High speed rail consultants took mystery late-night trips from CEOs home on taxpayers dime: report

California High Speed Rail bigwigs reportedly billed taxpayers for unexplained late-night trips to and from CEO Ian Choudri’s Folsom home, along with rides to local bars and restaurants — as reps face tough questions about nearly $600,000 in blown expenses revealed in a recent audit.Two rail consultants, Denver-based Nossaman LLP attorney Brent Butzin and KPMG director Thierry Prate, were reimbursed for Lyft rides at odd hours last September, even after 1 a.m in the morning in one instance, according to receipts obtained by CBS Sacramento.

The two highly-paid consultants were responsible for a dozen rideshare trips to or from a quiet residential road where Choudri, who nets $638,943 in annual comp to run the troubled bullet train project, owns a home.Another dozen rides were linked to bars or restaurants in Folsom near a pricey surf ‘n turf joint, Land Ocean Steak House, that Choudri is known to frequent, per CBS.

 The receipts were part of a bombshell Inspector General audit that found $592,900 in “unallowable” expenses incurred by consultants, including rideshare trips to Tiki bars and an “escape room” and first-class flight upgrades.The revelations added fresh scrutiny to the multibillion-dollar bullet train project that’s been bogged down by lengthy delays and massive cost overruns, with one estimate pegging the total cost at $231 billion.

An updated business plan from the rail authority estimated the cost at $126.3 billion.The late-night rides identified by CBS were vaguely explained as “related to work with Ian,” according to a email from KPMG.In one case, a back-and-forth ensued between Butzin and a rail authority staffer who questioned the expenses, with the lawyer reportedly arguing that Choudri requested his presence.

The rail authority did, however, reject one $94.39 pizza delivery order that was sent for reimbursement.Choudri, along with other staffers, appeared at a Friday meeting of the rail agency’s Board of Directors to d...