High-Speed Rail Is California’s Next Great Legacy

By Ian Choudri

When I accepted the CEO role at the California High-Speed Rail Authority, I understood the challenges ahead. Yet, the significance of this endeavor—the nation’s first true high-speed rail system—extends beyond trains and tracks. It’s about delivering opportunity and economic empowerment to communities throughout California.

The project is making tangible progress. In the Central Valley, we’ve created over 15,000 good-paying jobs—70% of which have gone to local workers—and have more than 30 active construction sites. California’s high-speed rail system stands as the largest infrastructure project in the nation and represents the most ambitious climate action initiative in the state’s history. Our vision encompasses not only faster transportation but also a cleaner, more prosperous, and equitable California.

One of our major construction segments in the south is substantially complete, and preparations are underway to start laying track. In Kern County, we’ve begun building a railhead—the hub that will supply materials needed to install the high-speed rail line. We’re no longer just planning; we’re building. This is no longer a dream—it’s becoming reality.

I acknowledge the existing skepticism. The Merced to Bakersfield segment has faced significant challenges: an unprecedented number of legal actions to acquire more than 2,200 parcels of land (99% complete), complex utility relocations resulting in shifting timelines, and political headwinds adding pressure. However, every transformative infrastructure project in California’s history has encountered similar obstacles. The Golden Gate Bridge, the California Aqueduct, even the UC system—none were built overnight. What matters is that we finish the job and deliver for Californians.

Nowhere is this vision clearer than in Merced.

The high-speed rail station planned for downtown Merced will revitalize the city core, acting as a catalyst for housing development, walkable neighborhoods, and smart, transit-oriented growth. With the station just blocks from UC Merced’s downtown campus, the line will create new pathways to higher education and job opportunities across the state.

Our approach today is different. Since stepping in as CEO, I’ve overhauled our operations, realigned design requirements, and re-sequenced our construction approach. We’ve brought in top-tier talent, streamlined procurement, tackled right-of-way and utility relocations earlier, and cut the red tape that slows projects down. We’re acting with the urgency this moment demands.

Why now? Because California can’t wait. Transportation is the state’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Our freeways are congested. Our housing crisis is pushing workers farther from jobs. High-speed rail offers a real solution that is clean, fast, and equitable. It allows a UC Merced student access to jobs in Silicon Valley. It gives a Fresno entrepreneur the chance to pitch a startup in San Jose and still be home for dinner.

But this is about more than convenience. It’s about correcting decades of disinvestment. The Central Valley is home to working families, immigrants, and the backbone of California’s agricultural economy. For too long, these communities were passed over by infrastructure that connected only the coasts. High-speed rail changes that.

High-speed rail is also about economic mobility. For the first time, Merced residents will have fast, affordable, car-free access to major job centers in Silicon Valley and Southern California—while maintaining the quality of life and affordability that makes Merced a place people are proud to call home. And the benefits don’t stop there. High-speed rail reduces air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, delivering significant health benefits to communities long impacted by poor air quality. It also saves lives by eliminating dangerous at-grade crossings and relieving traffic congestion.

We’re not doing this alone. The private sector is stepping up. In January, more than 400 construction, engineering, and finance professionals joined us for an Industry Forum to explore ways to accelerate delivery and attract investment. We’re creating new pathways for private participation—through transit-oriented development, system operations, and even early leasing opportunities. This is how you build a 21st-century transportation system—through innovation, not inertia.

Of course, funding remains a challenge.

That’s why I’m calling for a renewed, bipartisan commitment to completing this project. We need stable, long-term investment from the state. We need continued support from Washington.

Together, we can get this done. This project belongs to all of us. This investment is a cornerstone of California’s clean transportation future.

High-speed rail is a once-in-a-generation investment. And the segment from Merced to Bakersfield is at the heart of it. The future is arriving—and it’s on track.

We’re busy building, and with your support, we’ll deliver a legacy that defines California for generations to come.

Ian Choudri, appointed CEO of the California High-Speed Rail Authority in August 2024, brings over 30 years of experience in the transportation sector, including work on high-speed rail projects in France and Spain. Prior to this role, he served as Senior Vice President at HNTB Corporation.