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Senator Tony Strickland (R-Huntington Beach), vice chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, released a statement after the United States Department of Transportation announced it would terminate its funding agreements with the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA):
“Commonsense has prevailed, and I commend the U.S. Department of Transportation for taking action and ending the funding. As vice chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, I urge legislative Democrats once again to have a serious discussion on how we can pull the plug on this mismanaged project. Let’s stop wasting California’s hard-earned taxpayer dollars and put that money toward a better use for all Californians, such as lowering the gas tax, funding Proposition 36, or investing in shovel-ready projects to start."
Background:
After taking office in March, Senator Strickland’s first legislative action included introducing Senate Bill 94 to defund the controversial high-speed rail and using those funds to reduce the gas tax. SB 94 did not pass out of the Senate Taxation and Revenue Committee.
KCRA reported a few weeks ago that the high-speed rail needs an additional $3.2 billion in order to complete the Bakersfield to Merced line, which is on top of the already existing $7 billion budget gap. In his May Revision, Governor Newsom set aside $1 billion as a lifeline for the high-speed rail.