To the editor: So the Excessive-Pace Rail Authority desires the great residents of states like, say, Maine and Hawaii to assist fund the hideously costly bullet prepare with their federal tax {dollars} despite the fact that none of them might be driving the prepare themselves frequently (“California’s high-speed rail leaders sound alarm over project’s financial future,” Might 1). For the reason that prepare will serve solely the state of California and never Hawaii and Maine, it’s truthful that solely federal tax cash generated by California ought to be used for this boondoggle.
In the meantime, the concept of public/personal partnerships to fund the prepare venture is a determined fantasy. What personal funding firm would contribute to this $100-billion-over-budget fiasco? What hope have they got for an inexpensive return on the danger?
The bullet prepare and its preliminary bond financing have been offered to California tax-paying voters as a superior different to car and airplane journey. A nice concept on the time, however not anymore contemplating the present estimate of future price. It’s time to mothball what has been constructed to date, spend on extra pressing points and maybe resurrect the prepare at some future level.
Dick Helmuth, Costa Mesa
