Recent storms knocked out the power in Sacramento, home to California’s High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA). People across the state—already told not to charge their electric cars on high-demand days—had to wonder what would have happened if the vaunted “bullet train” had been in operation.

That was supposed to be the case by 2020, with the train speeding passengers from Los Angeles to San Francisco at more than 200 miles per hour. Four years later, passengers have yet to board, but taxpayer dollars have not been in short supply.

Last December, federal Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg gave the CHSRA a grant of more than $3 billion “for continued progress on the country’s first electrified 220-mph high-speed rail system.” CHSRA CEO Brian Kelley called the money “just a great leap forward,” and “Speaker Emerita” Nancy Pelosi, issued a “thank you to........

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