Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Majority of Californians still support High-Speed Rail project

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Majority of Californians still support High-Speed Rail project, polling shows

Despite uncertainty over its budget and timeline, a majority of Californians who took part in a recent poll say the California High-Speed Rail project is still worthy of state funding.

The Poll Results

The poll, which was conducted by Emerson College and commissioned by KTLA parent company Nexstar Media, found that of those surveyed, 54% said the project was a good use of state funds.

A Consistent Trend

The numbers are consistent with a similar 2022 poll from UC Berkeley and the Los Angeles Times, which found 56% of registered voters supported the project at the time.

Support from the Authority

Officials for the California High-Speed Rail Authority say the new Nexstar poll reinforces their long-held position that the project is more popular than not.

“The poll results show what we know from talking to Californians every day: There is strong support for building a high-speed rail line from San Francisco to Los Angeles, and people are eager to see the work completed,” an Authority spokesperson said in a statement provided to KTLA.

Criticism from Opponents

Not everyone is buying it. State Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones (R-San Diego), an outspoken critic of the project, accused the poll of not including the full picture.

“The project is now $95 billion over budget, decades behind schedule, and has no clear timeline for completion,” Jones said in an emailed statement.

The Poll’s Methodology

The poll intentionally asked respondents to choose their level of support based on what they have “seen, read, or heard” about the project. It did not go into specifics about cost or timelines, but relied on each respondent’s individual knowledge and understanding of the project — something not uncommon for a poll of its kind.

Aerial View of Construction

Ongoing Concerns

Despite public perception in favor of the project, there are still legitimate concerns about the project’s viability.

A recent report from the CAHSR Office of Inspector General raised alarms that the initial operating segment between Merced and Bakersfield could not be completed on its current projected timeline of 2033. As for the full system connecting the Bay Area to the L.A. Basin, its timeline remains even more uncertain, with funding still in question.

Conclusion

While the poll results may not address all concerns, they do suggest that a majority of Californians remain supportive of the project. With ongoing construction and future funding decisions on the horizon, the California High-Speed Rail Authority will need to continue to address these concerns and work towards completing the project.

FAQs

* Q: What is the current status of the California High-Speed Rail project?
A: The project is currently under construction, with 171 miles of active construction in the Central Valley.
* Q: How much has the project cost so far?
A: The California High-Speed Rail Authority has spent about $13 billion on the project, with $10.5 billion coming exclusively from the state.
* Q: What is the current timeline for the project’s completion?
A: The initial operating segment between Merced and Bakersfield is projected to be completed in 2033, but the full system connecting the Bay Area to the L.A. Basin remains uncertain due to ongoing funding issues.

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