California’s high-speed rail project reached a significant milestone with the approval of the final environmental clearance for the most challenging segment of the route. The California High-Speed Rail Authority gave the green light to the Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement at a two-day meeting, marking the completion of the environmental approvals needed for the full 463-mile route between downtown San Francisco and downtown Los Angeles.
The 38-mile segment from Palmdale to Burbank is deemed as one of the most difficult terrains of the entire project, requiring 30 miles of tunneling, including 28 miles through mountains. Trains will traverse underground through the Angeles National Forest and the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. However, the estimated cost for this segment has surged to $28.6 billion, a 27% increase from 2018 estimates, with funding still to be identified. The overall cost of the high-speed rail project is now projected at $128 billion, facing significant funding gaps.
The project, initially funded in 2008 with a $9.9 billion bond issue, aimed to create a $33 billion system between San Francisco and San Diego. However, with cost overruns and funding challenges, the project faces a shortfall as high as $99 billion. Additionally, the Merced to Bakersfield segment, estimated at $35 billion, has a potential $7 billion gap, according to the California High-Speed Rail Peer Review Group. Despite applying for federal grants and receiving support from the Biden administration, the project continues to battle for adequate funding.
The high-speed rail project has constantly attracted criticism from state and national Republicans, labeling it as a wasteful venture that may never reach completion. In response to these concerns, a pair of top congressional Republicans initiated an investigation into the $3.1 billion federal grant awarded to the project. At a hearing before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg defended the administration’s support for the project, acknowledging the challenges it faces.
As the project moves forward, it is evident that the California high-speed rail faces an uphill battle both in terms of construction challenges and financial hurdles. Despite the controversies surrounding the project, supporters remain hopeful that the benefits of a high-speed rail system connecting major cities in the state will outweigh the challenges faced along the way.