California’s high-speed rail project has reached a price point that is getting harder to defend.

According to reporting from The Sun, the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s draft 2026 business plan estimates the full San Francisco to Los Angeles system could cost up to $231 billion, a massive jump from the original $30 to $40 billion pitch to voters.

That is not just an increase. That is a completely different project.

And yet, support for the project remains, including from Hanford Mayor Mark Kairis.

In comments reported by the Los Angeles Times, Kairis made his position clear:

“The train’s coming by, and we have the option either to get on or stand by and watch it go on,” Kairis said. “We know it’s all coming. It’s kind of exciting to see that and see what that might bring for us.”

Kairis has also pointed to long-term development tied to the project. In remarks shared through High-Speed Rail Authority outreach, he stated:

“We look forward to working with the High-Speed Rail Authority in the years to come to help bring development to our community and improve the overall betterment of life.”

He has been described as a “pro-growth, pro-developer, and pro-business kind of person,” viewing high-speed rail as a potential economic driver for Hanford, a city of roughly 58,000 residents.

But here is the reality many are now focusing on.

ADVERTISEMENT

A project once sold as a tens-of-billions investment is now projected in the hundreds of billions, with ongoing questions about funding, execution, and long-term viability.

So now the conversation changes.

If the train is coming, as Kairis says, the real question becomes:

Are Californians ready to accept a $231 billion project, or is this something that should have been stopped a long time ago?

Drop your thoughts in the comments below.

Sources:
Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-02-08/california-high-speed-rail-construction-progress

California High-Speed Rail Authority
https://hsr.ca.gov/2024/05/03/news-release-central-valley-public-learns-and-weighs-in-on-station-designs-at-open-houses/

The San Joaquin Valley Sun
https://sjvsun.com/california/calif-high-speed-rail-business-plan-tabled-after-significant-blowback/