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As of now, the high-speed rail project lacks a clear path forward to secure the additional funding it desperately needs. There is an overarching question about whether federal funding might dwindle further in the coming years, jeopardizing the entire initiative. The projected completion date—initially set for 2020—has been pushed indefinitely as costs continue to escalate.
Despite claims that portions of the rail project are under active construction and design, critics remain skeptical. The light at the end of the tunnel seems further away than ever, leading many to question not just the viability of the high-speed rail project but also the future of infrastructural investments in California.