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3mo ago

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.

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An Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train stops at the Moorpark Train Station on June 15, 2024 in Moorpark, California.
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Overview

  • 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.