FRESNO (KMJ) — A demand for an emergency audit of California’s High Speed Rail project is not about politics, but about transparency, says Assemblyman Jim Patterson.
“I think whether you are for it or against it, whether you’re Democrat or Republican, this is public money at risk,” explained the local lawmaker.
“This is huge swathes of territory in Central California being ripped up for a project that may or may not be viable and may or may not be built.
Assemblyman Patterson’s concern stems from a recent Los Angeles Times report, which stated that the High Speed Rail project is $1.7 billion over budget and seven years behind schedule on its first Central Valley segment.
“An open, clear audit where we insist on transparency, we insist on making sure that what the High Speed Rail Authority is promising they’re absolutely producing,” established Patterson.
“Every time we turn around we find more and more information that has to be gotten by investigative journalists and has to be gotten by whistleblowers.”
The lawmaker’s call for an emergency audit by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee was made public Monday. His questions for members include what policies are in place to contain costs, what is being done to track and review invoices, and what the contingency plan is if the funding does not meet expectations.
“There’s a bogus plan in place here that hopes to have money that is not materializing,” added Patterson.
In a statement to KMJ News, the Authority’s Lisa Marie Alley said that it embraces transparency.
“The California High-Speed Rail Authority reports all aspects of program delivery monthly via series of reports for the Finance and Audit Committee. In addition, we are required to report regularly to the Legislature via project update reports and business plans.
“Our next business plan, due in 2018, will detail all issues pertaining to cost and schedule.”
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
