To the editor: Then, the high -speed rail authority wants the good citizens of the states such as Maine and Hawaii, help to finance the horribly expensive bullet train with their federal tax dollars, although none of them will travel regularly (“California high -speed railway leaders are alarm on the financial future of the project.” May 1). Since the train will only serve the state of California and not Hawaii and Maine, it is fair that only the federal tax generated by California should be used for this Boondoggy.
Meanwhile, the idea of public/private associations to finance the trains project is a desperate fantasy. What private investment company would contribute to this fiasco of $ 100 billion budget? What hope do they have for a reasonable return of risk?
The bullet train and its initial financing of bonds were sold to voters who paid California taxes as an alternative superior to travel and airplanes trips. A good idea at that time, but no longer considering the current estimate of the future cost. It is time to do polal that has been built so far, spend in more urgent problems and perhaps resurrect the train at some future time.
Dick Helmuth, Costa Mesa
