“California will spend $1.6 billion so they do not have to return $3.5 billion to the federal government.”
Bad governance as its worst. Pi$$ away $1.6billion in state money in order to pi$$ away #/5 billion of federal money?
It's criminal!
From that same article:
How Can They Keep the $7.5 Billion Bond Money?
There are legal issues around the $7.5 billion Proposition 1A bond measure.
The bond measure had legal requirements:
(1) Can the train travel from Los Angeles (Union Station) to San Francisco (Transbay Terminal) in two hours and 40 minutes?
(2) Will the train require an operational subsidy?
(3) Does the new “blended system” approach meet the definition of high-speed rail in Proposition 1A?
The 110 or 120-mile segment will not allow any train to travel from Los Angeles to San Francisco in two hours and 40 minutes. There is no way anything can operate on that line without an operational subsidy.
Apparently, those who were tagged to do well in this deal already have theirs, so, no reason to continue.
How about rebuilding that nightmare RT 99 rather than pi$$ing the remaining money away on this boondoggle?