Duffy Publishes Report on California High-Speed Rail: ‘No Practical Path Ahead’

High-Speed Rail Project in California Under Scrutiny

On Wednesday, Transport Secretary Sean Duffy released a report addressing California’s high-speed rail project, concluding that it has been a misuse of funds and is “not a viable way” to proceed.

The report, released by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), spans over 300 pages and outlines nine critical findings, including issues related to deadlines, funding shortages, and inflated ridership predictions. The report also mentions that the two grants are financed by taxpayers. Notably, the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) can take up to 37 days to respond, potentially halting funding.

In correspondence with CHSRA CEO Ian Choudri, the FRA pointed out several problems: delays in the project, poor management, wasted resources, and escalating costs. Despite receiving approximately $6.9 billion in federal funding over the past 15 years, not a single mile of high-speed track has been laid. Even with continued federal backing, the project remains far from securing the necessary funds to complete just a fraction of the route.

Duffy stated, “This report reveals a harsh reality. CHSRA lacks a feasible path to finish this project on time or within budget. They’ve been informed, and if they can’t complete it, it may be wise to reallocate these funds to different projects. Our nation deserves a high-speed rail system that we can be proud of.”

Duffy had previously announced an audit of the project in February. Initially, the aim, set by voters in 2008, was to connect San Francisco and Los Angeles within three hours by 2030, with an estimated cost of $33 billion. However, the project has faced numerous legal and technical hurdles, with expenses now surpassing $100 billion, despite narrowing down the intended route.

Following Governor Gavin Newsom’s cancellation of the LA-San Francisco route in 2019, President Trump had secured $1 billion in federal funding for the project. Although President Biden later restored that funding, both Trump and Duffy have continued to criticize the program, highlighting local corruption concerns.