Taking Longer to Build than America’s Cross-Country Train,
“Are You Kidding Me?”
SACRAMENTO, CA – In Assemblyman Jones’ latest “Are You Kidding Me?” segment, he compares California’s high-speed rail plans with the Transcontinental Railroad. The first tracks were laid in 1863, and a short six years later, the Transcontinental Railroad successfully connected America’s east with the west. In contrast, in the six years it took to complete a railroad that stretched across the country, not one shovel has broken ground to lay a single piece of track for California’s high-speed train. “What an embarrassing time in California history,” said Assemblyman Jones. “Will this ever be one of California’s greatest accomplishments? With millions of taxpayer dollars already wasted, I’m thinking it’s not. If things go ‘according to plan,’ the first phase won’t even be finished until 2029 – and that’s less than 400 miles of track.”
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TCR – Built from 1863 to 1869. Nearly 2000 miles long, across the Great Plains, Rocky Mountains, Great Basin desert, and Sierra Mountains. Constructed using manual labor and hand tools. Cost, $100 Million ($2 billion in 2025 dollars)
CHSR – Construction begins in 2015, and largely uncompleted as of 2025. 800 miles long, mostly through the California Central Valley. Constructed using motorized heavy equipment and 21st Century technology. Projected cost is over $135 billion.