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By Marni Rose McFall
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Republican Congressman Mike Garcia has introduced a bill to end spending on the California High-Speed Rail project, dubbing it "Frankenstein's monster."
The former naval officer, who represents California's 27th District, released the "No Frankenrail Act" over the weekend in response to the project, on which construction began in 2015.
The Context
California High-Speed Rail (CAHSR) is a large-scale infrastructure project that aims to connect California's major cities.
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It has faced a number of delays and cost overruns. It was originally estimated to cost $40 billion and is now predicted to cost between $88 billion and $128 billion.
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What We Know
Garcia, elected to office in 2020, introduced the act over the weekend to "put an end to the misuse of federal funds on high-speed rail projects that have been nothing but a black hole for taxpayer dollars," according to a press release shared on his website.
In the statement, Garcia said: "After 15 years and billions of your hard-earned tax dollars spent, California's High-Speed Rail has delivered zero results – just broken promises and empty rhetoric.
"This so-called 'high-speed' rail hasn't produced any rail, and it's certainly not moving at any speed. This isn't just fiscal irresponsibility, it's a betrayal of the trust Californians have placed in their government.
"This isn't high-speed rail, it's Frankenstein's monster."
Newsweek reached out to a representative of California High-Speed Rail Authority for comment, who responded via email. "While we can't comment on legislation, we would emphasize the project is continuing to make progress as we remain active and aggressive in moving the project forward while actively pursing federal funding since the project was never fully funded from the start."
The spokesperson stated that the Authority has created nearly 14,000 construction jobs and stated that the project has generated over $18 billion in economic impact.
Garcia also called the project "clumsy" and said it is "wreaking havoc in our communities without delivering any real benefits."
The "No Frankenrail Act" was described in the statement as reflecting "Rep. Garcia's unwavering commitment to safeguarding taxpayer dollars."
The state and the federal government can't afford the project, and the spending is "reckless," he said. "It's time to stop this wasteful spending and focus on projects that truly make a difference in our communities."
A spokesperson for the California High-Speed Rail Authority told Newsweek , "High-speed rail is also the best value investment compared to the cost range of $179 billion to $253 billion that would be necessary to construct the equivalent highway and air passenger capacity." They cited a 2019 report from the California High-Speed Rail Authority.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has expressed support for the CAHSR project. In a statement from Buttigieg shared on the project's website, he said: "California is leading the way on high-speed rail for the nation.
"We have 119-miles of construction in the Central Valley, dispatching [over a thousand] workers daily. With top speeds of 220 miles per hour to connect San Francisco to Los Angeles in under 3 hours, we're working to transform transportation in California."
What's Next?
The CAHSR project has been split into two phases. The first phase aims to connect San Francisco to Los Angeles through the Central Valley, spanning roughly 494 miles. This phase will also include a 171-mile segment that is currently under construction, between Merced and Bakersfield.
Completion for this phase is expected upon the initiation of passenger service. This has been slated for between 2030 and 2033.
The second phase plans to extend the system north from Merced to Sacramento and south from Los Angeles to San Diego, which will ultimately create an 800-mile network.
This phase has not yet secured funding and faces logistical and financial challenges.
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Update, 08/13/24, 04:01 a.m. ET: This article was updated to include comment from the California High Speed Rail Authority.
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