Why are taxpayers flying CA high-speed rail consultants to work?
Summary
An engineering firm contracted to help design California's high-speed rail promised to have key staff work full-time in Sacramento. Instead, some important consultants stayed in other states and were flown to Sacramento regularly, with taxpayers paying for their frequent travel. This has raised concerns about project delays, high costs, and poor oversight in the multibillion-dollar rail effort.Key Facts
- The firm has a $131 million contract to design track and electrical systems for California's high-speed rail.
- Six key staff were supposed to be based full-time in Sacramento, but three remained out of state (Texas and Denver).
- Taxpayers paid for these consultants to fly in frequently, sometimes almost every week.
- The hourly rate of a senior consultant increased by nearly 23% under the project's CEO, Ian Choudri.
- Whistleblowers say the absence of these consultants is slowing down the project and making it harder for state workers to get answers.
- After nearly 30 years and $15 billion spent, no high-speed rail track has been laid in California.
- The project lost $4 billion in federal funding and might run out of money by the end of 2027.
- The High-Speed Rail Authority board voted to limit CEO Ian Choudri's contract approval powers after an inspector general's report found wasteful travel spending.
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