THE US state of California has dropped a lawsuit filed against the Trump administration over the federal government's withdrawal last summer of $US 4bn in funding for the high-speed line now under construction in California’s Central Valley.
California governor, Gavin Newsom, said that the federal government's decision was illegal and described it as “a political stunt to punish California.” Speaking exclusively to IRJ in November, California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) CEO, Ian Choudri, said “the impact of the funding withdrawal can’t be overstated.”
However, he added that the withdrawal of federal capital would not create a funding gap for the initial phase of the line, the 191.5km Central Valley Section (CVS), now under construction between Bakersfield and Merced.
Following the decision by California’s attorney general to abandon the lawsuit against the federal government, CHSRA says that it will focus on other funding sources, including private-sector equity. The total cost of completing the full 790.4km high-speed line between San Francisco and Palmdale near Los Angeles is estimated at $US 90.8bn.
“The state's assessment is that the federal government is not a reliable, constructive, or trustworthy partner in advancing high-speed rail in California,” CHSRA says.
“Moving forward without the Trump administration's involvement allows the authority to pursue proven global best practices used successfully by modern high-speed rail systems around the world.”
