OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — California this week dropped a lawsuit officials filed against the Trump administration over the federal government’s withdrawal of $4 billion for the state’s long-delayed high-speed rail project.
The U.S. Transportation Department slashed funds for the bullet train aimed at connecting San Francisco to Los Angeles in July. The Trump administration indicated that the California High-Speed Rail Authority had “no viable plan” to complete a large segment of the project in the farm-rich Central Valley.
The authority quickly filed a lawsuit, with Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom denouncing the federal government’s decision as “a political stunt to punish California.” The authority stated this week that it would redirect its focus towards other funding sources to complete the project, which now has an estimated cost of more than $100 billion.
“This action reflects the State’s assessment that the federal government is not a reliable, constructive, or trustworthy partner in advancing high-speed rail in California,” an authority spokesperson said in a statement.
The Transportation Department did not respond to a request for comment. President Donald Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy have both previously criticized the project, referring to it as a “train to nowhere.”
In a notable turn, the authority aims to attract private investors as they dropped the lawsuit, now seeing the endeavor as a new opportunity. “Moving forward without the Trump administration’s involvement allows the Authority to pursue proven global best practices used successfully by modern high-speed rail systems around the world,” stated a spokesperson.
The state recently secured $1 billion in annual funding through its cap-and-trade program that extends through 2045, supporting various climate-change mitigation projects.
