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Newsom Looks to Divert Climate Funding for High-Speed Rail as Costs Keep Climbing
- Governor Gavin Newsom proposed diverting $1 billion in climate funding for California's high-speed rail project amid rising costs and delays as of May 2025.
- The rail project started in 2008 as a $40 billion Los Angeles to San Francisco bullet train but has expanded in cost to over $100 billion due to timeline extensions and funding challenges.
- Officials are prioritizing the completion of the 171-mile rail segment connecting Merced and Bakersfield, which was initially projected to cost $35.3 billion and be finished between 2030 and 2033, though recent reports indicate the expenses may rise and the timeline could be extended further.
- State Senator Tony Strickland criticized the project as unbuildable in its current form and urged legislators to consider ending it, emphasizing Californians' sensitivity to government waste.
- The diversion of climate funds raises concerns about cuts to essential climate programs, reflecting California's worsening budget shortfall amid ongoing climate crises and growing disaster costs.
21 Articles
21 Articles
CA's budget deficit and the Make Polluters Pay Climate Superfund - Capitol Weekly
California desperately needs the resources to protect residents from the inevitable reality of the climate crisis. Thankfully, legislation currently moving through the California legislature could be a lifeline for our budget and get us back on the right track.
Newsom looks to divert climate funding for high-speed rail as costs keep climbing
In January, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, D, joined rail authority officials outside of Bakersfield to celebrate the initial construction of the state's high-speed rail. The governor hammered a ceremonial spike into the ground and discussed the project. “No state in America is closer to launching high-speed rail than California — and today, we just took a massive step forward,” Newsom said. In a moment of symbolism, the spike wasn’t for the actu…
Another $10-$14 Billion Needed to Fund High Speed Rail Line Bakersfield to Merced – California Globe
The funding gap to complete the Bakersfield to Merced segment of the California High-Speed Rail Line grew on Monday following consultants to the project raising estimates from the original $7 billion gap to a now $10.2 billion gap. According to the California High Speed Rail Project’s 2024 business plan, the first segment was on track to be completed between 2030 and 2033, with a total cost coming to $35.3 billion. However, in March, the Califor…
ThePatriotLight - Price Tag for California's High Speed Rail Project Goes Up Again – HotAir
ThePatriotLight - Gov. Newsom of California is determined to see the high-speed rail system completed or at least started, but the bad news just keeps rolling in like a freight train (pun intended). Newsom is in the process of pushing for next fiscal year's budget and as part of that process he has announced a plan to make sure the bullet train project gets money from the state climate fund. California Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to tap at least $2…
California High Speed Rail’s budget gap could grow to $10.2 billion for Bakersfield-to-Merced line
California’s High Speed Rail project may soon face a $10.2 billion budget gap, even larger than what lawmakers expected two months ago, as project leaders look to complete the first segment between Bakersfield and Merced.
Price Tag for California's High Speed Rail Project Goes Up Again
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