Credit: CA. HSR
Streamlining efforts cut Phase 1 costs by $1.7 billion, delivering high-speed rail faster and more efficiently
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The Authority’s Draft 2026 Business Plan lays out a clear plan to connect key regions of California by right-sizing the high-speed rail project to deliver service as quickly and economically as possible. Throughout construction, the California High-Speed Rail has created more than 16,400 good-paying construction jobs and generated nearly $25 billion in economic impact and growth across the state.
March 1, 2026 - SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) on Friday issued its Draft 2026 Business Plan for 60-day public review and comment. The overall projected cost for Phase 1 delivery, between San Francisco and Los Angeles/Anaheim, dropped by $1.7 billion due to streamlining efforts aimed at making high-speed trains a reality as quickly and economically as possible.
Through partnerships, proposed private financing, and legislative changes, the Authority has laid out a clear, cost-effective approach to taking travelers from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The Authority also envisions creating new revenue streams through real estate development, ancillary projects, and initial fare service that will help pay for the delivery of transformative transportation.
“The Draft 2026 Business Plan sets out the path forward: completion of Merced to Bakersfield, expansion to major population centers for revenue positive service, and early asset commercialization to produce additional revenue to build out high-speed rail. It explains how we build from progress underway, prioritize investments that produce early and durable commercial benefits, and create the conditions for long-term financial strength and private-sector participation as the system expands.”
Authority Board Chair Tom Richards
Based on proven global best practices for development of high-speed rail, the Draft Business Plan includes policies and implementation tools that would help speed the delivery of high-speed rail.
The Authority is providing the following options for submitting comments on the draft Business Plan. The comment period is from February 28 through April 29. There are four ways to provide comment:
- Online comment form at: 2026 Draft Business Plan Comment Form
- By email at: BusinessPlan2026@hsr.ca.gov
- By U.S. mail to the Authority: California High-Speed Rail Authority Attn: Draft 2026 Business Plan 770 L Street, Suite 1180, Sacramento, CA 95814
- At the March 4, 2026, Board of Directors meeting during the public comment section.
High-Speed Rail Progress
Work continues daily on the high-speed rail project, with 171 miles currently under design and construction from Merced to Bakersfield. Nearly 80 miles of guideway are complete, along with nearly 60 fully completed major structures, and 29 more structures underway across Madera, Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties.
The project continues to advance statewide, with 463 miles of the 494-mile San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim system fully environmentally cleared and construction ready.
Since construction began, the project has created more than 16,400 good-paying jobs—most filled by Central Valley residents. Up to 1,700 workers report to high-speed rail construction sites each day.
See buildhsr.comExternal Link for more on construction updates and progress.
Source: CA. HSR
