'Boondoggle': Should CA Nix Bullet Train Plan? Patch Readers Weigh In

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CALIFORNIA — Last week, the Trump Administration announced that it would review a costly high-speed rail project that has been years in the making.

The project's authority had promised to open its bullet trains for service carrying passengers between San Francisco and Los Angeles by 2020, which was expected to cost upwards of $106 billion. Yet, only 171 miles of the 400-mile rail line have been worked on, officials say.

Last week, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he aimed to determine whether $4 billion in federal taxpayer dollars should remain committed to the project, which includes another segment between cities in the Central Valley that comes with a separate price tag.

READ MORE: The Convoluted Financial History Between Billionaire Behind SoCal Rail Project And Trump

"People were excited. They were thrilled to take people off the road, out of the air and put them on rail," Duffy said during a news conference at Union Station in downtown L.A. "Where are we today? Well, today, we are severely — no pun intended — off track."

Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley called the project a "disaster" and said it is "the worst public infrastructure failure in U.S. history."

After Kiley and other officials slammed the project at a news conference last week, swaths of protesters decried calls to "kill" the project.

READ MORE: IE Bullet Train Gets Federal Praise As SF-LA Project Under Scrutiny

Protesters chanted "We are taxpayers. Ask us what we want" and "Build the rail" loud enough to disrupt the conference.

In a recent non-scientific Patch survey that garnered 1,376 responses, we asked readers to weigh in and share their thoughts on the project.

Some 55 percent of respondents said they were not in favor of a high speed rail project in California. More than 40 percent said they were in favor and 4.2 percent said they were unsure.

The high speed rail project has come under increasing scrutiny for its ballooning cost estimations. A recent estimate by the California High Speed Rail Office of the Inspector General noted the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment has a funding gap of at least $6.5 billion, despite California being set to receive more than $4 billion from the Biden Administration.

“For too long, taxpayers have subsidized the massively over-budget and delayed California High-Speed Rail project,” Duffy said in a release. "President Trump is right that this project is in dire need of an investigation."

We asked readers whether they thought the federal government should keep funding the project. More than 59 percent answered "no" and over 36 percent said "yes". Some 4.4% answered "unsure".

Duffy says the audit will determine whether "CHSRA has followed through on the commitments it made to receive billions of dollars in federal funding."

The investigation could ultimately result in those funds being redirected to other infrastructure projects in the country, he said.

In a statement, CHSRA CEO Ian Choudri said that "We welcome this investigation and opportunity to work with our federal partners."

"With multiple independent federal and state audits completed, every dollar is accounted for, and we stand by the progress and impact of this project," Choudri continued.

He added that more than 50 major structures have been completed and that the project has created 14,600 jobs.

Earlier this month, Trump reportedly said that he would like to investigate the California project.

"It's the worst managed project I think I've ever seen, and I've seen some of the worst," the president said, according to Fox News.

We asked Patch readers to share their thoughts in short-answer form. Here are some of their responses:

(Edited for grammar)

"Make California refund their taxpayers for the train to nowhere.
There have been so many delays and issues, that I think an audit of taxpayers' funds is VERY warranted."

"Should keep funding but should check why it costs that much."

"Well, I won’t be flying with the current govt cutting all of our safety protocols and regulations."

"It was a mistake from the get go. Government has no business being in transportation construction ."

"It was a bad idea for CA's moving soil. Too many friends and relatives of CA lawmakers got contracts they were not qualified for. A waste of money all around."

"If feds want to take CA allotted money promised by Congress, then California should stop subsidizing the rest of the country. Leave our transit alone."

"Mass transit is always in the interest of the nation."

"It would be great to have a rail system from SF to LA... the cost is prohibitive."

"Biggest scam in California's history"

"This whole project, like the Bay Bridge span replacement, is another cost overrun looking for the latest 'Green' project to stop global warming. It is a total waste of money and will only lead to more taxes from the Governor."

"Too late, too costly, rail way should have been designed from Sacramento to SoCal for efficiency."

"It’s doomed. The king has already decided."

"This is an essential part of transportation of the future."

"I have traveled from San Fran to SoCal over 100 times for work. Three airports on the north end. Six airports on the south end. Flight departing every 30 minutes. $150 each way. No train can compete."

"Should have started construction without delay. Now, cost has skyrocketed
I don’t think it’s a good idea because it’s obvious that the people in charge of this state are incompetent. If they cannot even manage the fire hydrants to have water, how in the world can we expect them to build this train?"

"California needs to make this happen. Stop the red tape and cost overruns. Anywhere else in the world the railroad would be complete."

"Not until the project has better management and the cost paid thus far is audited. Project is already five years overdue."

"Find out where the money has gone and hold people accountable for this boondoggle."

"I voted for the high speed rail system but since it hasn't progressed, I have doubts."