US House Republicans Aim to Halt California High-Speed Rail Funding, According to Reuters

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON – The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on legislation Wednesday aimed at prohibiting the Biden administration from providing funding for California’s High-Speed Rail project.

The White House expressed its opposition to the bill on Monday, which also proposes significant cuts to funding for Amtrak and mass transit programs across the nation.

The California high-speed rail initiative aims to transport passengers from San Francisco to the Los Angeles area at speeds exceeding 200 miles per hour, completing the journey in less than three hours.

Recently, California secured $202 million in federal funding for grade separation efforts and is pursuing $8 billion in federal grants over the next five years.

In 2008, California voters approved a $10 billion bond for the high-speed rail project. However, the cost of the initial segment has ballooned to an estimated $35 billion, with service potentially starting as early as 2030. The entire project connecting San Francisco to Los Angeles is predicted to cost between $88 billion and $128 billion.

Governor Gavin Newsom of California informed President Biden in a letter dated October 13 that the combination of $754 million in state funding with a $3 billion federal grant would enable the completion of an initial 119-mile segment, the purchase of six electric high-speed trains, and the construction of a new station in Fresno.

In June 2021, the Biden administration reinstated a $929 million grant for the California high-speed rail project after funding was halted by former President Donald Trump in 2019, who described it as a "disaster" due to delays and escalating costs.

Congress had authorized $66 billion for rail projects as part of the 2021 infrastructure bill, which included $22 billion for Amtrak and $36 billion set aside for competitive grants.

The Republican proposal suggests a staggering 64% reduction in Amtrak’s annual federal funding.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority has chosen not to comment on the proposed legislation.