California Lawmakers Request High-Speed Rail Funding from Buttigieg
Legislators are seeking $536 million from the transportation secretary for a tunnel in the Central Valley. During his first term, Trump termed the initiative a ‘green disaster.’
The funds are intended to assist with the design of a tunnel connecting the Central Valley with California’s major population hubs, as per the lawmakers.
“By preparing for future final design and construction of intricate tunnels in this corridor, the project will promote state and federal objectives to enhance safety, bolster economic strength and global competitiveness, tackle equity challenges, and adopt sustainable practices to combat climate change,” the lawmakers stated in their letter.
U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), along with Democratic Representatives Pete Aguilar, Jim Costa, and Zoe Lofgren, requested the federal Department of Transportation grant prior to Trump’s inauguration, who is known for opposing the high-speed rail project.
Gov. Gavin Newsom responded, asserting that the money rightfully belonged to California, having been allocated by Congress.
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“We’re not returning it,” Newsom declared at that time.
The lawmakers mentioned in their recent letter that the federal funding would assist in designing the initial two segments of the Central Valley section, which includes a segment from Bakersfield to Palmdale and another from Gilroy to Central Valley Wye.
These segments have already passed environmental assessment requirements, according to the letter.
The lawmakers stated that the investments would create living wage jobs, open up opportunities for small businesses, and improve mobility in underserved communities, particularly disadvantaged agricultural ones.
If granted, the funding would be supplemented by almost $134 million from state cap-and-trade funds.
The funding would facilitate the commencement of detailed design work, geotechnical studies, right-of-way design identification, and utility design, as per the lawmakers.
A formal application was submitted as part of an ongoing partnership between federal and state entities, which has provided about $29 billion in funding for the project—$22 billion from state sources and $6.8 billion from federal sources.
A request for comments from the lawmakers was not immediately answered on Monday.
Buttigieg’s office did not disclose whether the outgoing secretary intended to consider the request. He typically communicates directly with those making requests rather than through media channels, according to his office.
High-speed rail officials celebrate the groundbreaking of another small construction milestone earlier in December 2024—the 402-foot McKinley Avenue and Golden State Boulevard grade project in Fresno. California High Speed Rail Authority
The train was anticipated to operate at speeds of up to 220 miles per hour, with an initial completion date set for 2020.
California’s High Speed Rail Project announced the completion of a section of bridgework in Madera County in May marking the first significant milestone of the project’s completion. California High Speed Rail Authority
“The Fresno River Viaduct in Madera County represents one of the initial completed high-speed rail structures,” the authority mentioned in May.
To date, the project has incurred $12.9 billion in expenses related to construction, environmental clearance, planning, design, and other necessary procedures, according to the authority.
