California’s high-speed rail project, which aims to connect San Francisco and Los Angeles with a 494-mile route capable of speeds up to 220 mph, aims to continue construction in 2025.

Phase 1 of the project focuses on linking San Francisco in the north to Anaheim via Los Angeles in the south, with plans to extend the line north to Sacramento and south to San Diego in Phase 2.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority, which is overseeing the project says it has already generated significant economic benefits, including creating over 14,000 construction jobs and involving 875 small businesses.

But despite its transformative goals, the project remains politically contentious, with critics questioning its costs and viability. It has been in development since voters approved funding in 2008 and has faced delays, cost increases, and shifting timelines.

Work Planned for 2025

In a statement to Newsweek, the California High-Speed Rail Authority outlined its planned work for 2025, which focuses on continuing construction in the Central Valley between Merced and Bakersfield.

The 171-mile segment between Merced and Bakersfield will be the first part of the line to be operational, with services expected to start between 2030 and 2033. Of that section, 119 miles are currently under construction.

Of the planned structures in the Central Valley section, 85 are underway or completed out a total of 93 on the segment. Work will continue on these structures as well as on the tracks capable of handling high-speed trains.

By the end of 2025, civil construction on the 119-mile segment currently underway is expected to be completed and construction will begin on the next stretches to Merced and Bakersfield.

In 2025, the authority also plans to advance design and begin construction on its stations in the Central Valley. It also expects to select a manufacturer for the trains.

Although the initial operating segment will only run 171 miles from Merced to Bakersfield, environmental clearances have been obtained for 463 miles of the 494-mile Phase 1 route, completing the stretch between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Only the Los Angeles-to-Anaheim section is still awaiting approval.

The Authority said it plans to publish its draft environmental impact report for the Los Angeles-to-Anaheim section in 2025, a key milestone for the eventual full-approval of Phase 1.

More than $11 billion has been invested to date, with funding sources including state bonds, federal grants, and proceeds from California’s carbon emission trading auctions.

The authority has not yet received funding to construct the segments westwards from the Central Valley to the Bay Area or southwards to Los Angeles.

Despite this, the authority said it was committed to pushing on.

“California is the first in the nation to build a true high-speed rail system with speeds capable of reaching 220 mph,” the Authority told Newsweek. “The Authority remains committed and aggressive in moving this historic project forward while actively pursuing additional funding.”

Political Opposition to the Project

Despite ongoing progress, the high-speed rail project continues to face political opposition, particularly from Republican leaders.

While President Joe Biden’s administration has invested billions in it since 2021, the incoming Republican administration, which will control the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the presidency, is unlikely to continue funding it at the same level.

Representative Sam Graves of Missouri, who chairs the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has criticized the project’s costs and funding strategies.

In a statement to Newsweek, Graves described the rail line as a “highly troubled project” and raised concerns about its reliance on government subsidies.

He pointed out that the current funding supports only a limited segment between Merced and Bakersfield, which he estimated will cost $35 billion.

“Full cost estimates [for Phase 1, between San Francisco and Anaheim] now exceed $100 billion and growing,” Graves said, calling for a comprehensive review of the project before any additional funding is allocated.

“California high-speed rail must have a plan and prove that it can wisely and responsibly spend government money—something it’s failed to do so far.”

The congressman stated that over the next four years, he would oppose any further federal funding for the California high-speed rail project.

Instead, Graves advocated for efforts to redirect unspent funds and focus on improving existing transportation infrastructure, such as Amtrak.

Graves also emphasized the need for private-sector involvement in future rail projects, citing Brightline’s operations in Florida and Las Vegas as a successful example of private investment.

While Graves acknowledged the potential of high-speed rail, he argued that the California project has failed to meet the necessary criteria for viability and local demand.

The authority told Newsweek it would engage with the federal government to seek other funding sources.

“We continue to explore strategies aimed at stabilizing funding, potentially allowing the program to draw private financing and/or government loans,” it said.

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A Honolulu man who had his identity stolen had to fly to California to clear his name. He acted quickly to stop his bank account from being completely drained.

Jamie Dahl said he’s speaking out because identity theft can happen to anyone and he’s not sure how his personal information was stolen.

“I’m still mystified how he pulled it off,” Dahl said.

In late November, Dahl found some fraudulent charges on his credit card so he ordered a replacement card.

Two weeks later, he says went to his online bank account with Bank of America and discovered his identity had been stolen. The hacker had account access for instant money transfers.

“My phone number is missing, my email is missing, my mailing address. I live in Honolulu. It’s Mililani,” Dahl said.

He knew he was in trouble.

Dahl said two days after his discovered his identity had been stolen, he had to fly to California to clear his name because there are no Bank of America branches in Hawaii.

He brought several forms of ID to re-authenticate himself.

“It was just an incredible ordeal,” he said.

“The bad guys are shopping just like everybody else for Christmas,” said former HPD Deputy Chief John McCarthy, who investigated cybercrime.

McCarthy says check your bank account daily and having a local bank is helpful.

“If you don’t have a local bank, you are that much father away. I’ve had problems with banks that are on the East Coast,” he said.

“It takes a day to communicate with them, a day to get a response. That’s a lot of damage you can do in 24, 48, 72 hours,” McCarthy added.

McCarthy says most banks have streamlined their re-authentification process so you don’t have to see them in person.

Hawaii News Now contacted Bank of America to find out their process and are waiting to hear back.

Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

What’s New

California’s coastal residents are facing dangerous conditions this Christmas Eve as high surf and flood warnings continue after heavy waves caused a pier to collapse on Monday.

Why It Matters

Portions of the Pacific coast are currently under hazardous seas warnings, high surf warnings and coastal flood warnings as it is shaping up to deliver some of the most severe surf conditions of the winter season, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Portland.

The NWS issued a high surf warning, with waves reaching up to 35 feet, which can pose significant risks to both property and lives.

“Large waves can sweep across the beach without warning, pulling people into the sea from rocks, jetties, and beaches,” the agency warned in a Christmas Eve bulletin.

The alert remains in effect until Tuesday evening, prompting evacuations and heightened vigilance in several coastal communities.

What To Know

The NWS warnings come after a municipal wharf in Santa Cruz that was under renovation succumbed to a storm’s force. Around 150 feet of the structure collapsed into the Pacific, pulling three engineers inspecting the site into the water. All three individuals survived with two rescued by lifeguards and one swimming to safety.

Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley said that section of the pier had been damaged over time, and the structure was in the middle of a $4 million renovation following destructive storms last winter.

Tony Elliot, Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation Department head, confirmed that the severed portion of the wharf, which included restrooms and a closed restaurant, drifted nearly half a mile before settling in the San Lorenzo River.

In response, coastal towns including Santa Cruz have evacuated vulnerable homes and hotels as the state braces for more damage.

What People Are Saying

Keeley said Monday: “We are anticipating that what is coming toward us is more serious than what was there this morning.”

The National Weather Service’s Bay Area office said in a post on X (formerly Twitter): “You are risking your life, and those of the people that would need to try and save you by getting in or too close to the water.”

The NWS office in Portland, Oregon, said in a post on X:“It will likely go down as some of the highest surf this winter.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s press office posted to X on Monday afternoon, saying that he is aware of the situation with the pier.

“@CAGovernorNewsom has been briefed on a previously damaged section of the Santa Cruz pier that broke off due to heavy surf. @Cal_OES is coordinating with local officials and is ready to provide support,” Newsom’s press office wrote. “Residents and visitors should avoid the area and follow local guidance.”

What Happens Next

As California residents grapple with these dangerous conditions, meteorologists warn that the storm’s high surf may be the most intense of the season.

With more severe weather expected, officials are urging the public to heed warnings and avoid risky coastal areas.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.