U.S. DOT announces grant funding cancellation to Calif. high-speed rail

Feb. 20, 2019

The department announced it is seeking the return of $2.5 billion in federal funds from the state

The U.S. DOT announced yesterday that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) intends to cancel $929 million in federal grant funds yet to be paid for the California High-Speed Rail project envisioned to connect the L.A. Basin to the San Francisco Bay Area.

In addition, the department announced it is actively exploring every legal option to seek the return from California of $2.5 billion in federal funds FRA previously granted for what the agency is referring to as a "now-defunct" project. The completion of the $77 billion Los Angeles-to-San Francisco bullet train has been a goal of California transportation planners for decades.

FRA Administrator Ronald L. Batory notified the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) of this action in a letter yesterday. In the notice, Batory indicates his agency has determined that CHSRA has failed to comply with the terms of its agreement with FRA regarding the project and that the rail agency has "failed to make reasonable progress." 

Last week, in his State of the State address, California Gov. Gavin Newsom annonced his plans to scale back the high-speed rail project, citing high costs and extensive project delays

The FRA's move to defund the high-speed rail project comes a day after the state of California filed a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s emergency declaration on the border. The president took to Twitter to criticize the rail project yesterday, calling the cost overruns "world record setting." 

Gov. Newsom said in a statement that he believes the agency's decision is in retaliation for the border wall lawsuit. “This is clear political retribution by President Trump, and we won’t sit idly by," the governor said, as reported by the New York Times. "This is California’s money, and we are going to fight for it.”

----------

Source: U.S. DOT / Office of Gov. Gavin Newsom / New York Times

Sponsored Recommendations

The Science Behind Sustainable Concrete Sealing Solutions

Extend the lifespan and durability of any concrete. PoreShield is a USDA BioPreferred product and is approved for residential, commercial, and industrial use. It works great above...

Proven Concrete Protection That’s Safe & Sustainable

Real-life DOT field tests and university researchers have found that PoreShieldTM lasts for 10+ years and extends the life of concrete.

Revolutionizing Concrete Protection - A Sustainable Solution for Lasting Durability

The concrete at the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center is subject to several potential sources of damage including livestock biowaste, food/beverage waste, and freeze/thaw...

The Future of Concrete Preservation

PoreShield is a cost-effective, nontoxic alternative to traditional concrete sealers. It works differently, absorbing deep into the concrete pores to block damage from salt ions...