WASHINGTON — Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy this morning released a report proclaiming there is “no viable path” to complete the California High Speed Rail project on time or on budget, setting the stage for the cancellation of $4 billion in federal grants.
Given that the original plan called for completion in 2020 at a cost of $33 billion, and that Republican legislators in the House of Representatives said last year that the estimated cost of that the still-unfinished project is up to $128 billion, this is less than surprising.
The 315-page report and cover letter stems from Duffy’s February announcement that Federal Railroad Administration would investigate the California High Speed Rail Authority’s compliance with the terms of the project’s federal grants [see “FRA to examine California high speed project,” Trains News Wire, Feb. 20, 2025]. It includes what the report calls nine key findings that show the project has not met those terms. A U.S. Department of Transportation press release says the California agency has 37 days to respond, after which any unspent funds from previously awarded grants could be rescinded and used elsewhere.
The report’s findings of non-compliance include three dealing with an inability to begin service on the Early Operating Segment, or EOS, by 2033. Others deal with a current funding gap of at least $7 billion; the state’s method of funding; a missed deadline for equipment procurement; the number of change orders in the project; overrepresentation of potential riders; and an inadequate contingency budget.
The troubled California project has long been a target of Republican politicians in the state and elsewhere. It has also been opposed by Elon Musk, the billionaire advisor to President Donald Trump who recently concluded a period overseeing the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency.” Trump, in calling for an investigation in February, said it was “the worst managed project I think I’ve seen.”
In a statement reported by the New York Times, a spokesman of the high speed rail authority said the agency will “fully address and correct the record in our formal response.
“We remain firmly committed to completing the nation’s first true high-speed rail system connecting the major population centers in the state,” said spokesman Micah Flores. “While continued federal partnership is important to the project, the majority of our funding has been provided by the state.”
— Updated at 6:10 p.m. CT with comment from California High Speed Rail Authority.
Sadly, these stories never include any details on where this “project” currently stands. 1. How much of the central route has the roadbed complete and how much is still to be done? 2. How much actual track has been laid on the completed portions? 3. Has all the land for the entire planned central route actually been acquired? 4. Have any stations been planned and/or built? 5. Do they actually KNOW what equipment they will buy to run on this central route? 6. Could the “existing” central track be temporarily linked on each end to existing railroads to get trains across the mountains to the destination cities? (better a slower trip than no trip)
7. Has construction on the difficult segments even started? How about land acquisition and utility relocation.
Dual-Mode Electro-Diesel High Speed Trains–like the Talgo 250 Dual in Spain–could bring service direct to Sacramento and the Bay Area with completion of the Central Valley IOS, and with completion of the Tehachapi Pass segment to Los Angeles and Brightline West vis the High Desert Corridor. This idea should be seriously considered by California.
For all of you that do not live in this state, nor understand the people that live here(HSR still wanted by over 53% of the population). The only reason we are using any Federal money and this is taking so long is because we have had an IDIOT governor and an IDIOTIC legislature that waste billions on other BS. Personally, and I couldn’t gaurantee this, but I’ve posted enough comments on YT videos from experts on transportation(including those on HSR) and had enough feedback to know that I could get it done, sooner and for less money than is currently projected with 2 simple solutions that the other so-called experts keep saying is not feasible. That is changing the routes between the Central Valley and both the Los Angeles basin and S.F. Bay Area to be designed with gradients of 3/4%…of course that would lock us into buying German IC3/IC4(or newer models) but who cares. First thing would be to cancel that STUPID Delta Water Tunnel project…if Southern California wants water…then find places out in the desert to save all that rain from the monsoon season instead of letting it wash away to the ocean.
All politics aside, while I think the idea of HSR between the SF bay area and LA is a great idea the implementation and the plan was flawed from the start.
This should be a lesson for any government funded projects. The money should come only after certain phases are completed properly and on time. And the money disappears every day they go over.
We should be spending money to enhance reliable conventional rail transport. This is such an egregious waste of construction resources and the confiscated land it sits upon. Will the land owners get their land back?
“…the report calls nine key findings that show the project has not met those terms.”
Does this surprise anyone? This project was lost the minute the high priced, low result consultants began to line up at the public trough. And the Trump Administration’s actions here only put an end to the farce continuing to be presented as a going concern. I guess in reality it still is a going concern: GOING NOWHERE, sort of like that bridge in Alaska… Now the money they have (if any) can be put to use rebuilding the cities of Pacific Palisades and Altadena which the Gruesome Newsom and Bass Class-less Administrations sacrificed by not financing basic needs like wild-land fire prevention and water projects to put out wild-land fires that get out of control. But since California is 72 billion in the hole, doubt those projects will occur either… What a Golden State!
My compliments to Mr. Landey, Mr. Pins and Mr. Bauer – you nailed it. Party politics aside, I suspect we all knew this project was a golden opportunity for graft and ineptitude, but I have to say California has exceeded every expectation in that regard.
So true, rail advocates needing to be outraged. The billions now expended on right of way, viaducts, and all would have bought a lot less costly track mileage along the I5 corridor, not to mention being able to hold on to a two and a half hour Bay Area to Los Angeles objective. What a criminally wasted opportunity.
At least California will have a really sweet elevated walking path in the near future. 😁
I think the term “no viable path” is, once again the over-optimism that seems to be endemic in this Administration.
IMO, the more realistic evaluation would be “no path”.
I always want California High-Speed Rail in California and I always love California High-Speed Rail in California.
Great. As long as the taxpayers outside of CA don’t have to pay any more for it, have to it!
Well, I hope you have a long life ahead of you. There’s no indication when or even if the project will be completed.
With all respect, sir, I cannot understand why you “love”, to use your term, the greatest public works scandal in my lifetime. I don’t love it, I despise it.
Maybe he is just saying he would like to see ANY high speed rail in California, given the current low speed status quo. You can always hope for something, even if it will never happen…
Was the last paragraph even needed? It was nothing more than the usual political cheap shot at Republicans and anyone associated with the President. I mean really, is there ANYONE alive that doesn’t already know Elon Musk is a billionaire? Lol. This place is beginning to sound like the drive by media.
The Dems who want expensive improvements in NEC should have improved their chances by criticizing the California atrocity. But no, they haven’t.
Certain knee-jerk modifiers are usually applied before names or nouns, to get in the subtle jab to the nodding reader. Thus “Elon Musk” is always preceded by “billionaire.” “Rifle” is always preceded by “high-powered assault.” Named spokespeople on the right are preceded by “conservative,” but those on the left are not defined. And so forth.
Elon Musk was till last week the second most powerful person in the Adminstration and also a long time critic of CaHSR, at DOGE called for defunding CaHSR, seems reasonable to mention him. To be upset about seems to be political bias, but hey, most of us have one.
A correction is needed in the last statement – “in California”, not “in USA.” I’m not sure what is produced in CA, but it sure seems to waste a lot of wealth contributed by its fellow states.
California is net contributor to Federal taxes. In other words more tax money goes to Feds than Feds spend bakc in Cali. The reality is a lot of GOP states especially in rural America take more Fed dollars than they give. Just wait until reform comes to Social Security and Medicare.
Timothy: CA paying more in taxes then it gets back is due to its population being so large, the number of businesses it has, and having a larger percentage of wealthy people then most states. If the Feds hadn’t allowed so much industry to go overseas, many of the Red states wouldn’t have the problems they have today. Plus, in some of the Red states, its the Federally mandated programs for their Blue controlled cities that result in the state being a net receiver of Federal Funds.
Steve I’m old enough to correctly remember that US manufacturing jobs started leaving for Asia in mass during the 80s and Pres. Ronnie’s days. So don’t blame it on the Dems ole boy.
California needs to refund the federal grants already paid.
This project is so far beyond a scandal there’s no words for it. When I read articles criticizing Cal HSR (such as in Wall Street Journal or the conservative political web sites), my reaction is, You don’t know the half of how bad this project is. It’s worse than the critics think.
No one responsible for this project should ever again have a job, and that certainly includes Governor Gruesome Newsom.
The people who should be the most outraged are rail advocates, because CalHSR has pretty well destroyed what modest momentum there was for rail improvements in USA.
And Gavin Newsom has the gall to believe that he is a viable candidate for President in 2028… His record (on money wasted on projects like this woebegone project, the destruction of two cities on his watch and *fill in your calamity or misguided thinking here*) will be the headline of every opponent and there is not enough oil in the earth to grease the skids he will need to overcome these doozy’s of miscalculation on his part. The people of California deserve better but likely will never get it based on the current political status quo in that state. It runs too much like the historic Federal System of handouts and overspending to curry favor and that will never promote the type of change needed in that state.