The High Cost of California’s Infrastructure Dreams: Lessons from Willie Brown

The California High Speed Rail project has been a topic of controversy and debate since its inception, with costs skyrocketing and promises being broken along the way. Former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown’s insights into government infrastructure projects have resurfaced in light of the project’s challenges.

Initially proposed as a high-speed rail connecting Los Angeles to San Francisco in under three hours, the project’s estimated cost has ballooned from less than $40 billion to $118 billion. Governor Jerry Brown attempted to bring the cost down to $64 billion, but even that number seems unrealistic given the project’s current state.

The latest draft business plan for the project reveals even more challenges, particularly in navigating the Tehachapi Mountains to reach Southern California. As a result, the rail authority has decided to prioritize a route to San Jose instead, bypassing Southern California for the time being.

Despite legal challenges and public opposition, the project continues to move forward, echoing Willie Brown’s sentiment that the goal is to start construction and worry about the details later. With costs spiraling out of control and promises being broken, the California High Speed Rail project serves as a cautionary tale for ambitious government infrastructure projects.

Steven Greenhut, western region director for the R Street Institute, based in Sacramento, provides insight into the challenges and controversies surrounding the project. As the project continues to face scrutiny and uncertainty, the future of high-speed rail in California remains uncertain.