In the know: California’s High-Speed Rail

Gov. Jerry Brown’s office is set to slash $30 billion off the controversial $98.5 billion high-speed rail line plan in an effort to sell the project to California lawmakers.

However, investing heavily in a form of transportation that may become obsolete at the time of completion would be a mistake. The project also has too many holes, including a lack of long-term funding, ballooning costs, reliance on federal funding, projected low ridership and waning public support.

Although the construction of a rail line would be good for upgrading California’s transportation infrastructure, it would not be wise for the state to invest in this project under current economic conditions.

Even with Brown’s impending cuts, the new bill of $68.4 billion is still too costly for a project that may be a relic by its projected completion date in 2028.

Last fall, the previous rail line plan was met with stiff opposition from California lawmakers when the estimated cost of the rail line more than doubled from $42.6 billion to $98.5 billion. The old plan replaces the construction of a new rail line from Bakersfield to the San Fernando Valley. The revised rail line plan relies on upgrading existing rail lines to high-speed rail in areas near the Bay Area and Los Angeles to reduce costs.

As the price tag on the project ballooned, it seems voter confidence took a dive. In 2008, when the rail line was estimated to cost $42.6 billion, 53 percent of voters voted for funding bonds for the rail line. In a poll conducted in late February by the Public Policy Institute of California, 53 percent of respondents opposed the construction of the rail line while 43 percent chose to support the line.

The window of opportunity for public support of the high-speed rail line has already passed. Lawmakers should focus on other issues that have high public support and abandon the rail line plan.

State officials estimate that under the new plan, passengers would pay $81 for a three-hour train ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Such a ticket price has prompted skepticism as to whether the equivalent trip via plane might be shorter and cost less.

But such concerns are hardly relevant if funding for the project is still on unsure footing. After nearly four years, too many questions surrounding funding, costs and planning still exist. Coupled with growing public opposition, California lawmakers should bring the rail line to a final stop.

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