Why California’s High-Speed Rail Is Taking So Long

In 2008, California voted yes on a $9 billion bond authorization to build the nation’s first high-speed railway. The plan is to build an electric train that will connect Los Angeles with the Central Valley and then San Francisco in two hours and forty minutes. At the time, it was estimated the project would be complete by 2020 and cost $33 billion. But 15 years later, there is not a single mile of track laid, and there isn’t enough money to finish the project. The latest estimates show it will cost $88 billion to $128 billion to complete the entire system from LA to San Francisco. Inflation and higher construction costs have contributed to the high price tag. Despite the funding challenges, progress has been made on the project. 119 miles are under construction in California’s Central Valley. The project recently celebrated its 10,000th worker on the job. The infrastructure design work is complete, and 422 out of 500 miles have been environmentally cleared. CNBC visited California’s Central Valley, where construction is underway, to find out what it will take to complete what would be the nation’s largest infrastructure project.

Chapters:
1:35 Intro
1:41 The Vision
4:48 Progress
8:17 Setbacks and challenges

Supervising Producer: Jeniece Pettitt
Edited, Shot and Production Support by: Sydney Boyo
Additional Camera and Drone: Andrew Evers
Animation: Mallory Brangan

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Why California’s High-Speed Rail Is Taking So Long

[mikedx]

Some of California's biggest law firms have gotten rich over this high speed rail project due to lawsuits filed against it by a wide array of interest groups, including environmental groups and agri-business groups..

[karld]

We’re so worried about a train damaging the environment while leaving everyone to drive everywhere because there is no other choice. All the driving we have to do is so much worse for the environment and our health.

[minimalistic_banhaus]

People question the budget for trains, but never the budget for car infrastructure.

[eottoe]

Historically, high-speed trains have a lot of cost overruns when they start out. Japan is the best example. Anything you build here is going to be more expensive dealing with land acquisition and expensive labor. Once it is in place, it will change things. Consider how much money the US and California have spent on roads and airports over the 100 years.

[BlazingShackles]

Rode the high speed train from Guangzhou to Wuhan in 2010. A distance of 600 miles was covered in less than 4 hours An amazing experience. When I came back to the US in 2012 I experienced the inconvenience, slowness, and unorganized and unreliable Amtrak from LA to San Diego. Was a total joke.

[jakecosenza]

It's so easy to hate on this project, but once it's completed it will be absolutely amazing and transformative. I really hope we can get this done.

[jonathon]

As a person who took High-Speed Rail in Taiwan, China, and Japan, it is mind blowing that the US does not have one yet. I am excited to see this come true and hopefully have HSR in every part of the nation.

[SirSayakaMikiTherd]

I grew up in the central valley, and once I found about the high speed rail connecting us, I was so happy to see a megaproject that would benefit us.

[xxxtoyotaprius]

I lived in Italy for a year and was very impressed by the Italian high-speed rail network. The main line, which runs from Turin to Naples via Milan, Bologna, Florence, and Rome, covers around the same distance as San Francisco to San Diego in around five hours. The whole travel experience is way easier than flying. Trains leave from stations located in the city center, instead of airports on the outskirts that take forever to get to; you can show up to the station just a few minutes before the train leaves, since there's no airport security to deal with; and the trains are much more comfortable than airline seats, so you can actually sleep or get work done on the way. Prices are very reasonable compared to airlines too, especially if you're bringing luggage, since the railways don't tack on a bunch of ridiculous fees. There are two competing railway operators in Italy that use the same tracks, one public (Trenitalia) and one private (NTV), which helps keep prices low. Most of the network was built relatively recently, and in true Italian fashion, has had its fair share of political scandals and cost overruns, but the investment was absolutely worth it. I hope that despite its many setbacks, California's HSR project achieves something similar when it is finally completed.

[Connor_Herman]

The longer you wait on massive projects like these, the larger the land acquisition costs will become. Get HSR right-of-way as quickly as possible.

[WahotsW]

I went to france and spain and experienced their rail network. Wasn't even the fastest out there, but I was blown away at how easy it was, how affordable, and how nice it was compared to cramped and gross airline seats. Makes me really wish we had better rail. I will say, Vancouver BC, Seattle WA, and Washtington DC all have great lightrail/metro lines. I wish Seattle would build theirs out faster. They are also taking 20-30 years instead of getting everything done in one fell swoop.

[mj.]

From 2008 to 2023, China built about 30, 000 miles of high speed rails while US spent roughly the same amount of money on the wars US fought in the Middle East during the same period. Both China and US got what they wanted.

[banksrail]

People also need to realize that a large portion of the budget is given to improving transit in California not just the HSR project itself. New commuter rail expansions, electrifications, facilities are being built all over California with the HSR money.

[sdsd]

California High-Speed Rail will probably cost $100 billion. But if it's not built, we'll need to spend at least double that amount on expanding airport runways at LAX and SFO; widening highways; and adding other transportation capacity throughout the state as our transportation needs grow.

Compared to the alternative, it's money well-spent.

[benbookworm]

Another issue is that the general public doesn't understand how much infrastructure costs. They see the large numbers for high speed rail, but don't see how much gets spent daily on car streets. Maintenance, repaveing, and signals cost a TON but nobody bats an eye.

[chadthistle]

I just drove back to Santa Rosa, CA, from Palm Springs, CA, and it is a long, long drive. Would much rather have taken the train.

[madfx]

As a California State worker, I wish this was completed long ago (Id probably be in the capital much more often). Having alternative modes of transportation vs being car dependent would be the great equalizer for our state and make it more affordable. I was in a meeting with job developers who specifically help the disabled population and the number one barrier is transportation. Having more mobility is key for the development of people, owning a car should not be the main prerequisite for taking part in society

[errhka]

As someone from the younger generation - I am so excited for high speed rail and a route from LA to SF. HOWEVER the whole project has been a big planning disaster and lesson for the future of high speed rail construction on the real costs. At the end of the day, in my opinion, it will be worth it 20 times over, and our children will use it and think 'thank god they built this' just like I think when I take the trolley in San Diego or use the interstate roads (instead of thinking about how much money it cost). Public transportation infrastructure is always worth it.

[stkuj]

We just spent 20 days in Japan. The rail system is so efficient and the bullet train is next level. California can learn alot from what they have accomplished

[drdellaman]

It's embarrassing how many miles of high speed rail other countries have completed in the time California has been trying to get this project finished. China has completed 24, 000 miles of high speed rail in the time this project has been in process, and is returning 6.5% a year on their investment.