California High-Speed Rail Initial Operating Segment

under construction

The California High-Speed Rail project aims to connect San Francisco and Los Angeles with a high-speed rail system. The current focus is on constructing a 171-mile Initial Operating Segment in the Central Valley from Merced to Bakersfield, with 55 structures and 70 miles of guideway completed as of late 2025. The project envisions a two-phase approach, with the initial phase extending the line north to Gilroy and south to Palmdale, targeting an early 2030s opening. The full 776-mile system connecting Sacramento and San Diego is targeted for completion by 2031-2033. Funding challenges persist, with an estimated $126.2 billion needed to complete Phase 1, though $1 billion annually has been appropriated through 2045 from the state's Cap-and-Invest program.