Predicted to go nearly 100 billion dollars over budget (so far), California’s 128 billion dollar High Speed Rail (CHSR) has drawn a lot of debate with many questioning its true value. Despite these concerns, the state is determined to continue this project in the hopes of securing fast and convenient travel for Californians.
Construction is already underway – in fact it’s already been underway for nine years. Although it won’t operate until the 2030’s, the project looks very promising. The High Speed Rail will cruise at a speed of 220 miles per hour, which would make it the fastest train in the United States. Travelers could go from San Francisco to Los Angeles in three hours.
California’s economy is the fifth largest in the world, right behind Japan. With this in mind, many have wondered why this project is taking so long. Consider Japan’s first HSR project from the 1960’s: 320 miles of high speed tracks from Osaka to Tokyo. They completed it in five years. We’re nine years in with little to show, so what gives? California can’t print its own money and subsidize rail as much as it wants because it is not its own nation. In all fairness, 128 billion is a lot for a state project.
As expensive as it sounds, this high speed rail could save a lot in the future – road repair and construction are considerable costs to the state and reducing road usage could lower these expenses. The project has also provided substantial economic stimulation and created 12,000 jobs in California. While the spending on this project is very high, a lot of it is making its way back to California. The CHSR would also make travel more affordable for those who need it while keeping cash flow in-state.
If California can pull it together, they’ll find massive rewards on the other side. California’s High Speed Rail project, despite its staggering budget overruns and lengthy construction timeline, presents a promising upgrade for the state’s public transportation.