California High-Speed Rail Faces New Delays and $6.5 Billion Funding Gap
The Merced-to-Bakersfield segment, initially targeted for 2030, is now expected to be delayed until at least 2031, with broader project timelines extending beyond 2033.
- The California High-Speed Rail project, first approved by voters in 2008, has faced repeated delays and budget overruns, with the latest report pushing the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment completion to 2031.
- The project’s inspector general highlighted a $6.5 billion funding gap for the Merced-to-Bakersfield section, raising concerns about the feasibility of meeting even the extended 2033 timeline.
- Construction on the rail system began in January 2025, but the project remains far behind its original promise to connect San Francisco and Los Angeles by 2020.
- President Donald Trump has criticized the project as a mismanaged endeavor and suggested a federal investigation into its funding and delays.
- The California High-Speed Rail Authority continues to seek federal grants to bridge funding gaps, though skepticism about additional federal support remains high.
Washington Examiner 
Newsweek 
The Verge 
Orange County Register 