SACRAMENTO (KRON) — It’s billions over budget and more than a decade behind schedule and now, Assemblyman Jim Patterson is calling for an investigation into the high speed rail’s private consultants.
“Making it up as you go along, handing over the decisions to handle billions of dollars of public money by private consultants who had everything to gain by telling us they were doing just fine,” he said.
The Central Valley lawmaker’s concerned about corruption and fraud after recent reports revealed the bullet train tracks are being built on regular speed rail, for now.
Patterson pointed to concerns of consultants covering up facts and inflating estimated ridership numbers so the legislature would keep writing checks.
“That’s why I think an investigation is required and quite frankly if the political party in charge of California does not open an investigation on this, then they will be complicit in a coverup.”
Patterson calling on the governor and attorney general to take action. In response, the high speed rail authority’s CEO said in a statement he welcomed last year’s audit and welcomes the audit’s results now.
“We are working closely with the auditor to implement all recommendations related to our partnership with the RDP, and I am committed to ensuring that state workers are doing state work, while consultants provide the expertise needed from the private sector. Back in March, I ordered an office-by-office review of positions to ensure our form is tied to proper function. The review will be done by the end of the fiscal year for budget preparation next budget year.”
Calls for an investigation come as the federal railroad administration aims to clawback billions of dollars in funding, claiming the state isn’t upholding the contract by only focusing on the segment between bakersfield and merced, instead of Los Angeles to San Francisco.
The High Speed Rail Authority sent a letter to the FRA maintaining it’s complying.
An FRA spokesman Tuesday couldn’t give specifics but said the administration will be responding to the state in the near future.
The high speed rail authority is expected to give lawmakers a full update on the project wednesday.
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