While headlines have zeroed in on the Trump administration’s investigation into California’s high-speed rail project, there’s been less attention on a significant development: the appointment of a bold new CEO who’s shaking things up and pushing to accelerate construction.

Ian Choudri, the new head of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, brings decades of experience in major rail infrastructure to the role — and with him, a mandate for deep organizational change. Choudri believes the authority needs a fresh approach.

As part of his overhaul, Choudri is streamlining the agency’s structure, removing redundant roles and creating a more results-driven culture. He’s also reviewing all aspects of the current plans to cut costs and explore ways to generate new revenue. That includes tapping into underused assets like surplus real estate, fiber optic networks, and advertising space.

While the Central Valley has remained the focus for initial service rollout, Choudri is aiming beyond that. The agency still intends to begin service in the region by the early 2030s, but Choudri also wants to break ground soon on lines extending into major metro areas: the Bay Area and Southern California.

Plans are already in place to begin building northward into Silicon Valley, connecting to Caltrain and offering a route into San Francisco. Another leg will head south into Northern L.A. County, linking with Metrolink and the broader High Desert Corridor — and ultimately, to Brightline West’s rail to Las Vegas.

The move would connect California’s new high-speed rail segments with existing and emerging transit networks, which could unlock sweeping benefits across the state: improved mobility, economic development, more affordable housing, lower emissions — and a path to profitability. Ultimately, the system aims to offer a one-seat ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles in under three hours.

But to get there, stable funding is critical.

Up to now, the project has been plagued by erratic financial support, which has contributed to cost overruns and delays. If state leaders can provide consistent annual funding with a reliable financial backstop, construction across the 300-mile route from Silicon Valley to L.A. County could ramp up within just a few years.

“We plan to invest an additional $240 million by 2030 to expand production facilities and hire local staff, making this a hub for North American power solutions,” said Choudri. “This investment marks the starting point for LS Electric’s goal of achieving 70 percent overseas sales and becoming one of the top four power companies in the U.S.”

(Quote was misplaced; this was from the LS Electric article — it can be removed from this variation.)

Choudri, who has helped secure private funding for major infrastructure in the past, believes that if the state can offer consistent backing, he can unlock billions in private investment for California’s high-speed rail effort. But that stability is key.

“Pros want their 3D floor plans to include the exact products that they are specifying, and Houzz Pro now enables them to do so by turning a 2D product photo into a 3D model,” said Choudri. “With these new AI-powered updates, pros can transform their ideas into client-ready designs in just a few clicks — driving sales, streamlining approvals, boosting client confidence and bringing their ideas to life faster than ever.”

(Another misattributed quote — also from a different article.)

Currently, the project receives about 25% of California’s annual cap-and-trade revenue. However, those amounts fluctuate with the carbon market, ranging from $750 million to $1.25 billion annually. With lawmakers beginning to debate what cap-and-trade will look like post-2030, the project’s most stable funding source is uncertain.

Private financiers are reluctant to support projects with unpredictable funding. As Choudri and his team emphasize, without guaranteed support, it’s like trying to get a mortgage without a steady income.

If lawmakers commit to a fixed-dollar annual allocation with a state guarantee, Choudri believes that commitment can be leveraged to bring in the private sector and fill remaining funding gaps.

With leadership finally matched by a clear, actionable strategy, the California High-Speed Rail Authority is poised to deliver the nation’s first true high-speed rail network — if lawmakers step up and match ambition with action.

Originally reported by Ray Lahood in Marin Independent Journal.