On March 26, Assembly Budget Subcommittee 4, lawmakers acknowledged the failings of the High-Speed Rail – “over budget and behind schedule.” Central Valley’s Assemblywoman Alexandra M. Macedo calls on Governor Newsom to redirect the $1 billion of cap-and-trade funding from High Speed Rail to wildfire prevention and water infrastructure projects.

“The State is facing a budget deficit. It is time for Governor Newsom to prioritize wildfire victims and residents of rural communities over the mismanaged High-Speed Rail,” said Assemblywoman Macedo (R-Tulare) “Southern California residents continue to suffer from the aftermath of the wildfire including life-threatening flooding – while people in the Central Valley don’t have drinkable water.”

Given the waste in the High-Speed Rail, Assemblywoman Macedo introduced Assembly Bill 267. This legislation will reprioritize the $1 billion of cap-and-trade funding that goes to the High-Speed Rail Authority to pay for wildfire prevention and water infrastructure.

In the budget subcommittee hearing, the independent legislative analyst said there is an immediate $7 billion funding shortfall for completing the $35.2 billion Merced-to-Bakersfield segment. Despite this deficit, the High-Speed Rail Authority has not put forth a plan to bridge this funding gap.

This comes on the heels of the High-Speed Rail Office of the Inspector General’s report that details how the California High-Speed Rail Authority “has not completed a risk analysis that would allow it better to determine whether its plan for completing the M-B (the Merced-to-Bakersfield) segment is realistic and achievable.”

The High-Speed Rail Authority is currently under investigation by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

When voters approved the project in 2008, they were promised a fully funded San Francisco-to-Los Angeles system with matching contributions from the federal government and private sector, a $34 billion price tag, and completion by 2020. Today, the projected cost has skyrocketed to $128 billion, with no clear path to completion.

“Voters have been hoodwinked by the High-Speed Rail Authority’s smoke and mirrors. The truth is: after 17 years and $13.7 billion spent, not a single foot of track has been laid. It is time to put taxpayers’ monies to better use,” said Assemblywoman Macedo.

Assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo represents the 33rd Assembly District, which encompasses Tulare, Kings, and Fresno Counties.