He can't return the federal grant money -- it's already been spent wasted.
They don't have much actual construction to show for it, but my understanding is that they've already spent a *expletive deleted*it ton of money on this boondoggle. To give the money back now would mean that California would have to pay for all that pork. Much better (from Newsome's perspective) to let the rest of us pay for it.
You're missing the point - it's
not to build a train, it's meant to transfer taxpayer funds into private pockets. That's what many huge transportation projects are all about.
Speaking of which, they're still talking about a boondoggle in Austin, Texas. Interstate 35 runs right through downtown, and often has problems with traffic jams. The "solution" that keeps coming up is to put miles of the highway
underground, with nice parks and walking trails above - a "green" solution.
Between a high water table and a layer of solid limestone under much of the area, this promises to incur cost over runs that may make Boston's infamous "Big Dig" highway project look petty by comparison. Yet it still seems to keep coming up with the Austin City Clowncil, which is trying to figure out a way to get someone else to pay for it.
