The Federal Railroad Administration is threatening to withhold $929 million in grants to fund high-speed rail in California. California High-Speed Rail Authority President and CEO Brian Kelly stated that the termination of the agreement would be “unwarranted, unprecedented, and legally indefensible, and it would gravely harm a historic project on which the FRA and the CHSRA have collaborated productively for nearly a decade.”
Kelly also called the attempt by the Trump Administration to claw back the $2.5 billion in federal grants that California has already spent on the project unlawful, and argued that instead of engaging in partisan political battles the Authority and the FRA should should share a mutual goal: the successful delivery of America’s first truly high-speed rail service.
This is (yet another) example of Mr. Trump breaking his campaign promises (related to rebuilding our infrastructure).
Rail Passengers Association has called for action, in the form of a petition (and any other way of sending a message):
Congress needs to hold fast in finishing the high-speed spine for California's Central Valley and improving conventional rail systems in the north and south ends of the state. When the initial segment is up and running, voters will have a taste of a modern, efficient rail service, and future leaders can use the foundation we’ve built to finally bring high-speed train service to the rest of the state.
Tell your California Representatives that you know the project isn't dead, and continue to support it - and you want them to use their oversight powers to ensure that the Federal Railroad Administration doesn't overstep their legal authority for political purposes.