(NewsWorthy.news) – Two Republican lawmakers have submitted a request to the Secretary of Transportation, requesting an explanation regarding a controversial high speed rail project in California.
On Wednesday May 29, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Missouri Rep. Sam Graves sent a letter to Pete Buttigieg, head of the federal Department of Transportation. They wrote to demand answers about the project, which they described as “highly questionable.” As pointed out by the concerned legislators, the project was initially allotted $33 billion and set to be completed in 2020.
However, not one part of the project has been completed in a time of 15 years, and the cost has increased to an estimated $128 billion. There is also a lack of funding of up to $99 billion and a high risk of overall failure for the massive project, according to regular updates provided on the investment.
The congressional probe into the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) was launched by Cruz, a ranking member within the Commerce Committee of the Senate, and Graves, who leads the House Transportation Committee.
The CHSRA project is meant to connect Los Angeles and Anaheim to San Francisco during its first stage of construction, which has yet to be completed. Although not finalized, other proposals would create a rail line that leads to Sacramento and San Diego. California’s high speed rail project is not the first of its kind, as a similar endeavor to link southern California to Las Vegas began in January.
A project to connect Dallas to Houston, Texas, via high speed train was endorsed by President Joe Biden last month. However, the Biden administration has been criticized for its ongoing funding of “substantial federal taxpayer dollars” to support the failing California project.
Despite backlash from Congress members, a spokesperson for the Department of Transportation has defended the project as one that will “revolutionize travel” as well as “expand economic opportunity” throughout the country.
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