The Nuclear Power Industry

STEVE MILLOY: Trump To Revive The Nuclear Power Industry

June 1, 2025
Nonprofit Funded By Chinese Gov’t-Linked Entities Backs Blue State’s ‘Unconstitutional’ Climate Law

Nonprofit Funded By Chinese Gov’t-Linked Entities Backs Blue State’s ‘Unconstitutional’ Climate Law

May 31, 2025
Why On-And-Off Voters Who Backed Trump May Be GOP’s Midterm Silver Bullet

Why On-And-Off Voters Who Backed Trump May Be GOP’s Midterm Silver Bullet

May 31, 2025
MICHAEL LUCCI: US Multinationals Must Exit China

MICHAEL LUCCI: US Multinationals Must Exit China

May 31, 2025
CASEY RYAN: Loudoun County Is Back In The Election Year Headlines Again

CASEY RYAN: Loudoun County Is Back In The Election Year Headlines Again

May 31, 2025
DAVID BLACKMON: Did Trump And Hochul Just Swap An Offshore Wind Farm For A Pipeline?

DAVID BLACKMON: Did Trump And Hochul Just Swap An Offshore Wind Farm For A Pipeline?

May 31, 2025
Father Of DJ Daniel Gives Heartbreaking Health Update About Son

Father Of DJ Daniel Gives Heartbreaking Health Update About Son

May 30, 2025
Appeals Court Blocks Trump’s Push For Mass Federal Firings

Appeals Court Blocks Trump’s Push For Mass Federal Firings

May 30, 2025
  • Donald Trump
  • State of the Union
  • Elon Musk
  • Tariffs
  • Congress
  • Faith
  • Immigration
Monday, June 2, 2025
  • Login
IJR
  • Politics
  • US News
  • Commentary
  • World News
  • Faith
  • Latest Polls
No Result
View All Result
IJR
No Result
View All Result
Home News

‘Obviously In Trouble’: 17 Years Later, California High-Speed Rail Leaders Sound Alarm Over Project Funding

by Daily Caller News Foundation
May 4, 2025 at 10:03 am
in News, Wire
237 15
0
‘Obviously In Trouble’: 17 Years Later, California High-Speed Rail Leaders Sound Alarm Over Project Funding
491
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Daily Caller News Foundation

Leaders of California’s high speed-rail project are sounding the alarm on the project’s financial future after nearly 20 years of delays and billions of tax dollars spent, the Los Angeles Times first reported.

After California’s High-Speed Rail Authority board members voted to approve new contracts for the Central Valley station and construction bids for a Fresno station on Thursday, several members raised concerns over the project’s financial commitments and future, the publication reported. The railway, which was supposed to be completed by 2020 and cost $33 billion, was recently projected to reach $106 billion, prompting lawmakers and the Trump administration to place the entire project under a microscope.

“I’m very nervous about receiving the federal funding,” board member James Ghielmetti said. “I want to make sure my fellow board members are aware that if the federal money does not come through, somebody’s got to backstop these contracts.”

Initially pitched as a high-speed rail system linking Los Angeles and San Francisco with a target completion around 2020, the Bakersfield-to-Merced segment isn’t expected to be finished before 2030 at the earliest.

Authority staff noted that the federal contracts contain termination clauses in case of insufficient funding and that contingency funds are available to cover potential shortfalls. Ghielmetti warned that canceling contracts would only further delay the project and emphasized the importance of having those funds in place to stay on track.

The Department of Transportation launched a compliance review of the project in February after Republican lawmakers called for an investigation into its delays and rising costs. The review is examining a $4 billion funding commitment made during the Biden administration for construction in the Central Valley.

The investigation should determine whether the project will retain its federal funding.

“For too long, taxpayers have subsidized the massively over-budget and delayed California High-Speed Rail project,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a press release on the investigation. “President Trump is right that this project is in dire need of an investigation. That is why I am directing my staff to review and determine whether the CHSRA has followed through on the commitments it made to receive billions of dollars in federal funding.”

“If not, I will have to consider whether that money could be given to deserving infrastructure projects elsewhere in the United States,” Duffy continued.

“The Governor — like a majority of Californians — fully supports the project and he wants it delivered as quickly and efficiently as possible,” a spokesperson for Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “With 50 major structures built, walking away now as we enter the track-laying phase would be reckless — wasting billions already invested and letting job-killers cede a generational infrastructure advantage to China.”

Ian Choudri, CEO of California High-Speed Rail Authority, said the project could take another 20 years and would need financial support from the private sector.

“We are obviously in trouble,” board member Martha Escutia said, noting that a concrete financial plan is necessary.

A little less than 20% of the funding comes from the federal government, and the other 80% is state funded, with about $4 billion in the bank, board chair Tom Richards said.

“No state in America is closer to launching high-speed rail than California – and today, we just took a massive step forward,” Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a January press release, before the Trump administration launched its investigation. “The future of transportation is being realized right here in the Central Valley with thousands of good paying jobs already created and 171 miles being worked on. As only California can, we’re building America’s biggest infrastructure project.”

The California High Speed Rail Authority and its board members, and the Department of Transportation did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

Tags: DCNFpoliticsU.S. News
Share196Tweet123
Daily Caller News Foundation

Daily Caller News Foundation

Advertisements

Top Stories June 10th
Top Stories June 7th
Top Stories June 6th
Top Stories June 3rd
Top Stories May 30th
Top Stories May 29th
Top Stories May 24th
Top Stories May 23rd
Top Stories May 21st
Top Stories May 17th

Join Over 6M Subscribers

We’re organizing an online community to elevate trusted voices on all sides so that you can be fully informed.





IJR

    Copyright © 2024 IJR

Trusted Voices On All Sides

  • About Us
  • GDPR Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Editorial Standards & Corrections Policy
  • Subscribe to IJR

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Politics
  • US News
  • Commentary
  • World News
  • Faith
  • Latest Polls

    Copyright © 2024 IJR

Top Stories June 10th Top Stories June 7th Top Stories June 6th Top Stories June 3rd Top Stories May 30th Top Stories May 29th Top Stories May 24th Top Stories May 23rd Top Stories May 21st Top Stories May 17th