US EditionNewsom Looks to Divert Climate Funding for High-Speed Rail as Costs Keep Climbing
- California Governor Gavin Newsom proposed diverting $2.5 billion from the state’s climate fund to support firefighting and the high-speed rail project in his 2025 budget plan.
- The move aims to address escalating costs and funding gaps as the original 2008 bullet train project, intended to connect Los Angeles to San Francisco, now faces overruns and delays.
- Efforts are currently concentrated on finishing the 171-mile rail segment between Merced and Bakersfield, with an estimated cost of $35.3 billion and a planned completion window from 2030 to 2033; however, both delays and budget increases are anticipated.
- State Senator Tony Strickland strongly condemned the project, expressing doubt that it will ever come to fruition and calling for a Senate debate on ending the initiative due to financial misconduct and declining public confidence.
- Newsom’s plan to extend California’s cap-and-trade program through 2045 intends to secure at least $1 billion annually for the rail and firefighting, triggering significant legislative debate about climate funding priorities.
18 Articles
18 Articles
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
Should California's climate budget pay for high speed rail and firefighters? Newsom's new plan triggers fiery debate
Gov. Newsom wants to allocate half of this year's funds from the landmark cap and trade program to high speed rail and firefighting — leaving too little for other climate work, critics say.
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