High-Speed Rail Authority discusses projected $126.2B cost

(The Center Square) – The California High-Speed Rail Authority’s Board of Directors talked Wednesday morning about the ballooning $126.2 billion projected price tag for what many call a boondoggle.

At their meeting, board members deflected blame about what they said is the total cost of the project to date – $15.7 billion. California voters passed a bond measure in November 2008 approving a $9.95 billion bond to finance the high-speed rail project, according to the official voter information guide sent to Californians that year.

The Center Square reported that as of June 2025, no track had been laid. Board members weren’t available Wednesday to answer The Center Square’s questions about whether track would be laid this year, and the High-Speed Rail Authority staff declined to a...