Today, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that the federal government will investigate the California High-Speed Rail project. Assemblywoman Alexandra M. Macedo (R-Tulare), who spearheaded the Republican lawmakers’ effort to encourage President Trump to examine the viability of the project and hold the High Speed Rail Authority accountable for its mismanagement and broken promises, issued the following statement:
“After 17 years and $13.7 billion spent, no tracks have been laid.
“Taxpayers are forking out a billion dollars a year for this failed project, while Southern California residents continue to suffer from the aftermath of the wildfires including life-threatening flooding – and while people in the Central Valley don’t have drinkable water.
“The $1,000,000,000 the state spends on the High-Speed Rail annually would be better used to protect lives, homes and jobs against wildfires and other natural disasters and to secure the water infrastructure we need for our communities to thrive and our economy to grow.
“That’s why I introduced legislation – Assembly Bill 267 – to redirect state funding from the High-Speed Rail to wildfire prevention and water infrastructure projects that will provide safe drinking water and support jobs in the agricultural industry.
“It is time to reprioritize this money from the High-Speed Rail Authority’s wasteful mismanagement and instead fund projects that are urgently necessary.”
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Assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo represents the 33rd Assembly District, which encompasses Tulare, Kings, and Fresno Counties.