Where the bill for expanding I-80 ($7 billion in 1989 dollars) was coming out of California transportation funds and the rail subsidies were, too, the rail proposal was considered a net-savings to the California taxpayer with only 12% of the costs recaptured at the fare box.
Instead, it’s recapturing 40% of costs at the fare box which is then a net savings against the alternatives. Widening I-80 today would cost $12 billion to do the same thing that the trains did for only $23 million last year.
But the trains are labor intensive, a black hole that devours revenue. Subsidies from cities along the lines are being cut (I’m willing to bet most come out of their general funds) and one I read about (San Mateo?) it’s own public transportation generates a whopping 17% of its needed revenue. And I can guarantee that CA transportation funds have probably been raided for years to cover shortfalls in the general fund. It cannot be sustained.