The Trump administration has launched a compliance review of California’s high-speed rail projects, Transportation Department’s Sean Duffy announced Thursday.
This review focuses on the $4 billion promised by the Biden administration for ongoing construction in Central Valley between Merced and Bakersfield, and a federal train federality facing challenges related to budgets and timelines. Determine your funding prospects.
“We can’t say we’re not trying to give you money, and the state is not accountable for how they spend that money. What do they do as per the agreement with the federal government? How can I use it like that?” Los Angeles. “If California wants to continue investing, that’s fine, but we, in the Trump administration, we’re going to look into whether this project deserves a continuous investment.”
Duffy said the department will also consider grants attached to the Green New Deal and Social Justice Initiative.
The announcement comes days after Republican lawmakers urged Trump to investigate the high-speed rail line, signaling Trump and cabinet leaders to look into the project.
“We welcome the opportunity to work with this investigation and federal partners,” said Ian Choudri, CEO of the High Speed Railroads Bureau. “As multiple independent federal and state audits have been completed, all dollars are considered, supporting the progress and impact of this project. …The investment has already marked a financial impact of $22 billion. It produces and benefits mainly Central Valley.”
Officials say about $13 billion has been spent on projects, with the majority being funded through the state. Duffy said $15.7 billion was spent on the project. The reason why these estimates differed was unknown.
During the press conference, the hymns from protesters on the other side of the curtain, who separated the press conference from the railway station, were from Rep. Kevin Killie (R-Locklin) and other lawmakers opposed to the high-speed rail project. Comment has been owned.
Jesse Budron, a transport planner who attended the protest, was called a political grandstand for users of transport that rely on public transport.
“We didn’t expect anything positive today,” he said. “The program is audited by multiple departments and agencies each month and year, so I don’t think we’re going to find anything shocking.”
Last year, the entire boundary between San Francisco and Los Angeles was environmentally permitted to be built, but the project faces major challenges. The budget is about $100 billion more than the officials’ initial $33 billion estimate, so leaders have yet to identify the tens of thousands of dollars needed to complete it. The train was initially pitched for a 2020 launch. Instead, construction is limited to 171 miles of stretches in Central Valley, with some not completed.
The disability is recognized by board members and transport leaders, and is recognized by state-appointed peer review groups that authorities proposed to reconsider the plans. Private investment is flagged as the effort required to survive the project.
Rep. Laura Friedman (D-Glendale), who is on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, is concerned about the massive impact that high-speed rail potential federal refunds may have across the state.
“This is not a government that appears to be a good move towards passing and California,” she said, noting that without federal funding, further taxpayer support is needed to complete the already ongoing project. He added. “It means people need to spend more of their own taxes, their own taxes, to complete these projects.
Trump denounced the high-speed rail project this month, calling it “mismanaged it.” In response, the High Speed Railway Agency posted a progress report to X.
“Ignore the noise. The Post says it highlights the environmental clearance of the project for construction between Los Angeles and San Francisco, the construction of the Central Valley, and the employment of more than 14,000 people the project has provided.
California’s high-speed rail efforts are targeted by the so-called government efficiency department led by Elon Musk. In a December X post, he highlighted the $6.8 billion the project received with federal funds and the additional $8 billion authorities’ demands. Musk said last year that billions of dollars were spent on high-speed rails “because there’s virtually nothing.”
The first Trump administration tried to hold back the roughly $1 billion promised by Obama. Authorities and state leaders are ready to continue moving forward.
Last month, Gavin Newsom and transport officials announced their May Connect by linking the state’s high-speed rail line with the privately owned Brightline West Train that connects Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Duffy said Thursday that Brightline could be “deserved of an investment.”
Source link
