Why can't California build high-speed rail?

California has spent years and billions of dollars on a high-speed rail system, but there's still no train. The cost has jumped from $33 billion to well over $130 billion. Now officials want another $100 billion, even though this project will never get on track. #California #trains #railway

[Thejellybaby]

Perhaps you should be asking this question: If you’re a contractor on this job, why would you want this contract to end?

[tonyflores]

Because they aren’t trying to build a railroad. They are trying to pay their friends giant sums of taxpayer dollars disguised as a public investment. Of course it’s over by 100 billion or some shit. Is this still a mystery?

[dkchen]

You can sue anonymously for environmental reviews. So petty people can delay it for ages.

[marleysmith]

The "additional 100 billion" is because they have only actually received/procured around 30 billion so far.

The project keeps stalling because there's an incredible amount of red tape, environmental review, and series of lawsuits over land use that the project has had to deal with. They also haven't been given the funds they need so they're stuck working with what they have and hoping they can eventually get the funding they need to complete the entire project.

The longer the project gets slowed down, the higher the price gets. Inflation, capital, and labor costs just go up over time.

[isentient]

I predict CA will finish the high speed rail sometime after high speed rails are obsolete.

[jakob]

The ‘additional’ 100 billion is NOT on top of the 130, it’s on top of the original 33 billion. The title was confusing and misinterpreted by many.

[chasingthefish]

Embezzlement and redtape. Could have answered the question in a 1/4 of the time.

[haihengh]

CA, we need a high speed rail because it is environmental friendly.
also CA, we need environmental review for every inch of rail built.

[ItsAVolcano]

There's also the NIMBY's who in theory support it but are absolutely adamant that it not go through their neighborhoods.

[AnimilesYT]

But building extra roads is of course not much of a problem and even if there are problems then no one talks about it

[saints]

California: We need high speed rail to help with this apocalyptic environmental collapse that will hit any day.
Also California: We cant build high speed rail until the environment tells us it is okay

[elconquistadorism]

It's taken over 20 years to build a north south hwy through Spokane Washington. And it's not done yet! And it's only 8 miles long!

[perspective]

Anyone else find a source that supports his numbers? All I could find is an initial $40 billion. And that $35 billion of that 40 will get the train running from LA to Bakersfield. And that an additional $100 billion will be needed to get it to San Francisco. Meaning the total cost is estimated at $140 billion. Keep in mind the original estimate was done in 2008. That was right after the crash I think when costs were low. Costs have gone up since then... especially after our poor handling of covid.
Also, it IS being built. There have been no major delays... so, no clue where he got that from. Anyone have a better source that supports him?

[krunkle]

Not very descriptive. What is the money going to??

Remember, Japan, a very seismically active country, pulled this off more than 50 years ago.

[chasemartin]

As a Californian, raise my taxes if you need but *finish the high-speed rail ASAP!* We NEED to move past cars!

[poodlescone]

When the Sac Kings needed a stadium, suddenly no environmental reviews are needed. But somehow an elevated train track requires endless environmental review. This is an intentional milking of the taxpayers.

[dalestoica]

This is such a nothing story. The price has been over $100 billion for over a decade. What they are saying is that the initial $33 billion has been spent and that they need need additional money to complete the project. They are not saying that the price went up by another $100B.

[Pumfee]

Its because of private companies. Private companies it hires ti build infrastructure demand money to make a profit but witj continuously limited funding it pits the project on hold forever while filling the pockets of infrastructure companies. It would've been much cheaper and faster if California built it itself.

[Djungelskog]

I love how the politicians are getting kickbacks from the construction companies

[MiamiMarkYT]

Seriously California needs to pass a law excepting the HSR from any and all further environmental impact reviews and just start laying track. It’s madness that it isn’t done by now