More from the cited article ...

... The High-Speed Rail Authority said in a comment sent to The Center Square on Thursday that the agency was working to enact the Office of the Inspector General's recommendations.

"The Authority appreciates the Office of the Inspector General's oversight and remains committed to transparency and continuous improvements as we build the nation's first high-speed rail system," the agency said through a spokesperson, Matt Rocco. "We take these findings seriously.

In response, the Authority will strengthen internal controls around consultant travel, implement more rigorous documentation and approval requirements, and recover any improper costs identified.

We are also working closely with the OIG to ensure corrective action that is both accurate and fair." ...

@#2 ... We are also working closely with the OIG to ensure corrective action that is both accurate and fair. ...

Fair to who?

imo, there should be actual punishment involved for those who were involved in the massive overruns, both politicians and contractors.

@#5 ... EU knocks out it out 10 years unless they have to tediously bore through mountains. ...

Yup.

Also, the EU does not seem to have a similar problem of contractors and politicians viewing public works projects as a source of personal wealth.

@#8 ... It seems like there's more to it than that. ...

I do not disagree.

But I wanted to limit my reply to the thread topic, i.e., public works projects.