California High-Speed Rail Central Valley Segment

under construction

The California High-Speed Rail project aims to create a high-speed rail system connecting the Bay Area and the Los Angeles basin. The initial operating segment will connect Merced to Bakersfield along the nation's first electric railroad with trains capable of reaching 220 mph. Construction and design are underway along 171 miles from Merced to Bakersfield, with about 70 miles of guideway complete and dozens of structures built. The project has secured steady funding of $1 billion annually through the state's cap-and-trade program, resolving previous funding volatility issues and enabling public-private partnerships to accelerate construction.