FRESNO, Calif. — At a press event Tuesday night at Fresno City College, Ian Choudri, the new CEO of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, provided an update on the ambitious project as it enters a phase of full evaluation amid ongoing federal funding uncertainties.

Choudri noted that 119 miles of high-speed rail are currently under construction and that 50% of this work is complete. He also confirmed significant progress on land acquisition, stating that “over 99% of the land needed to complete the project has been acquired.” Despite these advances, the project faces internal scrutiny and external challenges, including escalating costs, delays, and threats to federal funding.

Highlighting the latest timeline, Choudri announced plans to "begin building materials this year and start laying tracks as early as next year." When asked about the review process, he emphasized continuity in progress despite the challenges, stating,

"We're trying to fix this in the flight, not that we're stopping anything. The reevaluation is a paramount effort that we are undertaking."

The project, which has been a longstanding promise for transforming California’s transportation network, is also creating significant disruption in communities, especially in Fresno's Chinatown. Local business owners are grappling with the impact of ongoing construction. Owners of Judging by the Cover Bookstore, for example, have experienced repeated road closures since their opening last October and are adapting by relying more on delivery services to reach customers.

Despite their optimism for the eventual revitalization of the area, they remain cautious.

"I know they want to say it's coming, it's happening, but if it's slowing down, tell us. Being optimistic when it's not realistic is not helpful," said Ashley Morales Guerrero, co-owner of Judging by the Cover Bookstore.

The impact of construction isn't confined to just inconvenience; local infrastructure is also being enhanced. Crews were seen working on an underpass along Tulare Street, a project that co-owners Ashley and Carlos Morales Guerrero believe will reconnect downtown with Chinatown.

"People will be able to ride their bikes over here. People will be able to come and enjoy the food, bringing the downtown function just slightly over to the right, a little bit to Chinatown," said Carlos Morales Guerrero.

Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer also weighed in on the project’s broader significance for the city. Despite acknowledging the short-term pain, such as delays, cost overruns, and the impact on local businesses, Dyer remains supportive of the high-speed rail initiative:

"I see it as short-term pain to have long-term gain for our city."
He added,
"I know there's been delays, there's been construction delays, there's been cost overruns, a lot of issues and problems with High-Speed Rail, but I'm willing to give it another chance because I understand the benefit that it brings to Fresno and the Valley."

The rail project, which has faced numerous setbacks—from red tape and utility conflicts to challenges in land acquisition—now finds itself at a critical juncture. Federal funding remains uncertain, with the Trump administration threatening cuts to the partnership. Choudri stressed the importance of federal collaboration to bring the project to fruition:

"77% of the money came from California taxpayers. We do want to continue to look for opportunities to work with the federal government and continue to generate more funding."

An evaluation report detailing the project’s current status and future prospects is expected to be released to the public by this summer, either by the end of June or in July. As California strives to overhaul its transportation infrastructure, the high-speed rail project remains a focal point of debate, reflecting both its transformative potential and the challenges of modern megaprojects.

Originally reported by Brisa Colon in ABC 30 Action News.