Biden Administration Restores HSR Funding Cut By President Trump

 

(KMJ) – The U.S. Department of Transportation and the State of California finalized an agreement to restore roughly a billion dollars back into the state’s High-Speed Rail Project.  This action was needed after that money was pulled from the trouble bullet train by the Trump Administration in 2019.

Word of this restoration of money prompted Governor Gavin Newsom to release this statement:

“Tonight’s action by the federal government is further proof that California and the Biden-Harris Administration share a common vision – clean, electrified transportation that will serve generations to come. Restoring nearly $929 million in grant funding back to California’s High-Speed Rail project will continue to spur job creation, advance the project and move the state one step closer to getting trains running in California as soon as possible. We thank the Biden-Harris Administration and Secretary Buttigieg for their partnership on this important step forward.”

And Federal Railroad Administration Deputy Administrator Amit Bose put out this reaction to the restoration of California HSR funding:

“This settlement agreement follows intensive negotiations between the parties and reflects the Federal government’s ongoing partnership in the development of highspeed rail.  It also underscores CHSRA’s commitment to deliver this transformative infrastructure project.  The Department is excited about reestablishing this important relationship with the State of California and is committed to fulfilling its oversight responsibilities.  This settlement is an important step in advancing an economically transformational project in California.”

 

Click to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern: