Rendering of a high-speed rail train. Under it is text that reads, "Transforming California's Future." On the right are three images of construction sites. The top has two workers on a bridge. The middle is a construction site next to a busy road. The bottom is a viaduct crossing a freight rail line.

2026 DRAFT BUSINESS PLAN

A Draft 2026 Business Plan was issued February 28, 2026, with a 60-day public comment period.

Download the Plan*

For questions and to leave comments, use our online 2026 Draft Business Plan Comment Form or reach out to us at BusinessPlan2026@hsr.ca.gov.

Overview

High-speed rail is more than fast trips between the Bay Area and the Los Angeles region. It is the opportunity to connect the communities in between — Gilroy, Merced, Fresno, Bakersfield, Palmdale, and others — to the state’s largest job centers and innovation hubs in ways that expand access to opportunity.

Early commercial success and ancillary revenue generation create a durable pathway to expand and complete the system without relying exclusively on new public funding. This 2026 Business Plan outlines the first true revenue strategy for California high-speed rail.

This is a once-in-a-generation investment in California’s future.

Bold Solutions for a Bold Vision

The California high-speed rail will deliver fast, reliable, zero-emission train service connecting the state’s major economic regions and the Central Valley. The project will expand access to jobs, education, and affordable housing, while reducing emissions and providing an alternative to congested highways and airports. This 2026 Business Plan provides the most detailed and robust business case and roadmap yet for building California High-Speed Rail.

Graphic shows the vision of California High-Speed Rail. There is an image of dots connected by a line representing mobility, which reads Increase options and opportunities for where Californians can live and work by connecting affordable communities with job centers. Next is an image of a bar chart for economic growth that reads Create a corridor of opportunity for businesses and new technologies. Next is a map of California for Connection that reads,

 

Making the Vision a Reality – Merced to Bakersfield

As initiated in the 2025 Supplemental Project Update Report, rather than constructing a “full buildout” for initial service, the Authority’s strategy is to right-size initial delivery to control costs and begin service sooner, and then expand infrastructure as demand grows.

A graphic that shows the vision for the Merced to Bakersfield segment through multiple icons and text. The first is a piggy bank that represents savings and reads, “Rather than start with a full-capacity build, the Authority saved $2 billion in the Merced-Bakersfield segment by focusing on initial service.” The next is a train that represents trips per day and reads, “Initial service will begin with a planned 8 trips per day in both directions.” The next is tracks that represents tracks that reads, “The Authority will begin laying down tracks in 2026 and the first sets of trains will be ordered.” The next is a ticket that represents fare service and reads, “With tracks and electric system installation in 2026, the Authority anticipates train testing lasting 2 years with fare service from Merced to Bakersfield beginning in 2033.” Finally, there is a road traveling under a viaduct that represents safety and reads, “The project is already having a positive impact on road safety, with dozens of new overcrossings opening throughout the area.”

Contact

Board of Directors

Thomas Richards, Chair
Nancy Miller, Vice Chair
Ernest M. Camacho
Emily Cohen
Martha M. Escutia
Henry Perea
Lynn Schenk
Anthony Williams
Jeffrey Worthe
boardmembers@hsr.ca.gov

Chief Executive Officer

Ian Choudri
boardmembers@hsr.ca.gov

Ex Officio Board Members

Honorable Anna Caballero
Honorable Juan Carrillo
boardmembers@hsr.ca.gov

California High-Speed Rail Authority

770 L Street, Suite 620
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 324-1541
info@hsr.ca.gov

Requests for translations can be made to BusinessPlan2024@hsr.ca.gov. Please allow 1-2 business day for a response.  

NOTICE

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) is required by Public Utilities Code Section 185033 to prepare, publish, adopt, and submit an updated Business Plan to the Legislature on May 1. The statute also dictates that, at least 60 days prior to submittal to the Legislature, the Authority must publish a draft Business Plan for public review and comment. Business plans are published in even-numbered years. Business plans represent the status of the high-speed rail program at a point in time, and summarize the Authority’s approach to implementing the system. Business Plans include:

  • A summary of progress over the last two years
  • A review of current challenges and how to address them
  • Updated capital cost and other estimates
  • Updated ridership and revenue forecasts
The California High-Speed Rail Authority makes every effort to ensure the website and its contents meet mandated ADA requirements as per the California State mandated Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 Level AA standard. If you are looking for a particular document not located on the California High-Speed Rail Authority website, you may make a request for the document under the Public Records Act through the Public Records Act page. If you have any questions about the website or its contents, please contact the Authority at info@hsr.ca.gov.