The original premise of HSR proved to be economically flawed - at least for now. Instead of going forward further into debt, a strategic retreat may be the best option.

There is no doubt that some strategic improvements to California's rail infastructue could lead to greater passenger capacity and shorter transit times. I doubt the HSR bonds could be diverted to this effort, and it sounds like the proposed bill still doesn't address the need to improve rail transit.

California bureaucarts tend to "punish" taxpayers when the government isn't allowed to spend money without restriction. Sometimes the voters get the government they deserve as San Diego County had passed an extra 1/2 cent sales tax for road improvements. After building far less than promised with the original funds, the voters renewed it based on promises that this time they would get the road improvements in their area. Instead of building an LRV system up I-15 as originally planned, they are now getting diamond lanes - part of them being built for the second time from directional to bidirectional, some with a zipper barrier. Extending the San Diego Trolley would have been a whole lot cheaper.

A big reason I no longer live in California.