I know how they might save themselves a LOAD of money right away.
Just kill the project outright. The savings in legal costs alone more than justify the move, and it removes what promises to be a BIG black hole in the California state budget for decades to come.
There is no economic, environmental or particularly legal benefit to be found ANYWHERE in this endless boondoggle.
Unless the route goes right up from the Santa Monica waterfront through Malibu Beach, it cannot ever get close enough to those who claim to expect most benefit from it, for it to ever be economically viable. Not that many riders in Bakersfield.
Ahh, but then the well connected politicos would not be able to purchase the now fallow farm land in the Central Valley (no water) for pennies on the dollar and then sell it at a premium to the HSRA.