Laguna Journal News: California High-Speed Rail: Where It Stands

California High-Speed Rail: Where It Stands, Why It’s Struggling, and What Critics—Including Michael Mick Webster reporting Allege

California’s High-Speed Rail (HSR) has inched forward while skepticism has surged. Fresh reporting in 2025 spotlights fixed safety reporting with management have all

There’s snouts are in the public money trough. Investigative congressional probes, threatened federal funding cuts, and still-rising costs. Support among Californians persists in principle, but belief in eventual completion remains low. Meanwhile, longtime critics—among them syndicated investigative reporter Michael (Mick) Webster—argue the project suffers from chronic mismanagement, ballooning expenses, and safety culture gaps. Los Angeles Times New York Post Politico

What’s new in 2025

Congressional scrutiny intensifies. A bipartisan House committee is investigating whether the Authority misrepresented projections and finances to secure federal money. Los Angeles Times
Federal funding at risk. A federal review this summer criticized missed deadlines and cost overruns; additional grant dollars—reportedly up to $4B—were threatened unless corrective steps were shown. (State leaders dispute the findings and say progress continues.) New York Post
Public sentiment: supportive ideals, shaky confidence. A new poll shows 62% of California voters support continuing HSR, yet only about a quarter believe it will actually be finished. Politico
“Progress” headlines vs. credibility gap. Even milestone announcements are framed against years of delays and cost inflation. Newsweek

Cost, scope, and delays—core points of contention

Budget escalation. Estimates have climbed from roughly $33B at conception to well over $100B today (recent tallies often cite ~$128B), while the project focus has narrowed to the Merced–Bakersfield starter segment. New York Post
Schedule slippage. Initial completion targets are long past; a Central Valley segment is discussed into the 2030s, with no firm end-to-end date publicly locked. Politico
Funding path still unsettled. New leadership has floated a blend of cap-and-trade revenues and private investment/PPPs to finish the starter line and attract capital over time—promising, but politically and financially unproven without a revised, credible plan. San Francisco Chronicle

Safety, governance, and accountability criticisms

Safety culture concerns. Posts and commentary circulating in local media and social platforms call out “safety lacking” and urge a more transparent, accountable safety culture within or around the program. Facebook
Management and oversight. Editorial voices and watchdog-style columns describe HSR as a “boondoggle,” citing change-order volume, procurement delays, and planning churn as signals of weak program controls. (CHSRA contests these portrayals.) Las Vegas Review-Journal New York Post

Michael (Mick) Webster’s critiques

Webster—writing in his worldwide syndicated column and related posts—has argued for years that the Authority faces a “safety and financial fiasco,”pointing to alleged gaps in safety management, transparency, and fiscal stewardship. Key threads in his work include:

Systemic safety shortfalls. Calls for a rigorous, transparent safety culture to protect workers and the public. Facebook
False and manipulated safety reports
Financial mismanagement and waste. Assertions that persistent overruns and schedule resets reflect deeper governance failures. renewamerica.com renewamerica.com

Representative items:

“Safety and financial fiasco haunts California High Speed Rail Authority (HSR)” (column; March 14, 2023). renewamerica.com by Michael Mick Webster
Social post: “California high-speed rail Authority. Safety lacking…” (Laguna Journal page). Facebook by Michael Mick Webster

Counter-narrative from supporters

Economic development & climate goals. Proponents stress long-term regional growth, cleaner intercity travel, and job creation, arguing cancellation would strand sunk costs and forfeit federal/state momentum. San Francisco Chronicle
Political commitment. California leadership continues to frame HSR as a generational project that is “becoming a reality,” despite Washington-level headwinds. Facebook

What to watch next

Outcome of congressional probes and any conditions attached to future federal funds. Los Angeles Times New York Post
Revised business plan & funding stack, including cap-and-trade allocations beyond 2030 and real PPP commitments. San Francisco Chronicle
On-the-ground deliverables: track-laying starts, segment commissioning dates, change-order discipline, and safety program transparency. New York Post

Sources & further reading (selected)

Polling & public sentiment: Politico/Citrin Center/Possibility Lab poll (Aug. 22, 2025). Politico
Federal funding dispute & milestones context: Newsweek; New York Post summary of a federal review; CHSRA/state responses. Newsweek New York Post
Congressional investigation coverage: Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times
Financing path & leadership plan: San Francisco Chronicle (analysis of PPP/cap-and-trade approach). San Francisco Chronicle
Critical commentary: Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial; California Globe column. Las Vegas Review-Journal California Globe
Michael Mick FBIWebster writings/posts: RenewAmerica column (Mar. 14, 2023); Laguna Journal Facebook post(s). renewamerica.com renewamerica.com Facebook