Business leader and media executive Steve Forbes has sharply criticized California’s long-delayed high-speed rail initiative, calling it a “fantasy” and a “disgraceful boondoggle.”

The project, which has faced years of cost overruns, construction delays, and political controversy, was originally pitched as a transformative transportation system connecting major California cities. Instead, Forbes argues, it has become a symbol of government waste and mismanagement.

Supporters of the project continue to claim it will eventually provide economic and environmental benefits by reducing traffic congestion and cutting emissions. But critics like Forbes say the soaring price tag and lack of clear progress prove the project is fundamentally flawed.

The California high-speed rail project remains one of the most debated infrastructure undertakings in the United States, with its future uncertain as costs climb and public scrutiny intensifies.