California's high-speed rail project intends to concurrently construct sections towards Gilroy and Palmdale, together with the Central Valley segment
California High-Speed Rail Authority Seeks Funding for Expansion to Gilroy and Palmdale
The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) is seeking funding from California lawmakers to extend the high-speed rail system to the cities of Gilroy and Palmdale. This expansion, if successful, could unlock private investment needed to complete the project.
Ian Choudri, CEO of the CHSRA, is aiming to connect the railroad to major population centers as quickly as possible. He is also seeking longer-term funding and a larger amount to build the entire rail system simultaneously. The CHSRA is planning to build a 171-mile stretch connecting the agricultural cities of Merced and Bakersfield, but the proposed funding is expected to be enough to complete only the Central Valley segment, not the extension to Gilroy and Palmdale.
The proposed extension from Gilroy would allow riders to reach San Francisco via Caltrain in about two hours, with a stopover in San Jose. From Palmdale, a rider can reach L.A.'s Union Station in two hours on Metrolink, or transfer to the private Brightline railroad currently under construction between Rancho Cucamonga and Las Vegas. Sen. Dave Cortese, a Santa Clara County Democrat, supports the $1 billion allocation for the rail authority, believing that the rail extension to Gilroy and Palmdale will significantly increase ridership revenue.
The CHSRA is currently required by Assembly Bill 377, signed by Governor Newsom in 2025, to create a detailed funding plan focusing on the segment from Merced to Bakersfield, which faces a $7 billion funding shortfall. Governor Newsom has proposed extending the High-Speed Rail program through 2045, with an annual allocation of $1 billion to the Authority. However, no separate requested figure for the Gilroy and Palmdale expansions is mentioned in the available information.
The CHSRA is considering several options for a buildout, one of which is to present to lawmakers in the coming weeks. The rail authority has been seeking private investment to finish the project, but requires long-term government funding for this to occur. It's worth noting that the Trump administration announced it would pull $4 billion in federal grants for the project, citing cost overruns and limited progress.
The estimated costs for the high-speed rail project have escalated from an original $33 billion to a current projection between $89 billion and $128 billion. Governor Newsom’s 2025 budget proposal includes stable funding support by extending program funding to 2045 and creating a predictable stream of at least $1 billion annually, which would support overall expansion efforts, but no precise funding amount specifically sought from California lawmakers solely for the Gilroy and Palmdale expansions is provided in the available sources.
In conclusion, while the CHSRA is under legislative mandate to develop comprehensive funding plans and has a major statewide budget initiative underway for the program, no precise funding amount specifically sought from California lawmakers solely for the Gilroy and Palmdale expansions is provided in the available sources. The focus appears to be on broader funding gaps and statewide funding strategies for the project segments in progress.
[1] California High-Speed Rail Authority. (n.d.). Project Overview. Retrieved from https://www.hsr.ca.gov/project/overview/
[2] California High-Speed Rail Authority. (n.d.). Merced to Bakersfield Project. Retrieved from https://www.hsr.ca.gov/project/merced-bakersfield/
[3] California High-Speed Rail Authority. (n.d.). Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved from https://www.hsr.ca.gov/faq/
[4] California High-Speed Rail Authority. (n.d.). Governor Newsom's 2025 Budget Proposal. Retrieved from https://www.hsr.ca.gov/news/governor-newsoms-2025-budget-proposal/
- The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) is seeking funding from California lawmakers to not only complete the high-speed rail system's Central Valley segment but also to finance the extensions to Gilroy and Palmdale, which are considered crucial for the general-news industry and transportation infrastructure development.
- In order to connect the railroad to major population centers as soon as possible, Ian Choudri, CEO of the CHSRA, is seeking both long-term funding and a larger amount to build the entire high-speed rail system simultaneously, with plans to extend the system to Gilroy and Palmdale.
- The proposed funding for the Gilroy and Palmdale expansions is critical as it could unlock private investment needed in the finance sector, allowing the high-speed rail project to benefit from both public and private investment, thus ensuring further development and success in the transportation and rail industry.
