High-Speed Rail Authority releases report detailing future

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) last week issued a supplemental to the 2025 Project Update Report detailing a path forward to connect the high-speed rail system to Northern and Southern California via the Central Valley by 2039. 

The report highlights the Authority’s focus on constructing a commercially viable high-speed rail system as soon as possible with available financial resources, while making the most meaningful progress to completing full service between downtown San Francisco and downtown Los Angeles/Anaheim area to date.

Notably, this focus creates considerable opportunities for the Authority to engage with the private sector through potential public-private partnership delivery models.

The report lays out three high-speed rail business case scenarios. These scenarios include updated cost estimates, ridership and revenue projections, and funding requirements:

• Merced – Bakersfield: Complete the current statutorily required segment under design and active construction. The 171-mile high-speed rail line would enhance service in the Central Valley.
• San Francisco – Gilroy – Bakersfield: Build high-speed rail infrastructure extending from the Central Valley to Gilroy and collaborate with partners to enhance the Gilroy to San Jose rail corridor to allow for continuous service from San Francisco to Bakersfield.
• San Francisco – Gilroy – Palmdale: Build an expanded high-speed rail infrastructure from Gilroy to Palmdale that supports continuing service to San Francisco and connects with Metrolink in Palmdale, utilizing the High-Desert Corridor to connect to Brightline West service to Las Vegas and Rancho Cucamonga in Victor Valley.

The report also outlines several opportunities for the state to support the project, including stable, long-term funding, environmental streamlining, actions to address permitting and third-party coordination, and updates to state law to provide needed construction flexibility, among others.

The report also highlights the opportunity long-term stable state funding provides in attracting private sector interest and enabling accelerated project delivery, avoiding stop-and-go delays, potentially saving time and public funding.

Work continues daily on the high-speed rail project, with 171 miles currently under design and construction from Merced to Bakersfield. Nearly 70 miles of guideway are complete, along with 55 fully completed structures; an additional 29 more structures are underway across Madera, Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties.

Since construction began, the project has created more than 15,600 jobs — most filled by Central Valley residents. Up to 1,700 workers report to high-speed rail construction sites each day.