Overview
- The 150-acre Southern Railhead near Wasco is now connected to the freight network to stage long‑welded rail and electrification materials for deployment.
- Officials report 80 miles of guideway and 58 structures completed, with 21 active construction sites and environmental clearance on 463 of 494 miles.
- Near-term work centers on the roughly 119-mile Merced‑to‑Bakersfield starter segment, with service targeted in the early 2030s according to multiple reports.
- The program has spent $13.8 billion to date and is backed by about $1 billion per year through 2045, while recent estimates place total costs as high as $128–$135 billion.
- State lawmakers have introduced AB 1608 to allow the rail authority’s inspector general to withhold certain records, prompting transparency concerns alongside local complaints over land takings and limited near-term benefits.