U.S. cancels $929 million in California high speed rail funds after appeal rejected

[Jose Garcia]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration said Thursday it was formally cancelling $929 million in previously awarded funding for California's high-speed rail program after rejecting an appeal by the state.

The U.S. railway regulator, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), said on Thursday it had canceled the funding awarded in a 2010 agreement after it said the state had "repeatedly failed to comply" and "failed to make reasonable progress on the project."

In a statement on Thursday, FRA said it was still considering "all options" on seeking the return of $2.5 billion in federal funds the state has already received.

The decision is the latest salvo in an ongoing battle between the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump and California. The largest U.S. state has repeatedly sued the Trump administration and officials expect the state will sue over the rescinding of rail funding.


Read more: https://www.google.com/amp/s/mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKCN1SM2F9

[BeyondGeography]

1. Baby lost CA by 4.5 million votes

Baby mad.

[Mendocino]

7. So Cal will get $929 million

in leaf raking funds in compensation?

[MyUncle]

2. I agree with this move.

I love and live in CA. But, this project was cancelled by our own Governor. This should not even be an issue. It would be money for nothing...

[Perseus]

3. Well, the buffoon didn't do it because of logical reasons

He did it for vengeance, regardless of whether it was the right project or not, he doesn't even know that.

[The Mouth]

4. True, but

while I'd love to have a good rail system here, this was a pure pork project that was going to consume an enormous amount of money for very little benefit.

As with the theft of our water here in Northern California by the farmers and LA, not every one of Jerry Brown's projects was a good one.

[ripcord]

10. I have to agree with you, many people in California feel they have been sold a bill of goods

When the voters approved the high speed rail project is had set goals the project had to meet, it can not meet one a single one but Sacramento has pushed it forward long after it had obviously failed at a huge cost to the taxpayers.

[at140]

5. I think the US Treasury is not flush with

Excess cash to spend. Why should we burden future generation with even higher debt! And while we are at it, cut military spending in half immediately. Why are we playing world police with borrowed money from China & Japan?

[DENVERPOPS]

13. Trump would have done

Trump would have just done something else to punish California if he didn't do this....Remember how much he helped with the massive wildfires???....As shown time and time again he will do absolutely anything to get revenge on anyone who crosses him, especially his cabinet, advisors, republicans in house and senate, etc........he is like a psychotic child acting out in this regard......If you thought Hoover had secret files on everyone, I suspect Putin has provided him with even better ones on everyone around him (even military leaders.)

I would love to see ALL Californians not send in their Federal Income Tax and see what he, his IRS, his Treasury, his FBI, his DOJ can do about that. People that get a paycheck and have the taxes taken out of their checks could all claim ten dependents.
Or they could just send the Fed taxes to the State of California instead cause they aren't gonna get anything but shit as long as the Repubs in the Senate and Trump control things......

I think I heard that California is the 7th largest economy in the world.......The State of California could use a chunk of the money to absolutely bury Trump and all his merry little Minions in lawsuits.....

[Mr.Bill]

6. I'm sure our governor

saw this coming and that's why he scaled the project way back. When you think about it, it's probably pointless to pursue any project that relies on federal funding with an administration led by a president with the attention span of a one year old child.

[Bengus81]

8. Trump has happy feet,another BILLION he can get hold of to blow on his POS wall..............

[msongs]

9. no high speed rail scam means no $. sorry CA. nt

[Evolve Dammit]

11. Love to hear some FACTS about why it was such a bad project. Sounds like some very questionable

posters offering very nebulous opinions without substantive backing. I know high speed rail sounds so... socialistic and forward thinking.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

12. Having lived in SFO for almost a decade,

I can say that the transit system in the Bay Area was fantastic. You could actually live in The City without a vehicle. When talk first started about a rail system that would connect SFO to LAX, we were ecstatic. Sadly, we moved before that vote.

But inasmuch as CA is a "donor" state, why not just with hold ALL monies that go to the federal government, construct a better blue print and build the system without the butt-trumpet ?

[ripcord]

14. I wish they would follow through on LA to Vegas

It is a natural first line, once people get to Vegas they don't usually drive and with the much more easily available land across the desert it would be much cheaper to build. It would have great ridership, Nevada would help pay for and it would probably make a profit. Once it is operating it will be proof not only of the concept but that the bugs are worked out.

[miyazaki]

15. The new Virgin Trains USA is planning on it. nt

[ripcord]

16. Didn't know that was still a go

Hopefully it will get the ball rolling and encourage other projects.