State still spending billions on high-speed rail

Before posting about the high-speed rail project last week, I sent a message to the California State Transportation Agency to verify what I saw in a pie chart on its website: Garin Casaleggio Deputy Secretary, Communications California State Transportation Agency Mr. Casaleggio: As a San Francisco blogger, I've posted about the state's high-speed rail project for several years. Looking at the Transportation Agency's 2020 budget, I see that the High-Speed Rail Authority will receive 15.3% of the agency's $19 billion budget this year, which is almost $3 billion. Is that correct? Regards, Rob Anderson Mr. Casaleggio responded today: ...Your reading of the chart is correct. However, the $2.9 billion in the High Speed Rail budget is approximately $500 million in previously appropriated Prop 1A funds, most of which will be used to continue the “bookend” investments in Northern and Southern California (appropriated in 2012).  The remaining $2.5 billion is accumulated Cap & Trade funds that are statutorily continuously appropriated to HSR for construction of the project and completing the Central Valley segment. Again, I sincerely apologize for the delay. Garin Casaleggio Deputy Secretary, Communications California State Transportation Agency Rob's comment: This is what early critics of the project warned about way back in 2010: The Financial Risks of California’s Proposed High-Speed Rail Project. (More reports on the project by the same people here.) Even though the project has been scaled back by Governor Newsom, even that iteration seems improbable, particularly when the next recession hits. $2.5 billion a year may then seem like too much when only the state's construction unions will benefit, though they are an important part of the Democratic Party's political base. The project is guaranteed annually 25% of the state's cap and trade money. See also $6 billion SF tunnel to get the $100 billion train to the $2 billion bus station. More on the project from Ballotpedia.