Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words California’s ‘Futureland’ High-Speed Rail Is Still Stuck at the Station | Lee Ohanian
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Jan 24, 2026 Lee Ohanian, UCLA economist and Hoover Institution senior fellow who studies California policy, critiques the state’s grand high-speed rail plan. He breaks down massive cost overruns, delays, and political missteps. The conversation also touches on looming infrastructure failures, fuel policy impacts, and pricey public works choices.
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Futureland Promise Versus Reality
- California sold voters a futuristic high-speed rail dream that has failed to materialize as promised.
- The project is now massively over budget and behind schedule, revealing systemic governance failures.
Ballooning Costs And Broken Funding Model
- Proposition 1A promised a San Francisco–Los Angeles line for ~$35 billion but costs ballooned toward ~$135 billion.
- Little private funding exists and the partial Bakersfield–Merced segment will need subsidies and faces legal challenges.
Pause Failed Mega-Projects
- Pause or cancel failing mega-projects when realistic funding and oversight are lacking.
- Redirect funds to pressing infrastructure needs instead of continuing indefensible spending.
