California voters who approved this project expected the bullet train
between San Francisco and Los Angeles to be finished by
now,
but work still continues on one Central Valley section of
the track.
The leader of the High Speed Rail Authority gave lawmakers
an update today,
so here are some of the numbers.
The segment between Madera and Merced is expected to be
complete and ready to ride between 2030 and 2033.
The project is waiting for environmental clearance to begin connecting
San Francisco and the Los Angeles routes.
Project leaders told lawmakers it has about $28 billion on
hand and is a few billion short to complete that
Central Valley segment,
and they're hoping funds from the federal government will help
close that gap.
But the project plan also requests lawmakers and the governor
to prioritize this project for some of the rainy day
funds that will likely be used this year as the
state faces its big overall budget deficit.
But they don't clarify exactly how much they're looking for
there now to complete the entire project as promised.
San Francisco to Los Angeles,
that is, project CEO Brian Kelly said it will need.
Another $100 billion. He acknowledged those costs could rise the
longer the project takes.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle said they're concerned.
Right now that the air is being sucked out of
the room funding wise by this one project,
how do we get the public on board with something
that has this much of A downside to it funding
wise?
I think the only way you get the public is
by performing better and I think the authority is performing
better today than it was and I think it will
going forward. I think it's the right thing to do
for the future of the state and the country.
And yes, it's a challenge and just like when I
worked on the Bay Bridge years ago.
And you're stuck in the middle of a very tough
project.
It feels impossible until it's not.
And then you just grind.
You do the work, you perform better,
you deliver. And and as and you're right,
we got to get this middle section done.
We got to get this middle section done.
We are on a better path today on it than
when I started.
And I believe it will get done.
And then I hope we have the wherewithal to do
San Francisco to LA in three hours because that's what
this project can do.
Now, the High Speed Rail Authority is also hoping to
have a solid federal partner on this project.
But for some context there,
President Joe Biden has been supportive of this project.
When former President Donald Trump was in office,
his administration tried to claw back funds for it.
So like several other issues this upcoming election,
how this project proceeds could depend on who ends up
in the White House.
Back to you. All right,
Ashley, thanks for the update there.
Well, the High Speed Rail authorities also hoping to open
up conversations with the private sector.
On any possible funding.