Insane spending. Expense scandal. No track laid. Another derailment for California’s bullet train — and this time, it’s the man running it. Of course, it’s not running—so he won’t be riding the high-speed money pit into the sunset.
Ian Choudri, CEO of California’s High-Speed Rail Authority, abruptly resigned amid growing scrutiny over questionable spending and massive cost overruns.
A state investigation found nearly 600-thousand dollars in improper consultant travel expenses — including first-class flights, luxury rides, visits to cigar lounges and tiki bars, and late-night trips to the neighborhood where Choudri lives.
Choudri, who earned more than 530-thousand dollars annually, cited personal and family priorities in his resignation. Uh-huh.
The bullet train, championed by Governor Gavin Newsom, was originally projected to cost as little as 33-billion dollars when voters approved it in 2008. The latest estimate? 126-billion dollars. After more than a decade of construction, not a single mile of high-speed track has been laid. And the state’s own inspector general warns the project could run out of money by the end of next year.
Joe Stephenshaw, California’s finance director, takes over as interim CEO. Is he crazy? At least the job pays well.
Here is a little ode to Gavin Newsom’s train:
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