Perspective: Undead HSR project a money sinkhole

California’s high-speed rail gets nowhere fast while sucking hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars—all to construct a politically-motivated route from SF to LA. Public policy/economics experts Dana Goldman and Alain Enthoven take to CalMatters, and posit that local water storage and purification issues must be prioritized over failing transit systems.

Indeed, leaving bullet trains unconnected to California’s major population centers would seem bizarre. But is a fast train more important than addressing the state’s existential challenges?  

Consider what’s occurring just a few miles from the construction sites. Prior to the recent storms, orchards were drying up, towns were without drinking water, aquifers were shrinking, and the State Water Project was drastically restricting deliveries to Southern California. While the storms may cause a temporary reprieve, the state faces enormous long-term water issues.

Instead of spending an additional $100 billion or more to drill rail tunnels through seismically active mountains and disrupt communities, the state should embark on a massive public works effort to meet its water needs. Advances in stormwater capture and recycling hold great promise. Los Angeles could meet 70% of its water needs locally by 2035 if enough investment is made in recycling and cleaning up its groundwater basins. Repairing and replacing leaky pipes, conservation, desalination and replumbing the state project are other pieces of a resilient, drought-resistant water system for California. 

This article originally appeared in CalMatters. Read the whole thing here.

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