DOT: ‘No viable path forward’ for California High-Speed Rail

WASHINGTON – California’s High-Speed Rail project has ‘no viable path forward’ according to the Department of Transportation’s audit of the project.

The DOT released a report exposing the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s (CHSRA) high-speed rail project for missed deadlines, budget shortfalls, and overrepresentation of project ridership. The report also highlighted overall mismanagement, waste, and skyrocketing costs.

“Today is the beginning of the end of high-speed rail, the biggest public infrastructure in U.S. history,” Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA) said. “Even if the train were to come into existence today magically, it would be decades-old technology. It is time to end this embarrassment for our state once and for all and use our transportation dollars in ways that will actually benefit the quality of life of Californians.”   

The project has received approximately $6.9 billion in federal dollars over roughly 15 years, but it hasn’t laid a single high-speed track. Even with continued federal support, the project is far short of the funding needed to finish just a fraction of the track.

Click here to watch Rep. Kiley’s full House floor remarks.

Click here to view the full report, and the letter from DOT to CHSRA is attached to this email.

###