San Francisco Chronicle, July 10, 2007

Letter to the Editor

Editor -- Quentin Kopp's principal argument for continued funding of California high-speed rail is flawed (Open Forum, "Governor should make high-speed rail part of his legacy,'' July 6).

He contends that $47 million already spent on the project will go to waste without massive additional investment to complete it. But the $47 million is a sunk cost. A measly $47 million past investment in high-speed rail does not necessarily warrant future expenditures of $40 billion on the project, especially given uncertain ridership levels, tenuous political support and ballooning state debt.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger should do what is right for California by examining future benefits and costs, not sunk costs and hopes of the past.

MATTHEW PICCOLO

Sacramento