Let’s face it, air travel sucks. Long wait times, delays and an exorbitant amount of money spent on travel to sit uncomfortably for hours at a time. Travelling by train offers a much more comfortable experience, but current American infrastructure elongates the travel time and, sometimes, is not even a viable option. In November 2008, Californians voted for improved transit infrastructure and approved the build of the California high-speed rail, which would connect San Francisco to Los Angeles in two hours and 40 minutes. Although California’s high-speed rail project has faced political division, rising costs and long-delayed construction, completing it will benefit Californians economically, reduce environmental strain and progress American transit infrastructure for the better.
When the build of the California high-speed rail (CHSR) was presented to voters in 2008, it would cost taxpayers $9 million, with federal funding assumed to cover the rest of the $45 billion cost and a construction end date of 2020. However, only a fraction of federal transit infrastructure funding is allocated to the construction of trains by Congress. This has led the CHSR to be in a deficit of funding since its beginning of construction in the Central Valley in 2015. Part of this issue stems from the fact that the federal funding needed to complete it is at the will of whichever political party is in power.
Republicans have historically blocked or rolled back funding for mass transit and the CHSR is no exception. In fact, President Donald Trump has actively posted and disseminated negative information about the CHSR and rolled back $4 billion of Obama and Biden era federal grants for the project due to it not having a completion date. California Governor Gavin Newsom is suing the Trump administration for pulling the funding and has set forth a separate approved Democrat-backed plan to provide $1 billion in-state funding for the project each year through 2045. $15 billion have already been spent on the construction of the CHSR, and Governor Newsom remains committed to its construction, stating in January 2026, “want to do well in the future, you gotta invest in the future.”
Despite the many setbacks the CSHR has faced, public support for its construction is relatively high. In a recent poll conducted by Politico and UC Berkeley, 82% of Democrats, 63% of Independents and 42% of Republicans said they approved of the rail. The route has the potential to connect Silicon Valley to Los Angeles counties, which serves to benefit commuters and the economy alike. In a report released by the California High-Speed Rail Authority in 2025, “high-speed rail could eventually be profitable for California, earning as much as $98.1 billion over four decades. But that would require reaching existing train lines in Santa Clara and Los Angeles counties.” Along with this return on investment, the construction, upkeep and staff needed to run the CHSR effectively will create many short and long-term jobs for California, ultimately helping to benefit social mobility and economic growth of the state. The CHSR stands to serve as a social and economic artery for California.
The long-term environmental benefits of the CHSR will further position California as a climate leader. California highways and airports have long been congested, making travel long and stressful. These modes of transportation cause massive carbon emissions hurting the environment. Construction of the CHSR will reduce reliance on short-haul flights and cars for travel between San Francisco and Los Angeles, making an environmentally friendly route between these California hubs. An electric high-speed train going 220 mph is a significantly cleaner choice than thousands of cars on Interstate 5. Investing in the CHSR is an investment in the future of our environment.
California can set the standard for increased public transportation infrastructure in the United States by constructing the CHSR. Most developed countries already have high-speed rail systems connecting major cities in hours, America is the one lagging behind. This speaks to the fact that the United States struggles in completing long-term infrastructure projects, in part because of partisan sabotage. Completing the CHSR will help set a precedent for other states to construct high-speed rail transportation, proving America can build big infrastructure again. It can serve as a reference point for regions like the Midwest, Northeastern corridor and even Texas, who could receive the same benefits as California would by completing the CHSR.
So, why can’t America accomplish what most other developed countries have? It can, but only if we commit to finishing what we started. Californians voted for this 18 years ago and voters still want it. Walking away now would mean billions of dollars, materials and time wasted for nothing. The cost of inaction on this project manifests in increased traffic and emissions, outweighing the preexisting cost of investment. Infrastructure transcends generations, the CHSR would be a generational accomplishment for the future of America. The CHSR is more than just getting from San Francisco to Los Angeles faster, it’s about America’s commitment to a better future.
