To the editor: So the Excessive-Pace Rail Authority desires the nice residents of states like, say, Maine and Hawaii to assist fund the hideously costly bullet prepare with their federal tax {dollars} though none of them shall be using the prepare themselves repeatedly (“California’s high-speed rail leaders sound alarm over project’s financial future,” Could 1). Because the 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 thought of public/personal partnerships to fund the prepare mission 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 had been bought to California tax-paying voters as a superior various to car and airplane journey. A high-quality concept on the time, however not anymore contemplating the present estimate of future value. 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
