After nearly four months of investigation, the Trump administration found “no viable path” to complete California’s high-speed rail project, which jeopardized $4 billion in federal funding.
In a 315-page compliance review released Wednesday, the Department of Transportation cited budget shortages, missed deadlines and misleading expected passengers to connect San Francisco to Los Angeles via Fast Rail. The review is aimed at a federal grant from the Central Valley. After the response from the High-speed Railway Bureau, the funds can be withdrawn within 37 days.
“CHSRA relies on the false hope of endless federal taxpayer dollars,” wrote Drew Feeley, an agent administrator for the Federal Rail Administration. “Essentially, CHSRA has taken taxpayers from its $4 billion investment, and there is no viable plan to deliver that portion even on time.”
The High Speed Railway Administration disagrees with these findings, the findings called “misleading” and inaccurate reflections of the project.
“The authorities will fully address and correct the records in our formal response,” a spokesperson said. “We remain firmly committed to completing the first truly high-speed rail system at the state’s major population center.”
Authority leaders have previously alerted the potential losses of federal funds, while voted to pass a new contract to advance the architecture and design of the Central Valley. CEO Ian Choudri also said that public-private partnerships will be key to the future of the project – an idea also proposed by the state-appointed advisory committee. The latest national budget proposal will spend at least $1 billion in funding each year on the project.
The project has cost about $14 billion. The state provides the majority of the funding (82%) and the federal government grants 18%. According to the review, the Trump administration has not sought to repay past federal funds.
The project is facing A huge challenge Since its establishment. The budget is about $100 billion higher than the authorities' initial $33 billion estimate in 2008, and billions are yet to be determined. The train was originally proposed for a 2020 completion date, but construction limits in the Central Valley are 171 miles. Although the entire line between San Francisco and Los Angeles is Environmental removal for construction Last year, no part was completed.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy launched a review in February after Republican lawmakers urged President Trump to investigate the project. Last month, Trump said the federal government would not pay for the program.
Transit advocates protested Duffy's announcement and Rep. Laura Friedman (D-Glendale), the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, expressed concern over the possible withdrawal of the mega-project's federal program could provide similar actions to the Trump administration with other transportation projects.
