Anti-business California drops lawsuit seeking to reinstate federal funding for the state's bullet train

https://abc7.com/post/california-drops-lawsuit-seeking-reinstate-federal-
funding-states-bullet-train/18324034/ 

OAKLAND, Calif. -- California this week dropped a lawsuit officials
filed against the Trump administration over the federal government's
withdrawing of $4 billion for the state's long-delayed high-speed rail
project. 

The U.S. Transportation Department slashed funds for the bullet train
aimed at connecting San Francisco to Los Angeles in July. The Trump
administration has said the California High-Speed Rail Authority had "
no viable plan " to complete a large segment of the project in the
farm-rich Central Valley. 

The authority quickly filed a lawsuit, with Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom
calling the federal government's decision "a political stunt to punish
California." 

The authority said this week that it would focus on other funding
sources to complete the project, which is estimated to cost more than
$100 billion. 

"This action reflects the State's assessment that the federal government
is not a reliable, constructive, or trustworthy partner in advancing
high-speed rail in California," an authority spokesperson said in a
statement. 

The Transportation Department did not respond to a request for comment.
President Donald Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy have both
previously criticized the project as a "train to nowhere." 

"The Railroad we were promised still does not exist, and never will,"
Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social in July. "This
project was Severely Overpriced, Overregulated, and NEVER DELIVERED." 

The authority's decision to drop the lawsuit comes as the group seeks
private investors to support the bullet train. The project recently
secured $1 billion in annual funding from the state's cap-and-trade
program through 2045. 

The program sets a declining limit on total planet-warming emissions in
the state from major polluters. Companies must reduce their emissions,
buy allowances from the state or other businesses, or fund projects
aimed at offsetting their emissions. Money the state receives from the
sales funds climate-change mitigation, affordable housing and
transportation projects, as well as utility bill credits for
Californians. 

The rail authority said its shift in focus away from federal funding
offers "a new opportunity." 

"Moving forward without the Trump administration's involvement allows
the Authority to pursue proven global best practices used successfully
by modern high-speed rail systems around the world," a spokesperson said
in a statement.